Scary Politics and Halloween

Shadow Lakes Village

Ahhhh the serenity of our little neighborhood in Blacksburg. We call ourselves Shadowlakes Village. Below is a view of a main portion of the community. We have a common owned building where the community eats meals together twice a week. We have children's activities, work days in which the community cleans up the "common grounds". I sign up for a weekly cleaning chore at the common house. The homes are built close together and cars are not allowed to drive up to the homes, requiring neighbors to walk in front of each others' homes and actually interact. The development, or in actuality a 'co-housing community' (feel free to google it if you're curious), has preserved some of the native forest in which we are located, hence the woods directly across the walkway from our house (see earlier entry), which backs up against a local preserve called 'Brown's farm', and Brown's farm sits directly across a street from Brush Mountain's hiking trail that leads one to Pandapas pond up this small mountain side. It is really ideal for us as we have been so welcomed by the community and have already made friends here. It is like a small church town, like Menan, within the town of Blacksburg. People who want to be connected to people as they live their lives. People have commented on how well we have transitioned into activity in the neighborhood and how comfortable we seem here, so I tell them stories about Menan and they understand because it is places like Menan, in terms of small town helpfulness, know everything about you, say 'hi' to seven people as you go for a walk, and don't tell anyone your sick or you'll get a casserole type of community that the founders of this place were trying to replicate. Those who have relocated here have done so specifically for the connections and enriching relationships they feel they get here. Sounds a little hippy-ish? Hhhmmmm. Maybe a little mormonish? Double hhmmmm. When people relate closely like this, there can be bumps and it seems to work only as well as the general kindness and generousity of the people (in my great Sociology-as-a-minor-in-college opinion) who live here. I can truthfully say, it works well here and we love it.

View from the Common house

Interestingly though, in this time of political ferver in our great state of Virginia (where my presidential vote actually matters - sorry Idahoans), one would have to be postmortem not to sense the political flavor of our Shadowlakes community. I'll give you two guesses. Nope. Not Republican (good try though).

In all of the thirty three homes in Shadow lakes Village, there is only one non-Democrat besides ourselves. Meet Larry.



Larry let me take his photo on halloween night as he sat outside his home in his robe and sleep apnea mask to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. It was the closest thing he had to a costume I think. I wonder how he'd feel if he new it was now posted on the web (I guess there's a lesson there about bathrobes, sleep apnea masks and letting neighbors take photos of you -oh good, none of that applies to me).

Not only is our community nearly totally Democrats (of which I have no problem with), they are extremely and actively politicized and a highly educated and informed bunch (which makes me concerned that they may come to have a problem with me). Consequently, through a series of passive non-actions and deciding to keep my mouth shut (hard to believe I know) in many a conversation, Juan and I have inadvertently become what we call, 'closet Republicans', or maybe the more truthful term would be 'closet non-Democrats' as we formally belong to no particular political party. It has gone so far that if I let it out that I may not vote Democratic in the Presidential election tomorrow, that there will be those who will be embarrassed about the comments they have made about conservatives and Republicans, at the time not realizing that I was a wolf was among them in Democratic wool. Oh, I have been a fly on the wall, and at times have wanted to fly, fly away. Though I seriously take no offense, because I think those speaking most genuinely (or is it just generally) like me and I too have been known to put my foot in my mouth a time or two (or three).

Yesterday, I was asked by a fellow SLVer (that's our acronym, cool huh?) if I was a Democrat. I think I mumbled something about swing voter and started to talk about Larry. I think I skated out of that one, but I'll be glad when it's all over tomorrow night and the intensity drops a couple of notches. Though if McCain wins, I fear it will be rough going for a while as frustrations will be vented, events put under verbal microscopes, and every hypothesis examined again and again. The community is going to watch the voting returns tomorrow night at the common house. I think I'll stay home.

Now that I've gone on and on about things you don't really care about, lets get to the real show; the grandkids!

Here are a bunch of photos of our goings on.

Diego helping me make cookies.

How Diego and Lucas REALLY help me make cookies.

Halloween night was great. The whole community makes it so much fun for everyone, adult and child alike. No trunk or treating. It was like the Halloweens I remember as a kid. Neighbors out visiting and laughing, a spook alley of sorts set up between houses. People tended to be health conscious too. The kids got more wholesome treats and people (including myself) made homemade goodies and put them in baggies labeling who made them so that the parents knew they were safe. Diego was given a glow stick and he and a neighbor's visiting grandson went around after trick-or-treating was over and yelled "Happy Halloween" to everyone they saw out visiting on their porches. People wished them Happy Halloween back.
Lucas mastered the trick-or-treating ritual after a couple of run throughs and everyone said "aahhh" at how cute he was saying "twitertwit" in his bear costume.

Diego was a very dangerous ninja with many "cool" ninja moves. The ninja tricks that Diego does is not to be confused as "fancy", or "neat", or "hard", or "tough". If you say one of these terms, or any other, in describing Diego's ninja mastery, you will be corrected in a manner that makes you feel you have missed the obvious. They are "cool".

