Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Worth Repeating: Dear September

Dear September,

When I was a kid, I loved September!  September meant going back to school with new school supplies, notebooks, pencils, pens, cigar boxes for our school supplies, but most of all, a box of new crayons!

I can still smell the wax when I opened that box.  We could only bring a box of 24 crayons to school, so I looked forward to October, my birthday month, when I would probably get a new box of 64 crayons!  Isn't it odd, though, to think of you and think of the smell of wax when I opened my box of brand new crayons?

I also remember being hot in the early part of September.  It was then that I would smell the green chile  peppers roasting as everyone stocked up on the green and roasted the peppers to put away for winter.  The smell was heavenly!  The taste of those green peppers mixed with our food--beyond amazing!  I loved September for that reason!

Then, September, you began to cool off a bit.  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as windows were left open and the "swamp coolers" turned off.  You were really lucky if you had a swamp cooler!  Because of the dry air, your air conditioner would put water into the air of your home and cool it off.
You didn't run your swamp cooler a lot because of the expensive electricity, but there were times when you were cool.  You could sit and read inside and still be cool.

In the meantime, leaves were falling off the trees and drying.  I remember jumping up and down in the leaves just to hear them crunch.  Coming home from school, we'd all march in the leaves and come home with miniscule pieces of dried leaves clinging to our socks and filling our shoes.

September, you were a fun month when I was kid.  Even now, I am beginning to see leaves turning yellow.  I see gardens that are mature.  I see fresh produce from family gardens.  Sometimes, I'm even given a bit of fruit from a tree or vegetables from a garden.  Now, we bypass the heat and humidity.  We put on our light weight jackets when we go out.  We begin to harvest what we have sown this summer.  Yes, September, I miss summer, but I do welcome you with fond memories and expectations of the cold winter days ahead.   I'll be looking for a new winter coat this year.  September is a good month to buy a new coat.  There are a lot of sales right now.  September, you're finally here, and now, I'm off to enjoy you.

PS:: Don't tell anyone, but I still jump in piles of leaves when I can.  I also buy a new box of 64 crayons in September.  Shhhhhhhhhhh!  That's our secret, September.  Shhhhhhhhh!
 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Thoughts about Tuesday

If Tuesday were a place,Tuesday would be an ordinary place.  Monday is extraordinary because Monday begins he week.    Tuesday is just Tuesday because it follows Monday.  Like the middle child, Tuesday's place is set in the week and often neglected because it’s the day after Monday. 

For most people, Tuesday is a workday.  We have passed Monday, and we are headed to the weekend, but we are still a long way from that weekend on Tuesday.  Meh.  It’s Tuesday.

If Tuesday were a city,  Tuesday would be dull.  People who lived in Tuesday would all look like someone who could not be picked out of a line up because their faces were very much the same.  Their houses would be plain, not exciting.  Their children would live in Tuesday World, and they'd never know a Monday or any other day except for Friday, because on Friday, even though the people would be grateful,  their lives would be stuck in Tuesday.

I am so grateful that I don't live in Tuesday.  Tuesday is not extraordinary. Wait, I think I do!

Monday, September 19, 2016

It finally Realized...

a blog post doesn't have to be long to be a blog post.
So, in order to write on a regular basis again,
I plan to write
simple,
short 
posts
especially when I feel overwhelmed like now.
Summer has drifted into fall,
and
I didn't realize it.
Suddenly,
the temperatures were cooling
and
leaves have begun to fall.
I've been digging sweet potatoes
and 
regular potatoes, 
and
I missed the change.
Feeling overwhelmed is dreadful, especially when you miss the beauty of life.
The fog appears to be lifting.  
I hope so.
If you can,
whisper a quiet prayer for me. 
I know it would help.
Thank you.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.



1) Soon, the frost will be on the pumpkin.  The days are growing shorter.  The temperatures are cooling down a bit.  We are headed towards autumn!  September is here!


2) My walking sticks are almost finished!  I'm now in the process of varnishing them.  Two more coats, and they will be ready to use!  I'll show pictures next week.

3) The garden is still producing.  We are enjoying the fruits of the garden!  Tomatoes, kale, cucumbers.  Nummy!  Soon!  Pumpkins!

Thursday, September 1, 2016

August Melts into September

The seasons change again.
August has melted into September
like the wicked witch of the west
melted when the misguided 
bucket of water hit her.
"I'm melting!  I'm melting," she cried.
So, August is over and September has begun.

What do I think of you, Dear September?
I think I love you!
The heat will cool.
The air conditioner will be shut off.
The windows will be open again,
and fresh air will fill the house.

The first frost will tip toe into the air.
Unless it's a killing frost, the pumpkins will not sweeten up.
The vines will die, and the harvest will begin.
On many nights, we'll cover the surviving plants until the evenings are so cold that nothing will save the vines from death.
The good news is that the harvest will be ready.
We'll have potatoes, pumpkins, and what's left of the tomatoes will be on the window sills ripening.

We'll pull out our sweatshirts and light weight sweaters and jackets.
Jeans are so comfortable,
unless the hangars have shrunk the jeans  again.

September, you will lead us into October which brings us closer to winter.
Leaves will be blown into bags.
We'll celebrate a cool, warm day!
That's one of the benefits of autumn.

I think of the ancient ones who walked or rode horses where we now have streets.
Oh, September, I'm anxious to embrace you as I loosen my hold on August.
Let's dance until it's too cold to move.
Now, I'll love you!!!!