September 16, 2025 AD

First up...

I am done trying to come up with titles for my posts. I am over it! From now on, a title will only have a date, a holiday, month or season in it. 

I didn't mean to fall off the radar, but I couldn't have forced a post last week with the news had I not had good reasons for my absence. The news of Charlie Kirk just was too much to muster up any energy to write or engage about. Those things go in my paper journal which got quite a few pages of my jumbled thoughts.

Thank goodness for paper journals...they are my release.

In my last post I had mentioned I had to take Mama to 3 different doctor appointments (dermatologist, ENT, and pain doctor for an injection) the first week of September and somewhere in all of those I got myself a case of pneumonia. I have been down for the count on feeling so poorly and ringing in a birthday too. I was sick all last week and finally decided I wasn't going to get better on Thursday, so I called the doctor's office and went in. He gave me an antibiotic, some steroids, and cough medicine. I even thought I felt a little better Friday evening, but when I woke up Saturday morning I couldn't get a good deep breath. Jeff immediately said we were going to the ER, and I balked big time. He pulls out the oxygen meter and I made him change the batteries because I just couldn't register that it could possibly be correct. Not enough O2 to the brain I suppose. I lost the battle and he watched football that day on his phone.

I am just so weak now, but I am much better and feel certain with a few more days I will be fine. It has put a lot on Jeff. He had to take Mama to the doctor today. I have no idea what I would do without him. His knee is healing but he is still on a slow roll himself.

I promise to try and talk about only the good stuff in the blog which I would imagine we could all use some, so I will try to jog my memory for some of that stuff over the last 2.5 weeks and then I am going to do my best to go visit all my friends here in Blogville.

When we arrived back from Auburn on the 1st, I had an early birthday present waiting from my friend, Arlene. I mean look at all this goodness. Pattern, linen (gorgeous pinky color), floss, and the board to finish it. I dove in stitching on it right away. I am honestly very close to finishing the stitching but I will wait to share the finish. 

The pinky color doesn't show up. I tried twice. Hopefully, when I am done adding all the red stitching to it you will be able to see it. I will try another location to photography it. The linen almost resembles peppermint to me.

I kept seeing this fabulous card in the package too and finally figured that it popped it up and out and oh my....how cute it this?! 

It has become part of the fall decor that I am slowing letting come in. I always am reluctant to let fall in for some reason. I am not this way on any season other than fall. One would misinterpret it -if you think I hate fall. I really don't. I think it just means the year is going to fast and if somehow I hang on it won't go so fast. Once I accept it, I find it to very a nice season. One thing though is it that it remains warm here and it is harder to feel all the falls, but doggone it this September has been so mild. 

We have a fall blooming azalea flower that has been loaded with butterflies and dragon flies and the bottle brush shrubs have even attracted some hummingbirds. Those have been such rewards when hopping outside.

On another plant note, I planted the one geranium this year rather than going overboard. Usually by the end of August they are completely done. This year I kept it watered, but didn't fertilize it at all during the hot months of summer. I sort of let it go dormant. A couple of weeks ago, it just popped up with a bunch of blooms. September has been milder than usual and I guess it felt it could try again to produce some lovely blooms.

I managed to actually fully finish Valerie's Christmas ornament. It is all ready for her this Christmas. I backed it with the traditional tartan plaid that I have done the others' in but gave her an oval shape.

*****

I turned 65 despite spending the day before in the ER missing all the college football goodness. I have a good husband who took good care of me and what more could one ask for. 

I am truly so blessed. I learned long ago that birthdays and aging are to be celebrated ---not moaned over that one is getting old. I lost my dad at 32. I remember waking up to my 32nd and looking at Lindsay and thinking I would never ever moan about getting old. I would always look upon my birthday as a gift to watch my children grow and now watch my grandchildren grow. 

I accept wrinkles, saggy skin, age spots and all that with grace. I do my best to take care of myself but no one can avoid all germs and sickness. I have felt quite awful this past week, but I will be ok with some time.

The kids are so busy and both have had many challenges lately, but they loved on me well and we had a quick meal on Sunday evening, my actual birthday. Long time readers may remember that the past few years Lindsay and I have celebrated our birthdays together since we are about 10 days apart, but she felt I needed one alone this year for 65 I guess. I didn't argue.

I will be popping in trying to catch up but I am sure many of you are like me...

the current events have zapped  me. 

Sandy

Hello September

Here it is September once again... how can that be? It is a full month of birthdays and our anniversary. We celebrated 41 years together today. We are home from Auburn rested for all the busy days ahead. After so many health issues that try to paralyze one with fear, we are so grateful for 41 years of marriage. We know every day is a gift. 

The weather was spectacular in Auburn for the weekend. I am so grateful to have the home in Auburn. It is such a different setting than our primary coastal home. It is truly the best of 2 worlds. Auburn played away, but it was still bustling with energy in Auburn. Our little neighborhood is very close to the action, but yet very quiet and restful. It is surrounded by oaks, not live oaks like at home, but all kinds of other ones. It makes for a peaceful outdoor setting. 

I said I didn't decorate for fall right away, but I sat there looking at the built-ins at Auburn and thought they are just naturally a more fall look with the browns, cotton, squirrels and more fall colored items on them. It helped me get in the mood although I am still hanging on to summer a bit.

Auburn usually helps me prepare for the transition from summer to fall. It lends itself to a more fall setting than living at the beach. There is such beautiful farm land in northern Florida along the border between Florida and Alabama. In the summer the fields are so green and lush with crops, but this time of year the cotton has been planted. Once I see that I am usually able to start thinking about letting fall in. Once it blooms in a few weeks, it is like a rite of passage for fall to me.

I did quite a bit of stitching, walking, watching football and general easy living. We spent time with friends and ate out mostly while there, so tomorrow is back to reality of eating right. Mom has 3 doctor appointments on 3 different days this week, so as I said, September will start off busy. 

I did get my stitching mojo back and it felt so good. I started 3 new things in my excitement. All 3 are mostly small but still have lots of stitches in them. I will share more when I get farther along on them. I even sewed my latest stitch into a pillow. Need to trim it. Here is a preview of what it is to come.

I also arrived home to the cutest stitching present from a good friend. I will wait until my next post to share it. So good!

We went out to eat with good friends on Sunday evening and the restaurant was so kind. They brought out champagne for our anniversary.  Many of you know I don't drink alcohol (I don't think there is anything wrong with it- just a personal decision with a long story behind it), but I was so impressed that I smiled sweetly and had my picture taken. 

We don't look like those kids from long ago, but we are blessed indeed.

Lindsay and her family went with the in-laws over to Cape San Blas and had a fun weekend at the beach. The weather was supposed to be rainy all weekend in the south or so we thought. They had good beach days. I thought their picture was so good.

Paul Allen and family hung out at our house for a good part of the weekend enjoying our waters. Katie got a sweet picture of the kiddos in their Auburn attire. Valerie's outfit was one I got for her. 

I am so happy to have my turn keeping her. 

Back to reality tomorrow, but one last note. I think I have had many new readers and here we thought blogging was on the way out. Anywho, I decided to add a little more to my About Me page at the top of the blog. I added the characters you see here on the blog so you understand all the names.

Happy September,

Sandy