I can drink like a fish, I can crawl like a snake, I can bite like a turkey, I can slam like a drake

I have survived yet another right of passage: The Thanksgiving day dinner. Finally, I have been promoted to a position of adulthood as far as holidays are concered, and I actually cooked the meal and hosted the party. We had 12 folks, all family, and tons of delicious food. The weather was perfect, and the turkey pretty moist. FYI- One should clean out that poor bird BEFORE cooking it. I asked friends, family, and even read recipes and directions, and not one told me I'd need to violate the poultry in such and obscene manner, but luckily I found out an hour into cooking time..

Tomorrow we head to Indiana to spend a couple hours with the other have of the clan. As for tonight, our Christmas tree is up, lights are shimmering, bellies are full, and everyone is lightly snoring. I am thankful for peace.

The one was Texas medicine,

Last night was date night and we found ourselves at the Ryman once again. Our ongoing discussion of this historical monument is that we wish bands would play somewhere else in Nasvhille. It LOOKS cool, but it is a total sit-down hush-hush kinda place. When you go see a rowdy texan, yee-haas and knee slappin' isn't all together out of place. People always say, " oh, I LOVE the Ryman," and I respectfully disagree. It's snoozeville if you like dancin' and carryin' on. Anyway, the show got me in the holiday spirit, and here is my F.A.V....More on the boys' new dos and our analysis of personality types based on the kind of hat you wear, Phish tickets that we bought, and how Thanksgiving is going to go down around here later.

And, because he played with an all star-cast including Danny Barnes, here's one from him, too. I love D.B. He played with a band called the Bad Livers. Who wouldn't love that? We saw him at Windows on the Cumberland a couple of years ago and we were practically the only people there, and it was great fun.

And, then of course good ole' Todd Snider was there to open up and he had a couple of the YMSB dudes playin' with him, and so here's one of their videos.

That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.

7:25 yesterday morning before school (We leave at 7:30) I enter into the bathroom to see Ollie with spray bottle, comb, scissors, and a smile on his face. There is trail of beautiful, blond, baby hair from the family room to the bathroom. Eli has cuts on his face and very thinned hair. No mom blog would be complete without a similar story.

Rainy day.....science

In the lab today, we are making crystals....

Testing for air pollution....

And, dissolving capsules..

The crystals will take up to 5 days to grow, and there were chemicals involved so O got to wear goggles and gloves. The air pollution test simply involves a piece of poster board, and 6 -7 metal lids. Each day we will go out, and remove a lid, and then compare the debris that has been collected around each label to determine our air quality. And then, of course those creepy pill looking things that magically turn into a sponge are fun to watch, too.

Kids are strange when you're a stranger..

Okay, two quick things:

1) It is getting to cold to compost and my little hold container under the sink gets so very full before I feel like traipsing back to the way, way back of my less than an acre back yard. It's called sacrifice people..

2) Eli woke up at 3:48 this weekend screaming and throwing a 2 year old fit because he wanted a donut. Hmm.... Okay.... Nope no donuts in the house, can't help you bud, so please for the love of everyone in this house Go.back.to.sleep... He kicked and carried on for about an hour, but I guess he probably just tired of the moaning. He was inconsolable. I think he MAY have had 3 donuts his entire life, so who knows..

Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves,

Trees: by Ollie
Leaves, trees
Bees, leaves
Wall, hall
Make a wall
In Autumn
With your Dad

Eli's contribution

I can smell the tail of the dragon

Dragon Park is my most favorite park in Nashville.

In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.

On Mondays we have been taking a nature walk. We feel so private and secluded and free.
We build structures on dry river beds and wonder all week if they are still standing.

We study tadpols in the leftover pools.

And, we hug trees, of course.

(That is, after we kick them, and mom makes us hug them instead.)

I love fall.