Happy Friday, friends! Here we are at the end of another month. This month has been a good one for me. I have really soaked up summer but, I have to admit, even my summer-loving soul is ready for a bit more autumn. Yesterday it was 97 with “feel like temperatures” over 100. We also ended the day with one of the fiercest thunderstorms that I can remember in a very long time. It was frightening. I am running low on energy and inspiration but I think a couple cool mornings will change all that. So, let’s say good-bye to summer and bring on September. With the end of the month comes my monthly Share Four Somethings. I bit of a look back at the month and a fun link-up on Jennifer’s blog. The link-up will go live tomorrow. So, looking back at August, I have
loved – eating out this month. As I look at the calendar, there have been quite a few lunches (and dinners) with friends. It has been nice but I think I might now know why the scale is not budging – even with my consistent walking. Hmm. Who could have imagined?:) I wish I could say that walking is (or has been) something I am loving but that has not happened yet. Well, the walking happens but every morning I truly have to push myself. I am looking forward to the day when I really (as in, really!) look forward to and enjoy those three miles each morning.
A few other things I have been loving this month: the beginning of pumpkin spice season in the grocery stores. I had some delicious biscotti yesterday and the pumpkin spice Oreos have returned. I did make a trip to Trader Joe’s but apparently the great pumpkin has not delivered there quite yet. I’m not ready to “fix the house” for fall yet but some early pumpkin yumminess is okay with me. Although I was surprised that Starbucks already has PSL. Why it seemed too early to me for pumpkin spice coffee drinks but not for Oreos…well, I have no idea! Coffee lover friends…are you a fan of Starbucks? Do you like the pumpkin spice lattes?
tried to improve – my attitude. I’ve been a bit grumbly lately. I’d love to blame it on the heat but, truthfully, not sure what the real cause might be. Just not being intentionally grateful enough. My hair annoys me. The heat is getting to me. The scale is mocking me. And I could (far too easily) go on. I have been trying to work on it but certainly have much room for improvement.
accomplished – my mid-term exam for the ASL class I am taking at church. When I signed on for this class, I had no idea it would be so intense. And certainly did not know there would be weekly quizzes and then exams. I am not taking the course for credit or even a grade but, I have to admit, getting a really good grade on that mid-term did feel nice! This class is all on-line and done through video, so we are unable to ask questions, get clarification or anything similar. That makes it difficult but I have been supplementing the course with YouTube videos and courses and I actually think I am learning something.
noticed – so many school-age kids not in school. Instead, they are in the Walmart. At the grocery store. Or just out and about. I wonder why aren’t they doing school? Even if they are homeschooled…why are they not at home? Doing school. I think I have noticed it more simply because I see them so often. I also have noticed the kids in our area seem to be going to school later than they have in the past. The highschoolers, especially, have always gone to school early but I do not see anyone (or any buses) when I am out walking. Not sure but it seems there has been a change. For some reason, I like back to school season. Even though I have nothing to do with getting anyone to school or following a school routine, etc., I think it still sets a new rhythm, or a new schedule. And I do love a good schedule. I think I am more ready for autumn than I realize. I have also noticed the sun is coming later and later. That’s always the sign of a new rhythm. And I ready for it!
I hope that your August has also been a good one and that you are looking forward to September as well. September is my favorite month of the year. There are several things that I am looking forward to in this new month ahead. Here’s to a beautiful four weeks. Monday will be Labor Day here in the states. A holiday. And we will be at a church picnic. I have a delicious recipe for cowboy beans! Can’t wait! I am hoping to have a blog post up (fingers crossed) so please stop by again and let me know what you are doing, if anything, special for Labor Day – the “official” end of summer!!
Walking is providing so many health benefits even if you aren´t noticing anything on the scale! Nothing pumpkin spice sounds good to me though I do love to decorate with pumpkins when the time is right. Late August is definitely not the right time- some time in September is. I seem to notice a lot of school age kids out and about, too. I reason that on any given day some didn´t go to school because they had an appointment of some kind and then mom or dad stopped at Walmart or the grocery store with them. Maybe? Have a great weekend!
Thanks for the reminder, Maria. I am really trying to focus on health and healthy choices – and not the scale. But it is a hard habit to undo!! Glad you stopped by this morning!
