Don’t think too hard when you look at this Love Thursday shot of Moose. Freaky, huh? The Dog was a gift from Auntie M last Christmas, and Moose has taken to it.

Actually, he will sleep under or next to anything soft and smushy — he’s a complete comfort whore. Try keeping him out of the bed at night — it’s madness!

I’m still not back to my regular jovial self, what with my pretzel pelvis. I have figured out, however, that it would probably feel better if I didn’t have my own head wedged up in there. So, working on that in the next 24 hours.

I do, in the meantime, love that stout little terrier. He’s consistently one of the best parts of our days.

Eddie from Ohio, Woman of Faith

I haven’t had much to say these last few days. However, I had to post today so that you could see the marvelous new masthead for Fannfare Fall. Fall Fannfare. FFF. Jeff McMillen wows me every time. I think at least four of these a year to change with the seasons, yes? If you are still getting the green in the background, refresh a couple times. Don’t you love it, my Pumpkins?

It is Love Thursday today. Alas, on Sunday I left the cable to my camera at a friend’s house, so I can’t tap into the wealth of new photos from this last week on the Nikon. I will, however, leave you with this video — possibly the cutest little person on the planet. I think I love him.

Note: I have committed to take part in NaBloPoMo, which is a push to get bloggers to post every day in November. So, check in then for more drivel!

I wish you love today.

Simon and Garfunkel, Sound of Silence

One of my favorite kinds of love these days is the kind my friends have for my kid. It starts off as a love that’s because of you — because you “made” this little thing, and it is part of you and your spouse. But when it matures and grows, with your child, into something that is individual and unique to just those two, it’s very special.

On our recent trip to Hartford, Ruby and Jeff bonded over pumpkins. We rolled around for hours looking for just the right ones…Jeff can be seen here loading the perfect pumpkin into the cart. Ruby made sure, 150 times, that the pumpkins were in the car on the way home. And then, who can’t help but become friends over pumpkin snot and all the jokes that inevitably accompany it?

It was clear, on the plane ride home, that Jeff and his partner David were Ruby’s new pumpkin pies.

I wish you love today.

And, folks? Is it Love Thursday or Poetry Thursday? You’re killin’ me with all these different themes.

Oh, okay. A pumpkin haiku, with some love in there too:

You make me giggle
Connecticut clown-around
As you spit up goo.

Marty Robbins, Love is in the Air

On my local moms’ list today, a gal in my neighborhood talked about her mother-in-law (MIL) having a friend who was directly affected by the tragedy in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania last week. Her granddaughter was one of the 10 girls killed in the attack. Because the Amish shun modern technology and don’t watch television, this Grandmother wondered aloud if anyone had heard of their suffering, if anyone was praying for them, if anyone was moved.

My heart broke into lots of little shards when I read about this woman. Imagine going through something like that and not knowing whether it mattered to anyone but you?

I care. I know many people who were completely shattered when they read the news. I can’t imagine not reaching out.

On today, Love Thursday, I don’t have a photo to share — instead I have a request. A suggestion? A plea.

Jen Smoker, my neighbor, is putting together a collection of emails from families everywhere to have her MIL deliver to her friend. She has asked that you share whatever is on your heart about this particular family’s loss. Your emails should be addressed, “Dear Grandmother.”

Lastly, Jen added that one of the ladies who escaped the school was pregnant and has since given birth to her child. She named it after the little girl that “Grandmother” lost.

Please address your emails to jen.smoker@starpower.net.

I wish you love today.

Annie Lennox, A Thousand Beautiful Things

On our walk through the New York Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago, this Chihuly (one of many in the garden) rose up like a phoenix in our sites. Up close? Even better:

I first fell in love with Dale Chihuly’s work at The Bellagio Hotel in Vegas. I think I sat underneath that mind-numbing thing for 20 minutes before being able to move on and keep gambling.

Another treat that awaited us on our stroll:

The hits just kept on coming as we wandered throughout the day. Just amazing.

And, I kept running across this fella:

who is a work of art of an entirely different sort.

I wish you love today.

Blondie, Heart of Glass

As promised, the inimitable Fitch Heiges (just in time for Love Thursday)!

Two days old and he was already charming the tops off all the ladies in the room. Just like his Daddy.

I wish you love today.

Talking Heads, Stay Up Late

It’s Love Thursday again. I like the routine of consciously thinking about love every week, and showing a way that I feel it. I do a lot of it, but most of it is without thinking.

For instance, I continue not to think about how many of these I ate:

Take a bag of mini-sweet peppers from Costco, stuff ‘em with Alouette cheese, roast ‘em for 10 minutes or so, and you’ve actually made love. At least it feels that way if you are me. Of course, I might actually eat a fish head stuffed with Alouette and feel the same, such is the love.

Easier to identify is this kind of love:

I made the peppers for Ruby’s godfathers, who came over to see her after our summer away. Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type, a big green stuffed animal, and Hollis and Foster? That’s love too.

I wanted to introduce you to Fitch Heiges !!! who was born at 1:30 this afternoon. I didn’t get up to the hospital yet, so I don’t have a pic. He’s the brand-new son of these folks, two of my favorites. Wendy was wiped out but I hope to see her in the morning and meet the little soldier. Heck, it’s all about Love this Thursday!

I wish you love today.

Barbra Streisand, Evergreen

Don’t you just want to squish them both? My goddaughter, with her goddaughter, my daughter (squeeze her too hard, she makes water).

I wish you love today.

Cat Stevens, Can’t Keep It In

Bring me to meet your soul
And I will bring you to my heart

Love like a signal you call
Touching my body my soul
Bring to me, you to meet me here

Home be the temple of your heart
Home be the body of your love
Just like Holy water to my lips

Yes I do know how I survive
Yes I do know why I’m alive
To love and be with you
Day by day by day

(I wish you love today).

For more entries about Love Thursday, click here and here.

Moodswings, Spiritual High: State of Independence

We done gone and did it, folks. We bought a house. In Colorado.

Actually, we bought a dirt lot with the promise of a house. But oh, the promise. I am posting this picture in honor of Love Thursday because my heart swells like a cantaloupe when I think that we CAN do this, much less that we HAVE.

I love it here.

Note: I am on a high right now — one that blocks out any thoughts of being away from all of you. You know that breaks my heart. Can we just think about the delicious floor plan for now?

On a separate note: Shaun calls me Rain Girl because of my singular ability to sing-on-cue any song ever written (OK, that’s a bit bold, but I do know a lot of lyrics).

Every blog seems to have a schtick. They either link to other fun sites, talk about deep important stuff, or just crack everybody up. I don’t know what my niche will finally be, but we came up with a fun idea today. Starting with this post, I will title each post with a lyric. I will try desperately to use a lyric that is relevant to the post, but if that doesn’t work, I’ll just defer to a classic. And, I will somehow link to the song or lyric so that you can share in the tune as well.

Who knows if this will cause legions of folks to check in — but it will sure give us all something to hum about, yes? And, there will be those nay-sayers who check in to see, “Is She Still Doin’ It?” To those negative-Nellies, I say “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet…”

I wish you love today.