What an awesome start to a new month. All the excitement I felt about September was certainly justified if the first seven days are anything to judge by. It makes me even more excited to see what else September will bring.
One thing it's bringing are the signs of a changing season. Goldenrod is blooming here and there and some of the leaves have started to lighten, or to be tinged with red. That indefinable something, that isn't quite a new season but is, lingers in the air. It feels a bit early, I know. It is a bit early. I had to remind myself today, as we drove home, that indeed we have not hit the halfway point of this month, we are not near the equinox.
But then seasons don't always come just when man has designated them to come. The earth has its own wisdom, given by God ages ago when he created the seasons. Two years ago, we had an early Easter. Spring not only exploded early, we headed right into summer temperatures before we'd had a week of Spring. This year, autumn will come a little earlier than we think it might
This summer has been unseasonably cool. Not "cool" as anyone from up north might define it, but 'cool' as we hear in the South would. We've been barely 90F most days and we've had only one day that went over 100F and then only to 101. Next week several mornings will be in the 50's. I really must think about bringing in my orchids. They prefer 65F and above.
Friday: Grandparents Day. It was a very long day. Up around 6am, out of the door around 7am. We arrived at Caleb's school a little after 8. I was glad I'd brought my book along. I read a chapter or so and then it was time to go stand in the line. The inexplicable thing they did was to come out with a clipboard that we had to sign. The woman went to the BACK of the line and dropped it off and told that person to pass it forward. Of course, there were people who came to join the line who didn't get signed up and the clipboard didn't make it to the front of the line before they opened the doors, so that was pretty much a cluster. And then they checked us off a typewritten list once we were indoors.
Bella and Liam (a cousin to Bella and a friend of Caleb's) were at one table and that grandmother asked if we wouldn't come join them. However, Caleb's teacher had her students gathered at one table and she wasn't letting them go anywhere. That's fine. We stopped to speak to Bella who snuggled into her grandmother and told me "I've got my grandma." Made me redundant pretty quickly.
It was less chaotic than last year. It truly was. It went fairly smoothly overall. John read to Caleb. Caleb sulked because he couldn't go up on stage. And he and Bella both sulked because they weren't going home. He refused to color his picture for me. But he was very polite to those around him, talked with and got pictures with two of his classmates, and behaved well enough.
We got out of the parking lot with a minimum of struggle.
Our only issue was that Katie and I had already discussed our going by the house. She said we'd be welcome (as I knew) but I also knew she was working and couldn't really visit. I said we'd head on home since we'd have just about enough time to grab a bite to eat and leave again. In the meantime, John was texting her asking if he might come by...
As it was, I'm glad I overruled his want to stop for coffee. We had to fill up my car with gas and got home at 11:15. We had enough time to catch our breath, eat and leave all over again. Millie's school is much nearer to us, only about 20 minutes away. We purposely arrived early because of parking. Only this year, our county school had completely changed things up and it went so beautifully that I am going to write a letter and congratulate them.
High school students directed traffic into the proper parking area and there were signs clearly marking each area. They had each grades parking located in the grassy area nearest that hallway. We were to enter through the backdoors not the front. A teacher was stationed at that hallway back entry and signed us in. They directed everyone to the gym to sit and watch a quick program presented by the Pre-K class and then we were released to go to the classroom.
At that point we reverted to the elfin tables and chairs in a jam-packed room, take me home, scenario...That part doesn't seem to change. We only stayed about 30 minutes and headed home. Once home, I had about an hour before needing to go meet the younger two at the house.
Home once more, we both got tall glasses of iced water and I set to work on my daily readings, piano practice and most importantly to me, trying on my most recent Stitch Fix box. I am pleased with what I received and though I am sending two pieces back, I have a new dress that is heavy and line so it will be suitable for cooler weather wear, a new top and a much-needed pair of jeans.
I headed over to Sam's at my usual time...and was greeted by Isaac and Millie who had arrived earlier. I didn't know that the Friday bus comes earlier. Duly noted. We three sat and talked. Isaac told me that Gammy had come to his Grandparents Day which I was happy to hear. Gammy lives in North Georgia, so it's something of a trek for her to come down here.
Isaac was happy too that he had a grandparent come. Then he looked at me wide-eyed, "Wait a minute...Does that mean you won't take me out to lunch?" I assured him that didn't mean he'd lose out on a promise we'd made.
When Sam came in, I headed home to make supper...and then I was tired, deeply tired.
Saturday: I went off to bed a bit early last night and apparently, after an hour or so my body said, "Hey we took a nap!" and proceeded to give up on sleep until the very wee hours of the morning. I was glad that we had a lighter day today.
Since we missed the Friday house blessing yesterday, I stripped and remade the bed, cleaned up our bathroom and freshened things up in that room. Thankfully we'd left the main living areas of the house neat and tidy enough last night. I know the kitchen could use a good wipe down but right now it's enough to know the dishes are done.
