October…where to start? At the beginning, I guess.
My baby sister, Angie, was diagnosed with cancer this summer. I flew to Atlanta in early October to spend a few days with her. She’d just finished the last of her external radiation, was preparing for brachytherapy, and hoping that she would not have to move from oral to IV chemo. We’ll know in about a month. Last week, she had brachytherapy and yesterday she was at a craft show selling all manner of artsy things that she creates. That’s our Angie. She’s pretty unstoppable. If you would add her to your prayers, I’d be so grateful. (In the first photo, Angie is on my right and my mom is on my left.)
It felt like fall arrived all of a sudden here. The leaves went from green, to gold, to gone pretty quickly. I’ve got my calendula under a row cover hoping to extend it’s bloom for a few more weeks. After months of total yard neglect, Jonny and I have been working to clean things up and make plans for what we want to do next. That translates to: we purchased a bunch of plants at 50% off that will likely sit in their pots for the next 2-3 years while we try to figure out where we want to put them and then try to find the time to do so.
October 23rd marked our 25th wedding anniversary. That one’s a big deal, right? It feels like it. But it also feels somewhat impossible. How did we get here so quickly? At any rate, we decided to do something we’ve never done before. We reserved a little cottage on airbnb about an hour away from home. Yes, for the first time we spent money on ourselves for our anniversary! Because the 23rd fell on a co-op day and I needed to be there to teach biology (did I tell you that I’m teaching biology this year?) we planned to go away the nights of the 20th and 21st.
Backing up for a second…I’ve been keeping a secret this year. Not really intentionally, but in hindsight that’s what I’ll call it.
I was woken early Friday morning, the 20th of October, by my oldest son, Seth. In low tones, as though afraid to wake me but also afraid not to, he told me that Phoebe had been having contractions throughout the night. I don’t know if I told you (this is the story of my life this year-not remembering what I’ve said or done or where I put my reading glasses) but Seth and Phoebe built a cabin on our property and live between it and our home. I’m certain I never mentioned that they had a baby due October 25th. Of course, I was wide awake immediately upon hearing Seth’s voice and hopped up to get a better assessment and determine if there was anything I needed to do. There really wasn’t, their birth plan being to head to her mother’s house (who happens to be one of my closest friends, Rachael) and call the midwives.
Soon after they left, Jonny and I anxiously prepared to leave. Well, that’s only partly true. I am pretty sure I was the only anxious one. Thankfully, he rarely is because I carry enough anxiety for both of us. It felt odd to leave with Phoebe in labor, but on the other hand, there wasn’t anything for us to do but wait for news anyway. We’d been planning the trip for months and we weren’t going far. So we packed up and headed out. I had told Seth and Phoebe that I wanted to wait until I met the baby to find out if it was a boy or a girl. But when I got the text that there had been a baby born around 8 p.m. that night, I changed my mind. We wouldn’t be headed home until Sunday morning. I wasn’t sure when we would actually meet the baby. How could I wait? People often suggest to me that with so many kids I must be really patient. I’m not! I texted Seth that I had changed my mind about the whole thing and to call me when he could. I got a text a little while later that announced that the baby was a girl, followed by a phone call. I’ll never forget (or will I?) sitting in the near dark outside that little Thai restaurant with Jonny, learning that we were grandparents just a few days shy of our 25th anniversary.
For the sake of my future self, I’ll share my sob story about the airbnb now, but I’ll try to be brief. The short story is that it was the most darling cottage behind a larger historic home. The owners clearly put a lot of thought into the details and there were so many lovely little touches like cider and mulling spices, and even interesting books on the shelves-my favorite. The grounds were the best part and that’s maybe what inspired Jonny and me to come home and buy a bunch of shrubs we don’t have time to plant. However, there were synthetic fragrance oils in little pots in the den and bedroom. And the sheets were so strongly perfumed by I guess laundry detergent? that I couldn’t sleep that night at all. I guess I’m sensitive to that stuff. Had it smelled like kids and dogs and the dirty compost bucket maybe I would have felt more at home. I tried reading my library book about Linnaeus (affiliate link) and I gave myself little talks about how it was no big deal not to sleep, but I knew I was lying and that I would feel terrible the next day and our anniversary trip would be ruined, and we would have wasted all that money, etc. Jonny woke up at 4 am, having slept poorly himself, and to his dismay found me crying and perhaps a little hysterical. Some combination of fragrance, our first grandbaby, and the pressure of making the most of a trip we’d spent money on had caused me to lose my mind. We went downstairs and made egg toast and I told Jonny I just wanted to go home. I had already packed up my things in preparation. Instead, we went back upstairs and fell asleep. We slept for about five hours, and really, sometimes that’s all you need! I woke up feeling less crazy. We decided that we would pack up and then spend the day in Shenandoah National Park as planned and then head home late rather than go through another sleepless night at the cottage. But when the text came through from Larkspur, indicating that Seth and Phoebe were already back home, and shouting at me in all caps, “THE BABY IS SO CUTE,” we further amended the plan. We would spend the day in Sperryville rather than driving up into the park. It would have been crowded anyway on a Saturday in October. We spent a really nice afternoon looking at art, choosing our favorites and what we would buy if we could, and talking with some of the artists, but I was happy to head home that afternoon.
