Magical Tree Elves

On Saturday morning, magical elves brought us trees.

They texted from an hour away, and told us they were on their way with these:

These!

Where is the photo of the magical elves, you ask? Well, let me ask you this: have you ever seen a photo of a magical elf?

No. No, you have not.

They were magical, and they were elves, and they brought us trees.

Which meant, therefore, that we then needed to plant them.

So after Buzzie and Tyler left, that's exactly what we did.

Good spot, right?  I mean, how hard can it be?

Oh, it can be hard . . .

. . . because we chose the spot in The Field with ALL the rocks.

Oh, the Rocks.

I built a wall of The Rocks that came out of that one hole . . .

. . . I thought it a lovely wall but Mistah is not into straight lines and moved the rocks to make a Bettah Wall.

And we found lots of treasures.

It took all day. All day. Because it was the spot with ALL the rocks and all the treasures . . .  

. . . but then there it was . . .

. . . our new tree.

Adorable, right?

Oh but wait . . .

. . . there are more.

Sunday came, and it was time to get back to arboring, and this time? The dirt was like buttah. We chose a spot made of dirt instead of rocks.

Whaddaya think, Schleck?

That's the universal body language for, "We'll see, I guess?"

I forgot to take a photo of the crater in the ground because Mistah filled it in so quickly . . .

Mumsie and I were an enthusiastic and opinionated peanut gallery . . .

. . . and Mistah put on a really good show.

Off she goes! Mumsie  On The Move.

The shot for Prosperity. Posteriority. Posterity.

Thank you, Magical Tree Elves!

Two down, seven to go . . .

Photo Friday: self portrait

Meet the newest member of our Halloween family:

Isn't she lovely?

San Diego stroll

As you'll see (and already know), I'm no Mistah with my camera. In fact, I don't even have a camera proper, just my iphone. But sometimes you can't help but whip it out and at least try to capture the loveliness.

My youngest is playing soccer this fall; she has practice every Thursday afternoon. Typically I drop my kids off at any practice they may have and pick them up after. But this particular practice is only an hour long, and it's in a great spot.

Just a short walk over a pedestrian bridge from the fields is all this:

Not bad for an afternoon stroll, right?

I heart San Diego.

Sharooms

We've had a bloom this year.

Maybe it was the lack of rain. Maybe because it was such a fantastic summer. Maybe it was because of all the love.

I don't know.

But the mushrooms are out, and they are plentiful.

I mean, these are in our yard . . .

. . . in our Field . . .

. . . they are everywhere.

Are they edible, you ask?

Well, we would very much like for you to come over to determine that for us.

We'll provide the garlic and the olive oil.

In the meantime, everything is changing. . .

. . . still growing . . .

. . . but metamorphosizing . . . 

. . . and being awesome.

I never used to like Fall because of the End Of Things, but now, well, what can you do?

Nuthin', that's what.

Oh look, a kitty-cat.

Oh look, a girlie-girl.

And her big brothers chasing her around . . .

Her young big brother was so excited about the gift he harvested for us:

Sha-rooms! I know; so thoughtful.

So cosmopolitan.

So potentially poisonous.

But don't worry, the kids ate very little of them. And I supervised the hand-washing.

But in the meantime . . .

I know I am always "but-in-the-meantime"-ing . . .

. . . but I have a lot to "but-in-the-meantime" about . . .

. . . because look at this . . .

. . . all of this.

brunch club

One of the routes we sometimes used to take on our morning drive to school ran through a part of town that was hospitable to people in need of a place to sit during the day. We often talked about putting together nonperishable snacks and necessities that we could have handy to offer to the folks we came to recognize day after day. It was one of those intentions that we got fired up about, but we never followed through with action. We like to think of ourselves as caring, helpful, even charitable people, but we never followed through on this simple idea despite the fact that we had the desire and the means. I think it was the simple details of execution that stalled us – when and where should we start? Would we offend people by assuming that they needed something from our privileged white asses? Was it safe? These are legitimate questions, but they need not have been paralyzing. 

Nevertheless, we did not take action toward our intended goal until an opportunity presented itself wherein the details had been organized by somebody who was organized… an organization!

When I told the kids about a monthly outreach event that was very similar to that idea we used to talk about on the drive to school, they were both immediately on board. The three of us showed up at 10 am on a Sunday morning, not knowing exactly what to expect, but ready to help. We were early (what?!) so were among the first to show up, which gave us the opportunity to meet the organizer and express our low-key angst about not knowing what to do in the same breath that we voiced our willingness to do anything and everything that anyone asked. We were the perfect peons, and we were put right to work. 

organizing blanket and clothing donations

stuffing zip lock bags with small stacks of wipes

and rolling socks

while others rolled burritos

Once the room was set up for production, we formed a giant assembly line and some of us distributed goods while others walked through with open bags until we'd amassed a glorious pile of goodie bags ready for distribution. Each bag contained a bar of soap, a dental hygiene bag, a handful of Kind bars, a bottle of water, a banana, a pair of socks, and a handwritten note of encouragement.  We had a quick word by the organizer before we headed outside. She reminded us that one of the most frequently reported challenges facing our homeless population is loneliness. She said that people just want to connect, to talk, have eye contact, human contact.

We hauled the bags outside and set them up next to the burrito station so that folks could walk through and grab both on their way over to check out the clothes, blankets, dog food, feminine hygiene  products that were theirs for the taking. There were also volunteers set up to give haircuts, and mentors available for conversation and support.

After the line had passed through, we walked around to hand out the rest of the bags. Some people were going in groups, but we three set off on our own. Some of us spoke out loud about feeling nervous. Some of us semi convincingly assured  the others that that nervousness was unfounded. Some of us dorked out and cried a little because of the pride and the unknown and the gratitude and the hangover.

In no time at all, the bags were gone and we helped clean up the spaces that had been used for this fleeting, humbling experience. We had new conversations to ruminate, feelings to process, and productive ideas to nourish. As we walked back to the car, hungry and sweaty and inspired, we brainstormed ideas for what we would do to make the next outreach even better. We have so much to give, and so much to do. We are so grateful for all that we have and all that we can give, and to have finally begun to pay it forward.

Brunch Club 10.16.16