Dear September…

….you’d  better come in here acting like  you’ve got some sense. 

Boy, could the headlines be any more of a sh*t show? Actually I shouldn’t even tempt it.   This post was originally (like 20 minutes ago) a political post.  But I’m so tired of my own damned outrage at the insanity I deleted the whole thing.   So here you go… a little lightness I need as much as anyone.

The goatgirlz!!  Oh, the joy they bring.  Star and Bella are like two toddlers we’ve adopted – they talk to us whenever we’re outside, even if we’re off in the distance.  If we’re sitting among them they climb all over us, and they love to chase my son around the paddock.   Goats love stuff to climb on – so our girlies got a picnic table we had up at the firepit that was getting a little dodgy, and they love their new perch.

 

Have you picked up any new hobbies or nurtured old ones during the pandemic?  I’ve picked up painting again and have found it to be very therapeutic .  I’m not a schooled artist and my paintings are a bit primitive, but I have learned a few tricks as I go along and while practice will never make me perfect, it has helped me get a better result when I paint.  These two I am very happy with – they were so much fun.  The first is a fall scene in Woodstock, Vermont – Sleepy Hollow Farm.  I added my son’s cat to it after this picture was taken, as this is a gift for his new home, soon to be completed… and I call it Lily in the leaves.   I really should go upstairs and snap a new picture but I’m lazy today, so you get the leaves without lily.

I just completed this one  below- using a photo I took of a wave on South Beach , Martha’s Vineyard.  Oh, how I have missed my favorite island this summer.  Hopefully by next year  travel will be a safe option again.

My vegetable garden is pretty much spent …. and for the 10th year in a row, our apple orchard produced zero apples – we’ve definitely done something wrong up there on the hill with the planting of those trees… but the raspberry and blueberry bushes provided bags and bags of frozen berries in my freezer for all kinds of baking and smoothies and cereal, etc. as the year rolls on.  I also have sauce in the freezer from the tomatoes we harvested.  It was just a -meh  type garden year.

Down at the shore cottage things are looking a little brown after a freak storm battered the community, flipping boats on their moorings, tumbling trees, battering foliage and turning it a scorched brown.  I’ve done some kayaking, mom has spent a few lovely weeks there and we all have frequented it for meals on occasion, but we did not get as much use out of it as previous years, mainly because of high heat and humidity and poor weather in general.

Here’s an awesome recipe I’ll share late in the season, but it is one of my favorites and because nowadays you can get just about anything any time of the year, you can probably make this all year long.   Whoever thought of throwing blueberries and corn into a salad together and then that honey lime dressing?  I thank them profusely for the gift of it.

My son’s house is coming along,  tentative move in date is October 15th –  his soon to be fiance’s birthday!   (yes, that’s happening soon! shhhh…. )

I am so happy for my son, for our whole family… because this lovely young woman has become a much loved member of our family in the six years they have dated.  Seeing them build the future together is such a joy.   They guide each other through thick and thin, have aided each other in building their careers, and they are strength to each other’s weaknesses,  bringing out the best in each other.  It’s a beautiful thing.

Mom with her favorite grandson, on his side porch

As for me, I have started a new diet plan – day five and I’m down four pounds.  I’m finding it totally do-able. I’m not hungry, I’m eating healthy, and the weight is slowly coming off.  The weight loss will slow, for that was probably mostly water weight – but I am finding this plan is excellent – doable, healthy eating.  I shop for the groceries and cook the meals, the meal plan and grocery listed are provided by the founder of the program. He’s traveled nationwide with his program and his clients span the globe, but he happens to live right here in town and has helped many of my neighbors, how cool is that!?  Here’s my before picture – 27 pounds to lose at day 1, down 4 already.  Believe me, this picture does not really show -all the fat -.   I’ll keep you posted on this, but if you’re looking for a program yourself and others have failed you (like me!) …. this..is working.

myslimnation.com – Robert Nevins

BEFORE……….

Stay tuned for the progress…..

And here are a few funnies for this strange, strange year….