(I fear for the bear)


Here are some photos of us in our wanderings on a Sunday drive.

We found two old covered bridges.

Pictures of the boys at Brown's farm

I'm threatening sleep deprivation, so I better sign off. Love to you all. We enjoy any email or phone call we can get. Keep us posted on how you all are doing.

Love again,

The Deaton clan

Fall Happenings

Time is moving faster than ever before. A week goes by, and I wonder "Wow, how did that happen so fast?", and then another week and another with all the same resulting feeling that I'm just hanging on to the hands of time, trying not to get spun around too much.

Juan is working hard at school of course. It has been very demanding for him both intellectually and mentally. It is a continuing adjustment for him to be a student and to catch up on his math skills. He is seeing the results of his hard work though and I'm sure he will continue to do well in the future also.

Diego is loving Preschool and the head teacher tells me he has made some good friends. One little girl in particular thinks Diego is the 'Cats Pajamas'. Mrs. Putnam, Diego's teacher, says he is pretty popular among the children. It makes me pause and wonder "Whats going on here?". Not that I doubt his lovability, but any of you who know Diego know that he can be, shall we say wound up a little tightly. It wasn't until I went to his preschool to bring his Birthday cupcakes for snack that I saw the master in action. I was impressed and aghast all at the same time. Diego was so well behaved, I thought someone performed a personality transplant when my back was turned. At first I WAS pleased and then I realized that he could be doing this at home, a little more often at least!!! Then entered the aghast emotion. I guess when it comes to good behavior, we take what we can get.Cassidy and Grace are two of Diego's good buddies in our neighborhood

Diego had a great Birthday I think. He was sung Happy birthday to four different times, presented with cake or cupcakes three times and blew out two sets of candles. This all between preschool, home and a party. I've decided that from now on, I will simplify birthdays. This one felt more like a two day festival or holiday rather than a birthday.
Still, we are sooo happy to have Diego. He is fun and generous and huge ball of energy keeping Dad and I going all day and sometimes into the night. He is learning and growing well. How grateful I am to be a participant and observer as this happens.

Lucas. Lucas still makes the most sour face crack a smile with his "Hi" and "Bye". He is a favorite around the neighborhood among children and adults alike. He constantly wants to be running and so I have brought out the old baby sling to keep him fastened to me and less inclined to fight to run away. He actually has developed a love for the sling. He will bring it to me and say "ride". I go on long walks with him in the evening sometimes, when Diego is spending some time with Daddy, and Lucas will tuck his arms into the sling and burrow his head against my chest. It is really very sweet and makes me regret that he has to grow older.

The leaves are turning beautiful. We are not at peak color yet, or so the locals tell me, but I wonder how more colorful we can get. It is something to behold. I will try to get some photos in the blog when the fall foliage is full on so you can see.


Love to you all,

The Deatons

Diego opening presents

A little video narration . . .

Why does Diego like his new home?



And here it is . . .



Diego DOING his favorite thing in Virginia . . .



And finally, a sweet moment with Lucas



Love again,

The cuckoo family...er...I mean the Deatons

Deaton Doings in Virginia

Sept. 19, 2008

It's been a month since our move to VA and we are still in awe that we are here. People don't deserve to be this blessed. Least of all: US!

Mom said that we have an ancestor that as he readied himself to move west with the early saints leaving such country as that which we find ourselves in now, he mourned to loss of such lush and beautiful natural surrounds and said the only reason he could leave such a place, was his testimony of the gospel. I think now he must have had some powerful testimony as I have already fallen in love.

The boys too, but in their own way: BUGS. Lots of bugs and interesting bugs too. We currently have a chrysalis we are keeping watch over. Juan thinks it's a monarch and we are anxious to see it.

Juan is of course very busy with school but seems to be doing alright. He works hard and longer hours buts makes certain to be home for dinner and to stay for a couple hours at least.

I am more busy than I have ever been in my life. I think though that I am being blessed with the ability to cope with the added demands put on me. I am happy here and have had many rewarding experiences.

Diego is flourishing in the co-housing community we live in (www.shadowlakevillage.org). It has provided instant friends for him and the way the community is situated, I can allow him to play in certain areas without my constant supervision. Diego went to his first day of preschool this Thursday and will now go three days a week in the mornings beginning the 22nd. The cut-off date for starting Kindergarten here actually would allow him to start school next year if we so choose.

Lucas is growing and developing well. When I ask him a question such as "Are you ready for nap?", or "Do you want some carrots?" He will predictably reply "no" which from him sounds like "Doh". I recently have discovered that if I encourage him to say "yeah", he will take his own verbal change or words as a cue to willing do what it is I want him to do. I'm enjoying it while it lasts.


Cheers for now. And all our love to family and friends. We miss you. We love you.

The Deatons