September 28, 2025 AD

It is almost the end of September and again I am wondering how it has passed so quickly. It hasn't been the kindest month to me (lots of appointments and sickness), but yet I can't complain too much about it. It has been very mild in terms of heat. Heat is still lingering, but not oppressive heat like usual.  I have slowly added some fall decor which comes in waves for the entire season. I like to add it slowly based on the occasions of the months. For instance, 

my kitchen table usually has placemats, cloth napkins, and candles adorning it, but they change with the months of fall beginning with burnt orange and navy to start football season (it looks like it will be another long non fun one for us). Then it moves to a more orangey look for October and more browns and greens for November. I have no pictures to share of that, so you will have to use your imagination.

I did add the pumpkins on my dining room table. I still love the pumpkins I picked up at Joann's about 12 years ago.

The sideboard will get its Pilgrims and Indians with the cornucopia in November. That is one of my favorite decorations. Now, my mom would pull out her turkeys in October because I don't think I ever saw any Halloween decorations at our home growing up. For now, our doggies decorate the top. 

I have been in a ribbon mood this year. I have no explanation for it because that can happen some years and others I find them detestable.

It is a brown gingham that has been sprinkled all around the house this year.

I had grandiose plans for September and quite frankly not much of it happened. That just comes with the territory sometimes. I have stitched and read good books so that is a win. 

We kept Tucker and Palmer for Lindsay and Tyler to go out to eat Friday evening for her birthday. Normally, Lindsay and I share a party for our birthday but as I said, my plans have all been turned upside down for this month.  Jeff and I along with Valerie did pick her up from work to go to lunch this week. I do plan to celebrate with a dessert and all the family over in October when we have our normal weekend all together in Auburn. We have been doing this in September for the past few years, but we switched it up this year. I will probably just keep that surprise a secret. 

On Friday evening, I took some owls that I got at the Dollar Tree to put together. I wasn't sure they would have any interest in doing them, but they surprised me and loved it. We played outside until dark. They were getting along and coming up with things to do without any arguing. Mimi enjoyed herself immensely. We then came in and played some games before the parents got home. I wasn't even tired at all...reåson?... they got along. I told them so too.

I finished my Christmas gift stitch. Isn't it cute? I will love bringing this out in December.

I buy entirely too many books but I have tried to allot that in to my budget. I figure if it is one that Mom, the girls and I will all read, it is worth it. I have 3 to be delivered in October by 3 of my favorite authors; Sean Dietrich, Karen Kingsbury and Jan Karon. I should have plenty to read for the remainder of the year. I keep my list of books read on Goodreads. I really thought I had read more fiction this year than nonfiction but they were close in number. Fiction will win out with my 3 latest books coming. I have made an intentional effort to add more back into my life and it has been a good and positive thing.

I did read the latest Fannie Flagg book which is a collection of short stories called Something to Look Forward To. I enjoyed it and definitely think it is geared to the older more mature :) reader. I would probably say wait until you can get it at the library though. My favorite book of all time of hers is Standing in the Rainbow. I can only say that it is quirky and reminds me of my childhood which had a lot of hard times with so many deaths in my family, but the book hugged me in that the descriptions of things such as Christmas decorations made me think of the good in that decade of my life. I choose to think of standing in the rainbow rather than all the sadness...if that makes sense.

The picture below is testament that I gave the door and the surrounding casing a new coat of paint. I chose to share the full setting of said door to show you the dilemma with that door.

The tower would seem as though rain wouldn't be an issue since the overhang on the tower is pretty far out, BUT the tower doesn't have an issue with rain. Rain in northwest Florida is hardly ever a sweet little shower. When it rains, the bottom falls out and we get torrential downpours. Literally almost every time. What happens is the rain comes pouring around that tower and is supposed to go into those gutters. The rain is usually too much for those gutters and it just comes down so hard that it wets the windows to the left of the door and the door. This will be the second time in 12 years we have had to replace the casing around the door due to water damage. This time a composite material was used and I have often suggested a storm door might help. Jeff will not hear of the storm door idea. For 41 years we have mostly agreed on every issue, but this one not so much. The window casings had to repaired and the door now. It has been caulked multiple times and no one really has a great idea to help the situation.

Soooo.... I repainted the casing and gave the door a fresh coat of paint. Looks pretty nice at the moment, but for how long?

Valerie is officially a crawler and that has actually made her a little happier. She can now move around and entertain herself more. She gets places quickly which has me on guard.

We went out to the beach Saturday morning and the Gulf is still very warm, so we can't let our guard down for hurricanes just yet. 

September is about to move on out and October is coming in. I see no sign of fall temps in the extended forecast. Time will tell --- I just don't want anything stirring in that southern Gulf so I guess I need fall to come on and get here.

Until next time,

Sandy