September 2003
September brings the shift from the warmth of August to the colors and temperatures of autumn. My circadian rhythm is off after two weeks in Hawaii with the four-hour difference in time zones.
Most mornings I have coffee with my daughter Ang, usually outdoors in whatever sunlight is available.
After being gone two weeks, there are things to catch up on, and I especially like reorganizing my table in Cougar’s living room and adding my beautiful Hawaiian candle.
The weather here in western Montana in early September is really nice with a low of 48 and a high of 75 with sunny afternoons, great for cooking over the campfire.
One afternoon, still in the early part of September, Clifford and I have a picnic with my brother Ed, and sister-in-law Sheryl at the Frenchtown Pond. I always enjoy the conversation and the good food when we picnic with family. We had hoped our sisters Nancy would come, but they needed to spend the day elsewhere.
I start getting my life organized by making a to-do list. Numerous little tasks are checked off the list, but I still feel sort of caught in the time gap between Hawaii and Montana.
About a week into September, I pack a few things and head over the Petty Creek-Grave Creek Road to Florence to visit Nancy for a couple days. We make a trip to Missoula to Greg Boyd music store so I can get my fiddle bow rehaired and she buys herself a new case for her mandolin. We do some other browsing and shopping, fun things for a sisters’ day out.
The next morning, Nancy and I are up early and it feels good to be outside as we walk Nancy’s dog Ellie. “When feeling overwhelmed by life, it is recommended to take on a task that will take no more than 15 minutes, the “15-minute Project.” We choose cleaning out a less used lower kitchen cupboard. Even though the project takes longer than 15 minutes, working together is fun and accomplishes a lot of clearing of unneeded items.
In the afternoon, back at the RV, before I can even put stuff away, I see a mouse on the counter, UGH! so I take on my own kitchen cleaning project, scrubbing and cleaning everything in Cougar’s kitchen.
Saturday, September 9, Ang’s birthday, is a beautiful blue-sky day and she takes a few minutes to play guitar sitting out by the fire ring. She is quite talented and it is great to hear her play.
The next day is another beautiful blue-sky day. Nancy comes out to visit and Ang cooks the steaks Nancy brings. We visit around the campfire, and later, walking in the woods, we find mushrooms, but they are probably not edible.
Some days are filled with insignificant tasks and tidying up Cougar, including clearing my table to create harmony in my space. Having a pleasing and harmonious place to work helps with the bigger projects like writing blogs and editing books for a couple of authors.
Mid September is still wonderful with blue-sky days and mild temperatures, but some days the coming arrival of autumn becomes more apparent.
As we enter the last week of September, it is more often cloudy and rainy, less time spent outdoors, more projects indoors. Clifford listens on his ham radio every day, and almost every day he plays his dulcimer and sings. Sometimes we drive to Alberton to play music with my daughter Merri. Of course, he spends time in the lab studying a myriad of topics related to the work of his nonprofit, Carnicom Institute.
I take photos, write blogs (always behind) and edit for a couple of authors. I’ve been looking into making greeting cards again, but I’m not finding the card files that are needed. After spending another afternoon looking, it seems like this project is taking too much “efforting,” and this is not the right time for it. Of course, domestic tasks are never-ending.
Sunday, September 24 is still chilly, although there is a little sun in the morning and I am grateful for sunlight on the feverfew. It won’t be long until all the flowers and herbs go into hiding, and it will be time to put away the hanging “pretties” and the old lady.
Morning coffee with Ang is sometimes outside under the canopy wearing warm clothes but sometimes in the greenhouse with a fire in the wood stove.
Wednesday, September 27 is mostly cloudy with rain off and on. I text happy birthday to my son who was born this day a few decades ago.
As we near the end of September, the high is more often in mid 50s with mist and rain. I am grateful for a warm and comfortable place to sit indoors to work on projects and enjoy the turning of the season.
Saturday, September 30, the month ends even cooler with a high of 48 and rain all day.
I am curious what October will bring.