Today we took Isaac out for his planned day with grandparents. Y'all. Happy sighs here. It was lovely. We took far longer than we'd planned on being out thinking we might all tire of each other fairly quickly, but we didn't. Let me share all about it.
First was the message from Isaac at 10am. 'Are you awake? Did you forget about McDonald's?' I texted him back that we were picking him up about 11:30. I'm sorry that he thought we wouldn't keep our promise, but I understand why he waits to be disappointed over such things. That's all I can say about it.
Isaac is the one who always sings. He sings a wide variety of songs from current hits (I have no idea what they are) to theme songs from programs they watch, Michael Jackson "Thriller" album songs, and "Bicycle Built for Two." Not to mention worship songs and such. That child always has a song or is humming. To be honest, he reminds me a great deal of John who is pretty constantly musical, too.
He also can talk your ear off, but he doesn't bore you. He asks questions and listens to the answers. He makes observations about places and people. I do need to address the sometimes blunt or tactless observations he makes about people, but he doesn't say things meanly or to hurt. It's just he hasn't learned what to filter before he observes.
I noted a certain 'manly' aroma about the boy when he came out to the car and it's something I've mentioned to Sam and Isaac both before. I took matters in my own hands today and tried to handle things tactfully. Isaac is easy going but he's also sensitive. I didn't want to shame him. While it might be somewhat related to basic hygiene, some of it is obviously changing hormones and it needed to be addressed.
I asked him if he remembered our conversation on Thursday about being more grown-up now. He said "You mean about smell? Yeah, I remember." "Well would you like to go into the drugstore with me and choose a deodorant? I know the brand your dad prefers you use, and you can choose the one you like the scent of." "Yeah, sure."
So we stopped at the drugstore, and he and I sniffed all the deodorants in that line of product. He chose the very first one he'd smelled. Some of the scent combinations sounded masculine enough but came across as very girly smelly to. Isaac chose one that smells like summer, coconut and vanilla and it's not sweet and perfume-y. I briefly thought of getting him cologne too but decided he'd either gag himself or everyone else with it. That's something for another age, I think.
He'd chosen McDonalds as the place he wanted to go to eat. I asked him yesterday if he just wanted a hamburger or specifically want McDonald's. I told him we'd take him out to a restaurant, and he could order a burger. Well, no, he really wanted to go to McDonald's. Here's where I had to do some hard thinking. I could name six restaurants right and knew the location of each one but at least two we discounted immediately because the parking lots are difficult and then we eliminated two more because the restaurants leave a lot to be desired. We were settling for one when I suddenly remembered there was a newer one on another highway where we've picked up food in the drive through several times. And bonus, it was right across the highway from CVS. Two birds and all that good stuff.
It really was a nice place, clean and neat in and out, helpful staff, good service, hot food. Isaac knew what he wanted yesterday and that's what he wanted today. John and I added our order to his. The total surprised us. We were all in for just over $20 for the three of us, so it was affordable, too. Irony here...I spent very nearly the same amount on deodorant and a bag of candy for the boy to share with his brother and sister.
We talked all through our lunch. On the way home, Isaac had us singing along with "Bicycle Built for Two". I told him it was an old song. "As old as you?" "Older. More like the time my Granny was born perhaps." I looked it up (I love my smart phone!) and we were all surprised to hear the song was actually written in 1892. "Why that's before my great grandmother, your great great grandmother was born!" "Wow!" The original title of the song was called "Daisy Bell" and the second and third verses were different than those sung in later years.
Isaac said, "What if someone made this sound and made a song around it?" He went, "Uh Ahhh" and I said, "Someone did!" and John and I started to sing "It's the Time of the Season" by the Zombies while Isaac offered up the ''Uh, Ahhh" at appropriate intervals.
When we got home today it was nearly 2:30. John looked at me and said, "I never thought we'd take so long to just go get a burger...but that was FUN!" I agreed. I knew Isaac was personably with people and loved to sing, but when you have three or five children around all at once, you tend to lose focus on them individually. They are an overwhelming (but a lovely sort of overwhelming) bunch when taken as a whole group.
I baked chocolate chip cookies, a little more than enough for two but shh! we ate them all. While the cookies were baking, I looked out the kitchen window and exclaimed to John, "The Sweet Gum by the driveway has yellow stars!" "Already?" "Yep...and they weren't there just yesterday." Nature is a wonder, isn't it?
Now I am going to spend the rest of my Saturday doing pretty much nothing (we have another busy day tomorrow). I am reading Emilie Loring's Beckoning Trails at present. I have a big stack of books by my chair of her books, to read as well. I chose all of them because they begin in September and I find it lovely to read of fall colors in New England. I have a few books from August that I chose prior to my last library visit to be read. And then the 'study' books I'm reading.
