The Autumnal Itch

The autumnal equinox has come and gone, and suddenly the leaves are colorful and falling with each slight breeze. There is a certain energy in the air that is specific to this time of year. Outside of my window chipmunks and squirrels are hastily gathering acorns from our oak trees and burrowing them away in my flower beds in preparation for winter's chill. Watching them race around the yard makes me feel like tackling projects, or at least having another cup of coffee...

The fall does make me antsy, truthfully. Suddenly the remaining white walls in my house seem to itch for color, the yard seems to beseech me for new planty adornments, and I feel the need to discover some unknown (to me) new place...to travel and be somewhere different. It's something like having the spring cleaning bug, only in the fall. I think the feeling of unrest stems from our former tendency to move each autumn. We began our Tour of New England by buying a house just before Thanksgiving, which we sold one exact year later. You know the score: lather, rinse, repeat. And since I've been helping prepare my grandmother's house for sale (it went on the market yesterday, for those interested) I have many of the feelings associated with the fall move.

So, how does one scratch the proverbial itch? The B and I are tackling some new projects, planning some interesting outings, and we've begun a major life change. Here's the list:

1. The fact that we're not in the market for a new house does not mean we cannot peruse the market of new houses. If you live in the greater Saratoga Springs area you should check out the Showcase of Homes this weekend or next. Twenty dollars will get you through the doors, rooms, and grounds of nine amazing houses, all of which have been professionally decorated and landscaped. I'll let you in on a little secret: this is where we get many of our best decorating ideas. My bathroom is painted Brown Paper Bag after John Witt's 2004 Showcase home's living room. It's good fun, and you never know who you'll run into. You might even run into us! If you have a wee one I recommend a backpack or sling of some sort, as strollers aren't allowed.

2. The backyard needs a facelift, and we're going to need to rent some machinery to complete it. We think we'll need a bobcat to rectify the grading issues the backyard currently suffers from. We're only working within the new fenced in area. Once the grading is under control we can start to define different areas back there, and plant some clover and grass. Why clover, you ask? We have just about the crappiest soil that new construction can buy you in New York...it's a mixture of sand, sand, and sand, plus a few killer cicada wasps to boot. Grass just won't survive because the soil is so devoid of nutrients, so clover is our organic answer. Clover will grow in just about anything, and while most plants deplete the ground of nitrogen, clover is one of the only groundcovers that pulls free nitrogen out of the air and replaces it in the soil. Clover is more drought resistant than grass, so it requires less watering, which in turn keeps us from using more than our fair share of the world's water. And, it has pretty flowers that keep Max the Bunny happy! Go clover! We also use a mulching lower to disperse little clover bits and pieces, thus building up the organic content of our topsoil. It's going to take a couple of years to be really pretty, but once the soil is a little better we can plant grass seed, which will grow within the clover and create a more solid turf. So now you know. Sorry about the tangent.

3. I started a new business venture, selling kitchen goods at home shows. (I'm actually not legally allowed to promote my business here, per the company in question, so you'll have to either use your imagination or call me for details) It all started with the prospect of getting two really nice knives for free, and it's turning out to be something fun that will allow me to have adult conversation now and then. Need kitchen gadgets? Holiday gifts? Wedding shower gift ideas? I'm your gal.

4. The adoptive families group we started with friends last year, Capital Region Heart and Seoul, is becoming active again after a summer off. We're looking forward to seeing old friends, meeting their new babes, and perhaps adding some new members. If you or someone you know has a child who was born in Korea who might like to hang out with us, send me an e-mail.

5. There has been a flutter of paperwork activity at our kitchen table this week, in the form of adoption applications. Yes, you did read that correctly. We're in the very beginning stages, and this time it's all going to be very different from our experience with Harrison. As I mentioned before, Korea is changing their international adoption policies, so in a way we're heading into a sea of unknowns, but we trust our agency and we feel we're in good hands. Check back for a post about our anticipaited wait times, our requests, and the breakdown of the process.

In a nutshell, that's our fall schedule. Really, do check out the Showcase...did I mention it benefits Habitat for Humanity? Good fun for a good cause can't be beat. I'm off to chase down that aforementioned cup of joe. Happy fall!