I feel like summer is slipping through my fingers while I try to grasp it tightly and not let it get away. How is it halfway through August already?
We've been...
...reading (a lot)
...knitting (some) on a sweater that's not very photo worthy yet
...chasing chickens, including our new little ones Ruby and Lola (they are much more catchable)
...rallying around loved ones who are having a really tough August
...faux camping - as in "go camping" all day and sleep at home. much easier on the back and the baby.
...looking for missing keys (that are still missing)
...picking squash
...cheering on the tomatoes
...planting seeds for the fall garden
...cleaning house (see looking for keys above)
...eatinig outside
...hiking with my dad (love that we can do that)
...girding up for learning how to use the finally-fixed embroidery module on my Bernina
...sewing quilt blocks
...recovering from nasty summer colds
...not taking many photos
...enjoying lots of visitors
So, not much, but a lot at the same time. At the end of this month, we will have been "home" for 6 months. It's finally sinking in that we're really here. G is going back to school in 3 weeks and A will be taking classes at a homeschool resource center, so I'm feeling summer wind down in a way that I haven't in a long time. Our current and upcoming rhythm is so different from what it's been, and I think this school thing is going to hit us like a ton of bricks. We've done a lot of transition and decompressing since we've been back, along with just enjoying our lovely summer. Fall is going to be go time around here -right now is the quiet before the storm. I'm gathering up my energies to be ready for September and all that it's bringing. School routines, me trying to add some extra income around here, new friends, the return of the rain. Our 10th anniversary, Lindsay's 21st birthday (for real? how is that possible?) All good stuff, but just thinking about it all overwhelms me a bit. I have to remember to check in here and talk about it because that helps more than I remember that it does in the moment. Then I kick myself for being away for too long. Maybe someday I'll learn.
Also, I started a book list for Grace and for us to use around here of all the super fantabulous literature that is available for the 8-12 year old set. Would that be good to post here? Would it be helpful? I always love knowing what other people are reading and finding new treasures. Books are such a passion of mine. My house overflows with kid books, now that I'm on child #3 of that age. I may get rid of lots of things easily, but I hang on to books with tightly clenched fists. I'm also working on a list for the middle school/early high school years that i can use as a reference. One that doesn't include vampires and werewolves. Just good solid literature. I'm happy to share if anyone is interested.
I hope you're enjoying your summer, friends. We sure are. Talk soon.