The darling baby girl we met later that evening didn’t have a name yet. It took them about a week to decide on “Elsie Amalthea.” She’s the most beautiful baby, favoring Phoebe more than Seth from what I can tell so far. I think I see some of my babies when she’s sleeping, but when she opens her eyes, she’s all Phoebe. I love watching babies grow and change and trying to figure out whose features we see.
And if you are wondering about her name, Elsie is simply a sweet name that Phoebe loves as do we. It does happen to be a family name on my mother’s side. Amalthea is the name of unicorn in The Last Unicorn (affiliate link), a favorite book of Seth’s and of mine. You should read it! I think I’ll have to give a copy away soon. That can be my November giveaway with a bar of lavender spruce or Christmas Eve soap. (I will be updating my shop with the last of my scarves, a few cutting boards, calendula salve, and a new lip balm sometime in the next week, but for now you will find my first batches of Christmas and wintery soaps available.)
p.s. If this wasn’t such a terribly long post I’d want to talk about The End of the Affair (affiliate link). My friend Grace recommended it and I would sure love to talk about it with those of you who have read it!
Congratulations! My granddaughter is also named Elsie. My daughter’s favorite childhood series was the Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley. Perhaps that will become your Elsie’s favorite as well! Being a grandmother is the most amazing thing!!!
Congratulations on your beautiful granddaughter!
I would be interested to hear more about your calendula salve. I grew calendula for the first time this summer and loved having the flowers but don’t know much about the properties.
Awe, congratulations!!! And prayers for your sister! 💖
I’ll be praying for your sister 🙏🙏🙏
Happiest of anniversaries to both of you !!! Congratulations to you all! Elsie is very precious 🩷🩷🩷🩷 I’d been waiting to hear the news!!
Our grands have been the most indescribable blessings in our life. Now they are all in their early 20s. Therefore, I am so happy for and jealous of those of you who get to snuggle a baby and adore those baby feet. Congrats on your 25th Anniversary too!
Happy Anniversary. Congratulations on your first grandchild! Such a blessing in our lives. I’m not sure which is more exciting, 25 years or a new baby. Both, I think.
Your photography is amazing. You are one very artistic woman and I consider you a friend through following your blog. Thank you for sharing yourself and your family with your readers.
Praying for your sister Ginny.
Love in Him,
Barbara
I read your post, and it sounds like me. There are so many things I want, intend to, or plan to do, and somehow, something gets in the way. In the grand scheme of things, I am satisfied with how it all turns out, and it’s often for the best. Timing is everything. When I look back, it’s so clear.
Congratulations on your anniversary and new grandbaby!
Happy Anniversary and congratulations on the birth of granddaughter Elsie Alathea.
Joan
Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter Elsie Alathea. Welcome to the world Elsie Althea. Happy Anniversary.Wishing you many more years of happiness,love and joy.
Marilyn
What a newsy post. Congratulations on your first grandbaby. Welcome to the world Elsie
Amalthea. Happy Anniversary Wishing you and Jon many,many more years of happiness.love and blessings.
Marion
Congrats on the baby and anniversary! The End of the Affair is a particular fondness of mine (as is the movie based on the same). There’s so much to mine there, and each time I read it I come away with something different.
Congratulations on becoming Grandparents 🙂 Welcome to little ‘Elsie’ and I will definitely pray for your sisters healing Ginny. Blessings to you all ~ Linda
Congratulations! How absolutely wonderful!
Prayers for all of you, new babies, and those fighting cancer….new parents, and dear family…what a month…
May peace be with you, Ginny
-Olivia
I got weepy reading this post: so much much life and love in it. ALL the feelings. I am praying even as I write for your sister and your lovely Elsie, and for you. Thank you deeply for the many years of sharing your journey. ❤️
Oh Ginny congratulations ! So happy for you all! Wow, Grandparents! We are pregnant with #10 and celebrated our 20th anniversary last month. Doesn’t seem possible. So many wonderful things
When you shared on IG that you were writing a post about your fullest October ever my first thought was: grandbaby! I am so happy for you all! Congratulations to Phoebe and Seth! What joy. Elsie is just the prettiest name and how sweet she looks! 🤗
Offering many prayers for your sister’s health🙏🏽
congratulations!! Blessings on your new grand and of course I will be praying for your sister.
First of all, congratulations to Seth and Phoebe (and to you and Jonny) on Elsie’s birth! What a cute baby, and I love her name :).
Secondly, and just as importantly, I’ll be thinking of your sister, and pray for her.
All the best to all of you.
PS. I love those magical forest photos at the beginning of this post!
Happy anniversary and congratulations on your beautiful new granddaughter. She’s just lovely.
