autumn :: the spiritual new year

as i look outside the world is turning orange, gold and red. i love living in new england where the world changes color each season. winter makes it all quiet and white. spring brings shades of green, summer is every color of every flower and yellow like the sun. . . and here we are in autumn. apples, pumpkins, harvest festivals, cool breezes. it might be my favorite time of year.

in autumn we get to start again, don't we? it's a new beginning and for me, it is the start of a new year. january never felt like true new years time to me and so i was happy to learn as i traveled my spiritual path that in october is a Spiritual New Year. i feel the anticipation of this stirring on the inner right now.

this autumn i see the trees letting go of their leaves and i'm asking myself, "what am i ready to let go of? what's it time to shed?"

today we celebrate Michaelmas at my children's school--a wonderful Waldorf school perched on a hill in the woods. from their teacher, "Archangel, Michael inspires us to face our inner and outer darkness with renewed strength of will and purpose of life." it's a day to celebrate our courage and face up to the things we have not yet been willing or able to let go of. Michael had to slay the dragon, and of course, so can we. . .our inner dragons. so, we muster all our might and courage and watch them fall. today i'm asking myself (and my inner Michael), can i let go of my outstanding ability to compare myself to others? can i let my true self shine and find inspiration and music from within?

From Dirt To Dinner :: Trying to Redeem Myself

i've been such a giant lame-o. i had the big idea of starting some sort of fun project with beth at Total Mom Haircut and went to her all excited saying let's do something and then i tooooootallly bailed. it's lame. i can't come up with another word.

so, here i am with my tail between my legs trying to make up for it. what have come up with? a THREE IN ONE! yes! i've missed all three post dates for Zucchini, Tomatoes and Corn. alas, i bring you ::

Zucchini and Corn Chowder.

in a word :: YUM. it's really awesomely delicious and at this time of year the flavors just totally sing. i love it and plan to make another (double) batch tomorrow. look at this!

wouldn't you be slurping it down?

i copied the recipe out of a book many many years ago while babysitting when i lived in seattle. and lo and behold, i wrote it down wrong. i clearly omitted a step or 2. so, i had to make adjustments on the fly. when i make a new batch, i'll make notes and then offer the new recipe here. . . if there is anyone out there who'd be interested.

i fully expect that i have no readers left. and i'm not sure how much i'll be blogging in the near future. but i do want to get back to it. i've been experiencing a time of Big Change. it's good. it would be good to write about. . . the blog would take on a bit of an air of "what a mom's transition to having both kids in school is like." i can't believe that in 5 days BOTH my children will be in school. 4 days a week. 8:30 - 2:30pm. and i will start the unfolding of myself process. Big. Change.