The trees outside our windows are bare now. Winter is prepped though who knows if any snow will fall. The temperatures ping-pong between mild and cold. On sunny, warmish days I feel like a narcissus bulb forced into early bloom.

But I do really want to go sledding in the park with Phineas. I can't wait for the city's first big snowfall. The hush of snow smothering traffic, the glitter of snow shining in every street light. The forced slowdown as we dig out, climb over snowdrifts, pass neighbors in the middle of day in the middle of the week going out for hot chocolate.

These photos are from Prospect Park in the last days of brilliant leaves on the trees - a couple of weeks ago.











Phineas loves airplanes... just like his mother...






Sometimes I wonder if it's possible that little bubs develop their sense of humor so early... or if he's picking up cues from us. But he routinely tries a sly move or ham act only to see if I'll smile. Although... he probably learned that from me a long time ago...