the rambles of a woman with no exfoliating plan.

I was a pretty brave woman today. I took both kids to the library and Trader Joe's. I have never taken both kids at once to the grocery store before. It was okay. I was secretly a wreck inside as I usually am. I had Miss Biscuit in the sling and I was able to pick up Senor Onion and put him in the cart. I am not crazy enough to let him wander about next to me in a grocery store. The kid likes to get into things at home and if I let him be free-range in the grocery store? Well it wouldn't be fun for anyone. He is a good kid in many many ways but he is still at that age where he has that impulse to touch/grab things. To borrow a term from the Catholics, "sometimes it is better to avoid the near occasion of sin" as it were. He is good in the cart. I can hand him things and he can feel useful. He is also good at reminding me to get certain staples. "We need toasting bread!" "Thank you!" "HUMMUS!" "yes..." "Fruit bar fruit bar I want fruit bar." "since you are so helpful why not." A man in line admired the peanut shell sling I had Miss Biscuit in. He said it seemed so sensible and yet simple. He said he would almost want to get one for his cat. I didn't raise my eyebrows but I thought about it. He was nice enough though. I tend to end up in conversations with men who have grown children and fondly recall the baby days. They can see it through romantic eyes at this point. Though maybe the dark circles around my eyes reminds them of the good ol' days. I suspect the dark circles are here to stay and I need to think long and hard about the reality of concealer. But right now I don't care too much. It matches nicely with all of the sun damage I have acquired over the years.

It is little things that make me proud. Like getting the groceries into the trunk, getting the kids into their carseats and not actively having a breakdown that make me feel as if I am doing okay. Sure there are people with more children and they can do this with one hand tied behind their back while appearing on the TLC channel but I am new to this gig.

A small aside, I just looked to my left and noticed an apple underneath the dining room table. How the hell did that get there and why did I not notice that until now? I was wondering where it had gone. I though I had possible miscounted how many apples we actually had. I... I don't want to know its journey.

So. Here we are. It's Fall. I need to mulch the garden soon. Get things sorted for the winter and whatever. I also need to plant garlic for next year. I have this nice supply of cured garlic that hangs in the kitchen. My hope is that the 12 heads of garlic I have left will last me through part of the winter. At least through the New Year. I may plant twice as much to last a year. First world problem? Not sure.