I did.

After that last mopey post was published, I did put on my boots and my raincoat and go for a walk in the woods. There's something about the post-rainfall quiet that is magical. Everything is crisper, shinier. And really, really hard to photograph well. The dog and I came back covered in burrs, I don't know how many times I have to learn NOT to traipse through the woods in my fuzzy sweat pants. Anyway, here's what Tuck and I saw:

Giant puffball mushroom size of a soccer ball, allegedly edible. I'll pass.

This last one was my favorite. Nature made some art, all by herself. I was beside myself and took half a dozen pictures, and couldn't get the lighting right, but that's ok. It was there, and I saw it.

We're still picking burrs off of everything. Small price to pay, though.

And now....

Tonight we watch volleyball! Our team won the Regionals and now we're off to Sectionals, against our cross town rivals. It's going to be crazy. We beat them in conference play this season for the first time in four years and we need to do it one more time to keep going. I'm almost nauseous just thinking about it. We've never made it to the State playoffs, and if ever there were a year, this is it.

Volleyball has been the best thing about this fall. Our daughter is playing great, the team is playing great and we've had our best season ever. Ever. I could never have imagined this future. And I can't imagine what I would be doing if I weren't sitting in a high school gym tonight, cheering and clapping until my hands hurt.

I'll let you know how it goes.

xo