Ah… that’s much better than the miserable political post I had intended.  Stay safe and sane, all –

Till soon –     

 

21 thoughts on “Dear September…”

  1. I’m so sorry for your loss. I know it’s been a difficult few years and it really was hard in so many ways. We lost my dear Mother in law this summer and it still doesn’t seem real that she’s gone. Take care my friend! Hugs from down South, Diane

    1. Thank you, Diane – I am sad to hear of your loss as well, so many losses this year. Let’s hope 2021 is kinder to us all – xo

    1. I’m definitely trying – by taking better care of myself. So far, I’m feeling better already. I hope I have the willpower to stick it out.

  4. Hello,

    I love your cute goats! Congrats to your son, great news. Your paintings look great to me, I do not have a creative bone in my body. I hope 2021 is better! Take care, enjoy your day!

  6. I am so with you on just being sick and tired of the political animosity that inundates the airwaves. Another good reason to refuse to watch any of it. Its a tough year all around, I agree. Hang in there. I love your son’s house. If its a gorgeous on the inside as outside (and I’m sure it will be), it’ll be a stunner.

  7. Well, I love both those paintings. Sort of primitive, yes, but with some great skill. They both have soul and energy. (Oh, I miss the Vineyard, too!) That big wave is fabulous — I have a terrible time capturing water. This is really, really nice.

    And your sweet goats — darling! The recipe looks good and so do your garden blooms. Sorry about all the storms at the cottage, though. Don’t start me on politics. I will be on needles and pins till the election is over and a new president is chosen. And if it’s the old one — then I’ll be on needles and pins forever…and not in a good way.

  8. I’ve never commented on your blog before but I’ve been following you for quite awhile. I live in Canada but we sure hear about that crazy Trump. I’ve agreed with everything you say.

    I’ve failed many times to loose weight . I don’t know why WW doesn’t work for me but it just doesn’t keep me motivated. You mentioned that your trying something new and so far so good. There is no pricing on the website . Is it expensive .

    1. Hi Pauline! Welcome! – Well, it’s not cheap but I feel it’s working and it’s doable and I’m not hungry on day 9, Weight watchers didn’t work for me – I think because there was no “coach” keeping up with me and tracking my progress with me. Rob keeps in touch, tweaks your plan when you feel you need the tweak, and he is very encouraging, uplifting, enthusiastic. I think that’s the difference. a one time fee of $695 gets you a personal page with slim nation, His consult and continued correspondence, he makes a meal plan for you to follow going by the foods you tell him you are willing to eat, what you like and don’t like, any health issues you have and what your goals are, gives you the grocery list to go with the meal plan he sends you after your constul, you do the shopping and cooking, obviously – and there are phone apps to go with it to help you track your progress and shop and select food. If you can swing it, I think it’s worth it. I’ve tried others – THIS is working. Amen. I feel better already – day 9, 5.5 pounds down. Not hungry, not starving myself.

  9. Your paintings! I’m loving them – everyone you’ve shown – not just today. I do wish I had that particular talent. I did buy myself a paint by number thing and am very excited to give it a try soon.

    I’ve been at the lake nearly all summer! It’s great and I don’t want summer to be over although I have a few ideas in my head for my house.

    Love you and yours and stay the course – it’s a rough ride for certain.

    1. Hello Deb!.. Thank you for the kind words! I love the whole paint by number concept and would love to see your finished work!

  10. ALL of your posts are great, and seeing that you echo so many of us who love your blog–rant away. Still, it’s nice to see what you are up to. Goats…God love them. They are darling and so friendly. Do you know we can have goats, chickens, and what else, I’m not sure, in Chicago? It blows my mind. As long as there are no complaints from your neighbors and everything is nice and tidy, you’re just fine. I’d love it. No more lawn service, I’d leave it up to my three goats, and I’d sell eggs to my neighbors, well…just the non-complainers.

    Your garden looks so neat and pretty. Crap on those apples. Did you have the soil tested? I’d love to grow fig trees but I’m just not in the right climate. My neighbor here at the lake moved a few weeks ago and the new people gave us the go-ahead to take what we wanted from the old man’s garden. Wow! He had a green thumb and I’m using tomatoes left and right!

    Best wishes to your son and his fiancé. That house is going to be gorgeous!

    Good luck with your diet. I trust your judgment and I’m looking forward to following along. Can you send me a link to the info? There is a change in the low carb plan, it’s now acceptable to add in fruit and grains. That’s a plus for me but I’m going to have to see how much I can have in a day without weight gain. I’m just stuck on the same number. 😒

    Take care, Karen!

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