She is nothing short of perfect. Congratulations on this beautiful blessing!
I will pray for your sister. I’m glad you explained which was your mother because you all look the same age. The baby is a huge surprise – but I’m so happy for you! I have my little ones right here in the house with me, and it is such a joy.
I read The End of the Affair many years ago….so many that I don’t remember too much about it EXCEPT what I took away was the power of the Sacrament of Baptism, which has efficacy outside of our faith in it. At least that’s how I remember it.
Congratulations on the little granddaughter–she’s so beautiful! We’ve had a similar airbnb situation with the smells, and it was so stressful! I can’t stand when the sheets smell like perfume.
The End of the Affair is SO good–my husband and I read it on our spring break trip two years ago. He read it quite fast and then gave it to me and I was riveted until I finished. The ending is so fascinating!! That and The Power and the Glory are the two books that got us hooked on Graham Greene–he has such an interesting way of working out grace through his stories.
Prayers for your beautiful sister. Congratulations on 25 years and creating a beautiful family along the way. And congratulations for becoming grandparents!!!!! How exciting! What a lucky little girl.
Elsie’s got an uncle and aunt who are about 3 and 6 right now, is that right? What fun! I have a much older than me aunt who would have been great to play with I’m sure.
That is such lovely news! Cogratulations!! We will be celebrating our 30th this year and I cannot wait to have my first grandchild. Nothing in the works yet…
Prayers for your Angie.
Happy anniversary and congratulations! She’s precious.
Congratulations and welcome to the wonderful world of being a grandparent. I spent a weekend in Ireland awaiting the birth of my First grand child and I totally get your mood.
Grazie per avere condiviso tutti questi momenti della tua vita. Auguri per la tua nipotina e un abbraccio di incoraggiamento a tua sorella. Buon autunno!
Oh, congratulations – and The Last Unicorn is one of my favourite books too! Christine xx
Congratulations on being a granny…it is wonderful.
Many congratulations to your little granddaughter! What a wonderful addition to your whole family!
“The littlest feet make the biggest footprints in our hearts.”
What a beautiful heaven sent anniversary gift ❤️Congratulations to you and your beautiful family ❤️🙏🏽
Our lives contain SO much! I really enjoy the way you write…full of the details of living! Seems you have learned to live in the day…how beautiful!
Asking God to give your sister courage and a great deal of hope. 25 years of building a marriage…and a Grandchild….so much love shared!
Life in this world is complicated…but it’s a journey given to each one of us.
I’m thankful you share pieces of yours with all of us. Beautiful!
Congratulations!! How exciting! May our dear Lord bless little Elsie always!
YAY Grandma! As soon as I saw “Amalthea” I went, “Hm, Last Unicorn?” 🙂 Grew up with that movie! She is precious
Congratulations on becoming grandparents! It’s the best! We became a grandparents for the first time in March and we are expecting a second grand-baby any day now. So exciting and fun!
I am praying for your sister.
Congratulations! Such a sweet way to start November, now for all the warm snuggles!
A very hearty congratulations on your anniversary AND your first grandchild! We will celebrate 28 years on our next anniversary… and are waiting for grandbabies #2 & #3. How did this season come upon us so quickly? I’m sure I don’t know. But I love all of its twists and turns and feel I’m right where God wants me!
Congratulations 🎊 Grandparents already? How can that be?? So which child is Seth?? I haven’t been around for awhile!
Congratulations!
Babies are always the best news!!! Prayers and many happy thoughts for you and Seth and his family, and also for your sister!
Congratulations to the whole family on the arrival of Elsie! This is the beginning of a new era of (grand)mothering for you, on top of your continuing mothering, and may God bless it abundantly. Life and beauty are bursting out all over!
A lovely little one! Congratulations to your family, Ginny. The fragrance thing is real, and it’s awful. And when your face has to be right on something with that smell, it’s worse. I would have been suffering as much as you were. I recently bought a vintage wool blanket on ebay, have washed it four times, and can’t get the smell out of it. I’ll keep trying, but I’m using a lot of water in doing so – not sure if I should keep on. I bought some Biokleen, and am hoping it will make the difference.
Congratulations grandma and entire family. Manny blessing for the baby. So happy for you.
Oh such wonderful news about your grandbaby. I’m awaiting my first grandchild (a boy) in February. Elsie is beautiful. Congrats!! I’m so sorry about the Airbnb and your sister. I know that is tough being far away from her. I’m glad you were able to visit her. Much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Welcome baby Elsie! Congratulations to you all. My thoughts are with your sister too, Ginny.
Sending lots of prayers for your sister. I went through this with my sister in the spring. All came out amazingly well.
Fun giveaway- congrats on your first grand babe!
Baby Elsie is beautiful! Congrats to Phoebe and Seth, and you and Jonny are Grandparents!
I’m with you, I can not stay in places that have fragances in them, no matter candles or laundry/cleaning soaps. I would have been crying too!
25 years, a big Anniversary for sure…congrats!
Beautuful news!! Congratulations!!