randomness

It has been a while since I wrote, but I wanted to let that last post sit at the top for awhile before burying it below new posts. It seems, however, that the intent of that post wasn't entirely clear. So, for those who are still wondering: yes, we are expecting another little addition to the clan! We announced it here on Thanksgiving day and everyone is very excited. Rooting for another sister or hoping for a brother has started as well as the rounds of suggestions for names (Kit? Dagmar?) I am just enjoying some occasional lulls in morning sickness and awaiting that first kick.

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Thanksgiving was a delight with my nephew and his wife as our guests for the weekend. It was everything one expects for the autumn holiday...football, turkey, first fire in the fireplace, pumpkin pie, drives around the city, a bit of shopping and late night conversations. Lovely.

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This past week some friends had just arrived for an afternoon of prayer and play, when Firstborn and his friend came in to report the astonishing news that one of our free-ranging hens was dead. Indeed, the predator had made a clean kill and the broken-necked Lucia lay lifeless on the ground, just feet from safety. I quickly instructed the ranch-hands to get the remainder of the flock into the coop as I anticipated the news of the fresh kill would soon reach some hungry wildlife. At first the hens were all reported MIA, but after further searching, they were discovered hovering and quivering in the back of our garage. All except one. One dead, three safely escorted back to the coop and one still MIA. Juliette the Impossible was missing all afternoon and we weren't sure what to think. About four hours later, she appeared on our driveway, still looking quite frightened and calling loudly to her sisters.

In the meantime, the boys spent the afternoon observing a hawk feasting on our little Lucia. What a lot of drama for The Suburban Ranch!

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And at long last, this Sunday begins the great season of preparation. It can't be denied that in addition to preparing for Advent, I have jumped ahead and made a few Christmas purchases already. Thanksgiving was just so early, it was hard to wait that whole extra week. But, tonight I will have the Professor get out the Advent Box with all of our purple and pink lights, the manger awaiting the sacrificial straw to soften it for our baby Jesus, the purple ornaments, the Advent calendar with all of its treats, the stockings for the feast of St. Nicholas, our beautiful statue of St. Nicholas and so much more.

And then, bring it on. The whole of the season. The smells, the sounds, the traditions and customs, the sights and the tastes and all the marvelous sensations.