Isn’t it funny how August always just seems to roll into September without much fanfare – at least for retired folks. I mean there you are enjoying bar-b-ques, evening walks, summer sunsets and before you know it; kids are starting school, sunsets are at 7:00 PM, the leaves are turning, and we’re all wearing sweaters on evening walks in the dark wondering what the weather is going to be the next day.
We were still home in Oregon in September, although we did have a mini adventure during the second weekend.
Adventure for the month.
We hadn’t seen grandsons #2 and #4 since March and #2 just started kindergarten, so there was excitement. We walked in the door at our son’s house and #2 wanted me to go upstairs with him to see the plant he “grewed” at school. ( I think this was pre-school since kindergarten just started). We aren’t able to spend much time with these boys so I was loving this special time. While in his room he showed me all his special things in a special box Momma had given him. His dad always loved little boxes as a child. He gave me a “jewel” which I am going to find some way of keeping in the van.
The following day it was old people time with J, David’s dad, and us. David was set on buying me a nice camera backpack for my birthday, even though I had already dropped off my 52 year old high school graduation ring to be repaired so I could wear it again.
David being David had researched camera shops in the north Seattle area. We ended up at Kenmore Camera where Jim showed me several camera backpacks. I settled on a Shimoda Explore More Ladies style. It has pockets in pockets for most of the gear my son and son-in-law have given me. Left on my own I would have purchased something a lot less expensive. David, however, wanted more for me.
We also went to J’s favorite nail lady and all four of us got pedicures. The ladies were very sweet, especially since we did not have appointments.
This was a short trip because of David’s rehab schedule. So we arrived on a Saturday and left on the following Tuesday.
More shenanigans in September
One of David’s former co-workers/ boss had moved to the midwest a few years ago. She and her husband are both musicians. Her husband Matt is well known among the blue grass community in Eugene. They were returning to Eugene for a visit and invited us to join a private event at Viking Brewing – a favorite brewery of ours.
What a fantastic evening.
The music community in Eugene is pretty tight. This was a huge bluegrass jam session with as many as ten musicians playing together for the sheer joy of making music together. A very magical evening indeed.
We decided since we were home this summer to grow a few vegetables and herbs. I had to have a tomato plant and both of us wanted a pepper plant. So in September David harvested his basil and made pesto. Yumm! The tomatoes and pepper weren’t really ready until the end of the month. But that was ok. We took those with us on our October van trip.
One more project in September. Finishing the 2,000 piece puzzle David bought me in the spring. I had started it in March, it was put on a back burner so I could finish the pillow I was making for my son-in-law’s niece. Then I pulled it out again knowing I would need something to distract me while David recovered from surgery. I finally put in the last piece on September 4th.
My husband insisted I pose for the picture.
Guests in the garden
I decided to include a couple of photos of some of our garden visitors this year.
I have never seen a praying mantis or a cicada before this year. This year we found 3 praying mantis, 2 praying mantis egg sacks, and a cicada
