Fall arrived

Fall arrived today.  Fat droplets fell from the sky and leaves danced across the pavement driven by blowing winds.  I'm not sure which is most Fall like, is it the wind, that, while constant, is suddenly so much faster, and louder?  Or is it the return of the rain?  Or perhaps it's the unexpected arrival of the frogs that screams fall?  I'm pretty sure it's not the last because the only other time I've seen the frogs out and about in such numbers was the middle of the first summer we got here.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, which I have done most of my life (we seldom mention the brief (8 year) stint I spent in the midwest).  I grew up with slugs everywhere, nothing worse than stepping on a slug in bare feet.  You can wash and wash but that feeling is still there, a slimy reminder your brain won't let go of.  I didn't know there were frogs here though, well tree frogs anyway.  Until I came back and moved further north and suddenly there they are, everywhere!  This summer I kept waiting to see them and didn't.  It's been dry here, as with most of the country but it didn't occur to me that they were waiting for rain.  Now that the rain has returned the frogs were out like crazy.  We counted no less than 10 of them on the sliding glass door last night.  I need a better camera, so I can take great pictures to share.

**As a side note, I did find the camera I want for Christmas.  It's a Sony NEX F 3 with a bundle but I already know there is no chance in I wonder if I should take up a collection amongst those who gift buy for me?**

So back to my frog story...sort of.  I guess the only other thing I would add, aside from loving the frogs is that, while trying to figure out if this could be a topic of discussion with a friend I learned that some frogs in the world are in trouble.  My plan is to dig a little deeper to find out if they built the arks or not. After all this story was from 2008!

I've already shifted my planner page, again.  See with the arrival of fall I realize I can no longer hide from the Event I should be planning for that will happen on the 30th of this month.  I am not excited about this project, Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  Though I totally get into that Harvest Festival type celebration.  This event got thrust on us and now I've got to make it a go.  It's getting close to last minute and that means crazy stress mode for me.  Something I don't want to happen this year.  So, while it might not make a difference for this event, I still have two more this year to plan for.  One in December and the final one at the end of May.  I might be helping the team across the street put one together too, have to see if they take me up on the offer.  So many possible great themes, I'd love to do a Rodent Readers type thing, with all the rodent heros from books.  Can't think of any?  Are you sure?  What about Stuart Little?  Runaway Ralph?  Mrs. Frisby?  Too old school for you?  How about Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat?  That's not counting the numerous mouse heros that populate picture books!  But sadly we won't be doing a mouse themed event this year.  Our upcoming one is a version of All Hallows Read.  In December it's for the book fair and will have the All Stars theme again, and in May it'll be a science event thanks to the book fair theme being Story Laboratory.

I'm thinking it would be nice if I had some sorta focus for this blog, but right now it's whatever comes into my head gets slapped down.  So why is it the word slapped got me thinking wayward thoughts?  Must be something...if I could just put my fingers on it.....