Happy fall

We got to go to our church fall party this afternoon. There's a particular pleasure in hot cider and firepits going on a really cold day. Meg and I went prepared, in layers of flannel and sweaters and puffer coats, but I think to be really warm we should have added several more layers of long underwear and maybe some chili peppers in our shoes.* About dusk our host lit a bonfire at the other end of the field, and nearly everyone went, "Ooh, shiny!" and drifted over to it. A bonfire is another of those very specific fall pleasures, for humans at least: a field mouse disagreed and scurried off. Meg got a whole bag of candy and Jonathan got to talk about books and computer games. It was a great party.

I went home and took a hot bubble bath until my toes thawed out. We're supposed to get our first freeze tonight. I'm trying to be prepared.


*Not kidding. Old ranchers would seriously do that. Watch out for chemical burns, though - that's why you have to wear rubber gloves to prep hot chilis.