I want to read through the few blogs I follow, which I generally save for Saturday. At some point I'll do some journaling and my 'study' reading. I was telling Isaac earlier today that it will the end of the month before I can even consider going to the library with them again, since we have engagements the next two Saturdays. Fortunately, they have a library of books right at home to choose from and all three go to the school library once a week to get books. None of us are hurting for something to read!
Oh goodness... I just saw a commercial for a pumpkin spice deodorant. That seems like a bridge too far. Have I mentioned that I'm not really a fan of Pumpkin Spice? Although I did need to get some bananas and make my annual Fall loaf of Pumpkin Banana Bread. That's my nod to the pumpkin until Thanksgiving Pie.
I think we're going to make this our tradition as Grandparents. We're going to stop the made school runs and instead take the kids out one at a time for a meal (breakfast or lunch).
Sunday: From my blog reading yesterday I had to borrow the last paragraph of Annabel's from her post this week:
I have been thinking on the little things. Saint Therese had "the little way." Similar to Mother Teresa's "do small things with great love". Little things really make a big difference. We might not be able to do big things but we may be able to do SOMETHING. In an out of control word we can feel a bit helpless. But there are still many things that we CAN control. We can control our attitude, our gratitude, our prayer life. We can control our habits and how much effort we put in. We can control how we speak and treat others. We can control what we watch/listen to/consume/read and focus on. We can control our priorities, goals and what we want to learn. We can largely control the atmosphere in our home. So that is a lot. It might be that we achieve things in minute increments. But they surely add up. This is the beauty of the little way.
It's always lovely to read a good tip or money saving hint or just to catch up with lives I've invested myself in (and that is what we do. We are investing a part of ourselves into another's life when we read blogs and watch vlogs) and to come across real wisdom that strengthens the core of our beliefs. Do go read the whole post, all of her posts and her past blog as well. There is so much you can gain from her writing and work!
Now on to our Sunday, which was long and tiring but in a lovely sort of way. Up early and off to church. After church we spoke with a few folks. One invited us to go out to lunch after service next week (she's already chosen the restaurant) and then to commiserate with another whose daughter, a youngish woman, was unexpectedly widowed last month.
Then on to Katie's to observe the new upper teeth Henry is sporting. He can barely take his tongue off these strange things that are newly there. In telling Caleb about our lunch out with Isaac we inadvertently set off a demand that he get a hamburger and not the PBJ his mom was just setting out for lunch.
We barely had thirty minutes to spend there because John wanted to get to the nursing home where he was playing this afternoon in order to climatize the guitar. And yes, that is a thing and I'm glad he did because the guitar had been outdoors in 90 weather and the nursing home was downright chilly.
I confess that my attitude today (not really mine if you must know but it's been acquired as the day went on) sucks. Too little sleep another night, hungry, headache pinging away at my temples. I refused John's offers to pick up any sort of food on the way home and asked that he just come home and let me cook. Not because I felt like being a martyr but because I knew we had leftovers that could go on the table in 30 minutes. We are not going to starve on a 30-minute ride and a 30-minute wait for food to heat up.
The house looked pretty awful. Back porch obviously still a mess but coming in the door wasn't much better. We had laundry from Friday still in the basket, dishes from Friday (and Saturday) in the sink, cluttered counters, clothes strewn over our room and bath...I set myself a thirty-minute time limit to get it all straightened up. Not cleaned, not deep cleaned, but just straightened. And I did it and got a salad and garlic bread made as well as heating supper and working on my studies.
The house is passable. Supper was decent. Dishes got loaded after the meal. I'm now reading through the pre-lesson reading so I can start Week II of The Artist's Way in the morning.
I made out a list last night of the jobs I wanted to get done this week.
1) Finish the back porch and get it back in place
2) Have a baking day: bagels, bread, waffles for the freezer, possibly some muffins, too.
3) Clean the kitchen. Mop floors, wash the fridge out while it's nearly empty. Wash the interior windows.
4) Plant fall vegetable seeds, whatever I can fit wherever I can fit it.
5) Get the orchids washed off and ready to come indoors for the year.
6) Visit Mama.
7) Get groceries.
8) Buy flowers for the house.
And I'll leave the list at that. Obviously, it doesn't include all the usual and typical activities, like making meals, general housework, monthly financial work, studies, meeting the school bus three afternoons, etc.
Now I am going to end. I'm tired. I want to finish this and finish the pre-study reading and then I'm going to get myself a fresh book and lose myself in it. Sounds like an awesome way to finish off the weekend.
Amazon Associates Affiliate Link: If you use my link to enter the Amazon site and place an order, I may earn a small commission on qualifying products. Thank you!
