Ahhhh, Autumn!

I love this time of year. I know, it's EVERYONE'S favorite time of year, but holy guacamole, there's a good reason for that. We had a good day at our house. It's surprising because one of our own is sick--AGAIN. He caught the cold I picked up at his two year old well-visit. His nose is running like a faucet. But with this weather who could be upset? Especially when you can start the day off right: in jams and wellies with a trusty kitty by your side and a (spider) web-collecting stick in your hand. Then later in the day Fintan went out with his daddy to play. He loves going on "nature walks". He'll ask in his high pitched "good boy" voice, if you'd like to go for a nature walk. Then he leads you on the same course every time. Back to the playground, bypassing the toys. Through the garden where he usually says "Mommy pick tomatoes for the road". I'll pick a handful of cherry tomatoes to take along while he waits at the end of the row for me to help him jump the pumpkin vines. Then we follow the path that he helped his daddy mow through the field and head over to the mulch pile, his very favorite place. (Folks, save your money. Don't buy expensive and fabulous playground equipment for your toddler. Just call your local tree-trimming company and ask them to dump a pile of wood chips somewhere on your property.)
Anyway, Fintan took his daddy on a nature walk to the mulch pile today and while they were out there they were lucky enough to find a really cool bug: a praying mantis! Fintan used to do a whole-body shudder at the very mention of the word "bug". But now look at him!
Three cheers for Fintan! Hip hip hooray!

Now, as it is appropriate, I will end this post with a poem that I wrote a few years ago.

Praying Mantis


The Mantis bows his head to pray:
Oh let me catch a bug today.
A juicy bug that's plump and fresh,
And full of yummy, tasty flesh.
I want to eat it for my lunch,
So make it crisp and sweet to munch.
I don't care if its striped or spotted,
Red or green or polka-dotted.
Let one insect fly my way,
And I'll be good for one whole day.
Or you could send me three or four,
I'll do good deeds forevermore.
But if you can, please send me ten.
That's all I ask, thank you, amen.

Copyright: Alina B. Klein

Now go out and enjoy the season, folks, it's fleeting!