Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween

Pumpkin Patch

Today is one of my favorite holidays both for the spiritual aspects and for the secular festivities. This week, while still digging out from under my piles of work, I had the chance to enjoy a trip to the Pumpkin Patch with my co-workers to celebrate a birthday. It was a beautiful day to be outside and it helped me stop for a moment and really enjoy the season.

Hay Ride

Taking a simple hay ride through the corn fields and along the river brought to mind the work that went into this harvest, that the season of abundance is quickly coming to a close and it is time to prepare for cold weather and the dark nights of winter. It brought to mind my wonderful grandfather who was an amazing gardener. His garden was always lush, regardless of how poor the soil was. I was always amazed at how well he could grow anything!

Corn Maze

Walking through the corn maze was fun. We ran, we walked, we got lost and eventually made our way back to the pumpkin patch. It was an enjoyable way to spend the early afternoon. 

Last week I had another opportunity to send a few hours outside...

Hiking

I took part in a short hike for my employer's wellness program. It was a cold and windy morning but it felt great to be out in the forest. The gentleman leading this hike also talked about local flora and fauna, showed us where the mistletoe and nightshade grew as well as how to tell the difference between several local species of pine trees and even offered us some of the local history of this particular area. All in all a great way to start the day (even if I was sick and running a fever LOL)

These past several weeks have been especially crazy for me. My youngest son (17) broke his writs a week before my Arts and Crafts show and had surgery 2 days before the show. He has an amazing sense of humor, while we were sitting in the emergency room he looked at me and said - "I don't think I am going to tell people I broke it roller skating, I think I'll tell them I was playing rugby, it's more manly". Funny, funny kid! He did tell people he was roller skating with his buddies but the rugby story makes me laugh.

He is mending well and hopefully gets the wires out Tuesday and if he is lucky will only be in a cast for another 3 - 4 weeks. Fingers crossed!

My studio still looks like a bomb went off in it though my work office is starting to look normal again - all in all I am looking forward to a restful rest of the year, I will be spending it with friends and family and have no obligations to do anything! 

Tonight, in honor of Samhain, I'll be spending time paying tribute to those who came before me and celebrating this most wonderful Witch's New Year! My goals for the next year are to enjoy each day, to celebrate love, life and friendship and to focus on my health and my art. January I'll have a "list" but for today that is all.

Happy Halloween!