Halloween sELFie

I feel like we just got back from Four Day, yet we're closing in on Thanksgiving break. Time sure does fly when your families are visiting, all your professors assign papers and midterms, and you're trying to get to every lecture that sounds interesting...and when you're having fun! Fall weather has officially settled in (can you believe it is November??) and with the cooler/wetter weather comes warmer comforty-er foods. :) 

Beautiful veggies cooking away - soon to be curry! 

This eggplant and cherry tomato spaghetti was fantastic, especially with the fresh basil and parm. 

An Indian omelette (served with yoghurt raita!). 

We ordered boba so we could have it at home! I think Zoe is interested...

Some mornings you wake up to find hot-air balloons across the parking lot...

Last weekend was family weekend, as previously mentioned. It was fun having my parents in town! We had a sampler concert (all the college ensembles performed), then went out for dessert. I have to admit, the presentation and creativity were more impressive than the actual flavor.

I worked at the bookstore on Saturday, but I was able to attend a couple talks by Whitman professors and alums about outdoor adventures. One of the presenters described a category 5 Russian rafting adventure (summer 1993), in which they embarked with scarcely enough food, without the frame for a raft, and little certainty about transportation! Yet they still brought along a guitar. 

Soon enough our families left, and it was back to the grindstone. I find it wonderful, though, that we find time to make good meals. There is something so restorative in making dinner and sitting down to eat together (at least for me!).  

Marisa took the lead on these savory crepes. 

I don't tend to like Mac'n Cheese, but how could you not like this butternut squash deliciousness? 

Rachel the florist is back at it! This month she and Morgan made Halloween themed vases (black spray paint with synthetic cobwebs).

Rachel and I have been doing a program called the Storytime Project, in which we go to a local pre-school and read for half an hour on Monday mornings to a group of about 10 little kiddos. We have been loving it, and it has been really fun revisiting some of our childhood favorites. On Thursday we went to a reflections program at the public library; we got a tour, learned about the services they offer, and even got library cards! 

Rachel with the fish at the library. 

It's Halloween! As some of you may know, I don't love Halloween, which may come as a surprise, because in the right context I really like wearing costumes. I just find trick-or-treating to be an odd custom which I could never really get behind. However, in elementary school we weren't allowed to dress up for Halloween (for religious and in-exclusivity purposes). Instead we had book week in November, and on Friday of book week, we had book character dress up day! A couple of my favorites were Pippi Longstocking and Kirsten Larson (the American girl doll). When I learned this Wednesday that I was going to be attending a Halloween potluck with costumes mandatory, I realized I would have to break my "I don't do Halloween" tradition. I'm pretty pleased with what I came up with! (And I stuck to the children's book theme.)

Buddy the Elf, Chrysanthemum, and Olivia the Pig

Taking a sELFie while hard at work, making gifts for the children. 

I wish you all a happy end to daylight savings time - enjoy your extra hour!