Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters

Ahhhh.

I faintly remember a poem that my grandpa used to recite–by Longfellow. Something about all lives needing days that are dark and dreary.

But good grief, enough is enough. When the kids and I walked out to the car this morning Shelby mentioned that it was hard to remember the sun. It’s true—it seems like we’ve had thick clouds forever.

We took a stark walk this afternoon. The woods are silently beautiful in a deserted sort of way.

Maybe we do need November days, dark and dreary–maybe we ought to savor them.

We moved to the middle of the woods just when my kids were in elementary school–prime Halloween age. It was one of those things we considered seriously, along with the long bus ride, the cousins, Brueggers Bagels, the Hollydazzle parade… “is this worth giving up?” Funny how decisions are—because try as I might to weigh it all carefully, we can never know exactly what we’re getting either…who could have known?
It’s definitely a Grand Marais event, where the action is. The kids aren’t really prime Halloween age—but what I’m appreciating about this small town—it seems that they’re welcome to trick-or-treat until they’re done. They can ease out of it—it’s no big sea change, no age threshold. Wear a costume or not—no pressure. A whole bunch of them went out for the walk, but several of them didn’t collect candy. Or picked up a lollipop on the way, for the blustery walk where they recognize people left and right. Where the cop turns on the siren and speaker to say—“you there….do you want some candy?”
Some came back early for ping-pong. Anything goes. I like these kids. Lucky. Nice night.

I didn’t walk. I guess it’s time to admit, that when some of them are in highschool, they really don’t need me to walk along. So, we hung with the adults, and they’re OK too. Here’s Shelia, the Stimulus Package, who won the adult cleverness award in my book.

It wasn’t my house, but I did leap to the door often enough to pass out treats. My MOST favorite kids were the ones who—for the first time, were realizing that it’s a candy free-for-all. I figure comprehension hits about age 3. They get it, they get to keep it, it’s CANDY, it’s pure magic. I vaguely remember that feeling, but maybe it’s even more fun to witness—check out this little blond witch. Could she be any cuter?

This one little guy, couldn’t contain himself, because he got to CHOOSE his candy. All that were left when he arrived were the tootsie rolls. He had his two pieces but he kept standing there. He kept staring at the dish and having these little excitement tremors. I said “do you see another one you like?” He said—“Yes! With a little leap….I see a lellow one”….I said “Guess what? You can have that lellow one!” and then he did a big leap and looked at his dad and said “I CAN HAVE THE LELLOW one too!!!”
I’m a push over. He wasn’t my kid, I didn’t have to teach him limits or how to say thank you or anything like that. I was just going for the leap and delight about FREE CANDY. I found him a red tootsie roll too.

Here’s hoping you witnessed at least one Halloween 3 year old this year.

The other day Anna (former staff ) met Wendell Berry. Even though wasn’t my experience, I was excited about that, because I think he’s AWESOME, and I also thought he was dead. She wrote: no… he is very much alive. Brilliant, gracious, humble, and genuine are the words that come to mind...

Have you discovered him? He’s an author/farmer. Here’s one of my favorites—He just hits my nail on the head when he says stuff like “I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” Such an elegant gift to be able to put together the same simple words so uniquely, so perfectly capturing my experiences…

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

– Wendell Berry, Openings: The Peace of Wild Things

The kids were off school for MEA weekend–we had a little family hiking shindig….and spent an October afternoon on the trail. For awhile it snowed big beautiful heavy flakes over the yellow trees. Great moment.

We found stuff, and the Cceaster carefully replaced the artifacts, of course.

Please note that Lars isn’t actually foaming at the mouth–it was a whipped cream chubby bunnies moment.

Later, during the pumpkin carving, I was feeling nostalgic about these kids growing up, lucky that they are so entertaining, glad that they let us adults in, so we can still be part of the party.

I’d just like to point out the pumpkin on the right—Kieran carved with the intentional lazy eye, maybe in honor of Abraham Lincoln or maybe some other notable lazy-eyed person, or maybe not.