And the days dwindle down to a precious few, September...

 Ok, so my good intentions to post more frequently dissipated with the August heat. Hey, life is FULL right now. And I'm distracted by a little thing called house renovation. (Just one little teaser photo appears at the end of this photo journal.)

Apple season. 

Our trees have never been more abundant. And despite not being sprayed, the quality of the apples has never been better. And it delights us to share them with neighbors and friends.

The vegetable beds have provided so many good things that had to be dealt with like, right now. 

Despite several nights of frost since the start of October, there still is much out there to be put by.

We were able to attend our son's last two tournament weigh-ins at the Mississippi. He had his best season yet.  

I was able to get my Bernina serviced at the quilt shop in Decorah where I purchased it. I grinned when I spotted this poster in a shop window.

We are enjoying picking small handfuls of raspberries from our renovated raspberry bed. The deer have discovered the canes and seem to enjoy them as much as we enjoy the fruit.

Sadly, the two fawns we've been watching all summer may have met their end, too casual about crossing our road. This weekend we spotted a bald eagle cleaning up road kill on both sides of our road and when we spotted the doe on Saturday, she was alone. Nature's cycle of life and death.

We lost one of our funniest hens in September. We called her MeMe because she was always first in line for treats. When she was young she would leap and fly up to your shoulder to get your attention. As she aged she still leapt pretty high to grab at whatever you were holding. Here she is facing the camera. Everyone else content to snack on the kale clipped to the fence. A Rhode Island Red, she was on high alert to see if anything better might be on offer. She was Jerome's favorite and a good pal of mine.

In the final days of September we also lost our grandcat, Pepper. What a sweetheart. He added so much to our lives.

Despite the fact that we removed our pond there have been more frogs and toads this summer than ever before. Each a perfect little creature, the result of living on organic land, I believe. You have to keep a keen eye when mowing. This little fellow was a nice chubby one. Glad to have them feasting in my vegetable and flower beds.

I tried to appreciate all that was going on in the gardens, contemplating them as joy, wonder, grace. Though not always energetic, taking walks and being filled with wonder at what goes on despite our lack of daily observation. Our sweet autumn clematis managed to climb and bloom without my help. Plants I had thought did not survive our drought conditions, surprised me with late season blooms. An abundance of wild aster showed up in the meadow. Our young crabapple brilliant with red fruit. The natural world a balm in unnatural times.

I remembered to check the sunset on the equinox. Yes, there is old Sol, slipping down on the south side of our road. 

And now it's October. The colors here evolving daily. This is a pic I took on our walk along our road yesterday morning. This is the farm of our neighbor (who also happens to be the man whose business did the cement work for our first floor addition.) 

I took this photo of the excavator that dug the hole just outside our back door. Scary, fascinating, this fellow could have used that bucket to hand you a cup of tea, he was that good.

As was the fellow who maneuvered the cement truck into such a tight spot.

It is week 9 of our house renovation. Today the last of the fascia, soffits, and roof trim is being added. The siding has begun. Then the interior work will commence. As promised here is a peek from the outside from the end of week 8. Second floor bathroom addition on the right. First floor family room looking out to the farmland beyond. 

We're waiting for windows but if you look closely you can see dark shadows under the wrap where they will be. The deck will extend out from the house toward this mound of soil, with the house on its north side. Great place to sit and sip, read, stretch, visit. Watch the night sky. 

I have been by turns crabby, excited, nervous, worried, overwhelmed, confused by the chaos in every corner of the house, impatient. I feel selfish spending in a time of world need. I know we are creating a home where we can stay the rest of our lives, in whatever health we may face. Alone or together, snug, safe. 

Yes, September has flown, I suspect October will do the same.