they say that the rain is about to begin. and this after we have enjoyed such lovely weather since we arrived. i was telling AP a few days ago that i remembered November in these parts. how it's so lovely and then it turns wintery fast. it can take you by surprise. i wanted to be aware and appreciative of the sunshine while we still had it. so today we spent the morning out.

the main item on the itinerary was story time at the library. after a nap and a shower and some cottage cheese and a Satsuma tangerine, we headed that way. we found out that story time for our age group is held in a separate room instead of being in the middle of the children's library. it felt a little out of the way and closed-in. we could have used an open window. we sang alot and did finger plays. but we only read two board books. we can stand to read a bit more than that! then the librarian brought out a box of dolls and trucks and puzzles and balls: all things that Mabel loves to play with. she played with the other kids, offering a doll to hug or a ball to roll. she had a good time. then we said goodbye to the toys and the kids and the light fixtures. she left murmuring, "i love you!"

then off to a neat little shop to find a birthday card for Jude, our cousin. i found the perfect card, a print by Nikki McClure. it's there at the top. just perfect to welcome Margaret and Jude into this second year together. then to the Salvation Army where we found a towel rod for our bathroom and a pair of tennies just right for the little one. it was just beginning to rain when we arrived home.