Hi Jennifer! I’ve also had several grumpy moments this week regarding the heat and humidity we’ve been experiencing. I’m over it! I’m more ready for fall than I want to admit. I picked up a mum from the grocery store yesterday. It’s supposed to cool off at the beginning of next week, which I look forward to. We’ve had a busy week (haircuts, school orientation, some shopping, etc.) with online homeschool starting next Tuesday. We are ready! We are ready for a new season (summer was so long) a schedule and a routine. Yay for September! I think the reason you might be seeing so many kids out and about is due to so many more kids being homeschooled now. I went to Trader Joe’s last week and left disappointed that all the fall goodies weren’t out yet. I was told they will be out next weekend. We don’t have any big plans for Monday. We’ll be gearing up for the first day of homeschooling the following day. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Oh, congrats on all the walking! Once it’s no longer 98 degrees I’m getting myself back out there.
Okay, friend! I guess you know that now what I am going to crave are the pumpkin spice Oreos! If this post had been a week earlier, I’d run right out and buy a bag, but I am now gluten free…but they sure sound wonderful! Enjoy a few for me, k?
Congratulations on completing your mid-term for the ASL class at church!
I think we all have those moments when we desire to see more accomplished…especially when we have remained faithful to the habits to get us to our goals. Remain faithful, as I know you will, and you will begin seeing those results again. xx
Enjoyed your post even though for the first time in my 70?years on this earth I did not enjoy summer at all. And I can’t put my finger on why. Yes it was hot – but that’s nothing unusual. I just didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t garden this summer, opting to let the ground rest. That is probably the culprit.
It wasn’t bad or anything. I just can’t explain it.
No I’ll pass on all the pumpkin spice stuff. I only like pumpkin pie. Maybe due to my lack of a sweet tooth and the older I get the more certain sweet things are too sweet.
Good for you walking! I need to get back to that.
Fall is my favorite season. I have 2 birthdays- one in Sept and one in Nov. to look forward to.
I’m impressed with the ASL.and whether you realize it I’m sure you are learning. Just keep at. That’s a wonderful ministry and much needed.
Nothing on the docket for this weekend and that suits me fine!
Take care, enjoy your pumpkin Oreos and PSL’s! You can have mine! 😉
Hi Jennifer! Walking 3 miles a day is what is keeping that scale in the same place, and not going up! Keep up the good work, you can do it!! I’m not sure I have ever had a pumpkin spice Oreo, yum! I think the heat has made everyone grumpy. Maybe the cooler weather, which is sure to come, will help with that. I can’t even imagine you being grumpy! The kids in my area don’t have school on Fridays, so you can imagine what that does to the noise level in my area. I remember when Mon-Fri, was slow. There was less traffic in the city and less noise. Not anymore, you can’t tell one day from the next! I’m looking forward to September as well! I can hardly wait for the changing colors! Happy Labor Day! Hugs, Barb
I’m not a fan of pumpkin spice either! I actually don’t like pumpkin anything, except for maybe bread or a tiny bit of puree in oatmeal. I watched a video of someone putting it into her oatmeal one day last week, and it looked delicious! She added a drizzle of melted peanut butter over the top as well, and my mouth watered. You’re doing a great job with walking! I imagine how it takes some getting used to, and how hard it can be to form it into a habit. I, too, am hoping and wishing for some more fall like weather! I’m celebrating by decorating for my favorite season today.
I don’t think you meant “tried to improve ” comments as funny, but I did find myself laughing, funny, I was thinking the same thing as to what you wrote…wishing you a lovely weekend, smiles.
Well as a prior homeschooling mom I can honestly say that being at home doing schoolwork was a real rarity for us! We were out and about all the time and a huge part of our curriculum was learning through real life experiences. Congrats on doing so well on your mid-term! That is wonderful.
I’m not a huge fan of pumpkin spice lattes, but I found out a couple years ago that the pumpkin spice cold foam on an iced latte is a real treat. I’ve been getting the scale to inch downwards a bit lately, and then this weekend we went to a zucchini festival, a Greek festival, and tomorrow a church picnic, and I think it will go back up despite my walking. That said – I need to walk more often, I’ve been slacking. Interesting observation about so many kids being out and about during school hours. I’ve noticed high school age kids seem to have a more flexible school schedule the last couple of years – at least it seems that way. We homeschooled our kids and we were just as likely to be out in the community doing things during the school day as we were to be at home studying. Hope you have a great September!
Schools go back this week in the UK. I used to love first day back to school, new pens and pencil cases, fresh new books to start writing in your best handwriting and meeting up with friends you hadn’t seen for six weeks! I wonder if the remnants of the covid restrictions are still being felt in school absences?
I hope you soon learn to love and look forward to your walks, would you like to borrow our dog to help you, her enthusiasm is contagious!
Sounds like you had a good month! I’m a pumpkin-everything person! Yes, I had a PSL from Starbucks the day they came out, not intentionally, but my husband and I have a once-a-week coffee date after work and those coincided! Can’t wait for Trader Joe’s to stock all of their pumpkin-y things!! Enjoy September.