The Leaves are Gone

I suddenly realized that after a week of brilliant fall colours, the leaves are gone and the trees are bare and winter is approaching. I wondered when Eric and I would get around to raking up all the piles of rotting leaves covering our yard. I would like to hire someone to do it, but Eric insists that we can do it ourselves, but of course I know we won't and our yard will look horrendous all winter. If I had any desire to actually go out and rake, that would fix things, but I would rather hire someone, so I am back at square one.

The sun has been shining all week, and the reds and yellows and oranges everywhere have been stunningly beautiful with a clear blue sky above, and I wonder why I do not pull out my camera and photograph, as I did all year in Ecuador. Perhaps I only take pictures when I know that I won't see a certain place again, and here in Baltimore I am accustomed to the gorgeous fall colours and take them for granted. I ought to be as enthusiastic about photographing the scenes here as anywhere else. Now the trees are denuded and the beauty has faded, and the colours are gone, so there is no need to photograph anything anyway.

It was warm and sunny and socks and coats were not necessary, and I thought going for a walk or a bike ride would be perfect, but after dropping Maya off at Peabody for the day, I met my friend Emily for a hatha yoga class, which was very basic and not too challenging. We caught up at Bonjour bakery over coffee and croissants, and I realized that I had missed Emily's birthday last week. I must remember that it is on Veterans Day November 11!!!!!!! Emily and I have been busy and have not connected for a few weeks, and must do a better job of maintaining contact. She is as busy as I am, with a son the same age as Maya and a job at Hopkins at the school of Public Health.

When I picked up Maya from a day of violin practice, she was not in the mood for any major activity. We went to a power yoga class where she is a star, and she practiced next to Sid and copied all his moves and looked marvelous. Her mood was much better after class, and we went shopping for UGGS, rather ugly but very popular and expensive shoes. Maya's shoe size is at the limit for children, so we will not be shopping in the children's section for shoes anymore. We decided to get the boots soon( they did not have the style or colour she wanted) but we would order them right away so that she could get them before we travel to Montreal so that her feet can be warm there, but they will be her birthday present.

It was a Saturday night at home with a movie. I was not in the mood to share Maya this weekend and decided against a sleepover or any social events. We wake up early in the morning tomorrow to drive to DC and visit the pre columbian exhibit at Dumbarton Oaks and see a musical at the Kennedy Center. We are taking advantage of Eric's time away to stay very busy.