september musings

…and for now it seems as though
you are still summer
still the high familiar
endless summer
yet with a glint
of bronze in the chill mornings
and the late yellow petals
of the mullein fluttering
on the stalks that lean
over their broken
shadows across the cracked ground…

To the Light of September by W. S. Merwin

The kids, all the kids, except my oldest son, are back in school. It’s been 2 weeks of school for the high schoolers, and 1 week for the college son. My oldest son started a new job about 2 weeks ago after graduating from a master’s program in political science at Lehigh University.

Labor Day was the end of my summer soul camp, a project I did with my sister-in-law. Looking back, I think I achieved much of my plans, except for the creative projects. We are in the process of finishing the office painting and re-organizing, I am so very happy to report. Having a quiet space is much needed right now.

My plan for September

I feel the urge to close the garden gate, as my sister-in-law often says. I found myself surfing Pinterest for September homemaking posts, and fall recipes. I’m challenging myself to take my Canon 50D with me everywhere to take pictures in black and white. I’m also going to work on my watercolor and drawing skills.

Also top on the list is preparing the garden for winter and next year. I have lots of bulbs to put in the ground, along with a few plants to move. I need to put down lime and grassseed to improve the lawn.

I’m also going to re-organize and declutter our basement shelves while pulling out decorative items and pictures to hang upstairs. If I’m feeling ready, I may start removing wallpaper in the small hallway next to the garage and the butlers’ pantry at the end of the month. Our lab puppy decided to remove wallpaper in the butlers’ pantry himself.