*the best page of my giant calendar from 1canoe2*

I't’s my favorite time of year and we’re all relieved to welcome the cooler, rainy, crisp days of September. The UK had a severe drought this summer and it was the driest, brownest version of Wales we’ve seen yet. But then September hit, and it only took a little over a week of little bits of rain to make the grass grow green and lush again. I love this little green country. I’m sure we’ll all be moaning about the rain as soon as it comes flooding in, but for now everyone is thrilled to see it bring back views like this.

*view from a drive up to Boughrood the other night*

I keep wanting to sit and write, but the time just slips past. Why is it always so busy? Even when I try so hard to not allow it to become overwhelming, too much is happening and demanding time.

*happy to see these friends back at the market!*

School summer break in the UK is only 6 weeks, something we’re all still adjusting to from the State’s 3 months we grew up with. We traveled a third of it and tried to maintain sanity with the house project in the other weeks.

*here’s the current view of the house. We’re still settling all the details inside, and also outside where we await landscaping.*

Happy to say we are slowly closing the door on the house project. Though it is very slow, as we still have all the last bits to do like touching up paint and installing bookshelves, and shelves, and furniture. We also decided this fall to completely rearrange the studio, so that project has provided more chaos.

*the studio has reached insanity level of mess with all the projects over the summer*

Hopefully by full Autumn, the house will feel settled again. (Though I know realistically we will likely still have lots of little projects to tackle. Is it ever fully done?) I’m just hoping for some settledness by Thanksgiving when our first house guests arrive in the new space.

School began with gusto as usual. Both girls have settled into their new routine and were glad to be back with friends again. I feel like a common question people ask this time of year is if the kids are glad to be back at school. I never know the right answer. My kids don’t hate school like so many, but who really wants to be at school all day long? Most of the time, my kids like it and are eager to be back, but I think that is mostly to do with friends and the few classes they really adore. I’m sure they would choose something else completely if they had a choice. Wouldn’t we all?

My favorite autumn flowers are back at the market. You have to get there right around 9 to grab a bouquet, or they are all snatched up. I just love them. Amazing colors and I adore the tight round ones.

Before we fully move on to October, here are a few things I collected over September that I don’t want to lose.

THINGS I BOOKMARKED

Retro-Tech Parenting – some really great stuff here that makes me nostalgic, but also excited about getting kids back to a good relationship with technology. (Our 14 year old asked for a CD player for her last birthday and she loves it. She loves how cheap CDs are and she can find them in secondhand shops so easily!)

Yes, Jesus Loves You – Another really great article from Russell Moore. I admit readily that I am not a passionate evangelist as most define the word. For me, it really comes down to what Moore is getting at here. It breaks me and puts fire in me when I realize how many people don’t really believe the Gospel. Not just non-Christians, but faithful church attenders. How much we all miss when we don’t really take in the Gospel every day! We are supposed to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily. It really is good news. The best news. And we miss it in these perfectly programmed buildings where people play “church.” Let it really sink in. Every day. Jesus loves you. Really.

Assume Misunderstanding – Whew! This is so true. I could go on and on about this.

The Quiet Grief of Adult Friendship – Another hard-hitting article. Adult friendship is just so complicated sometimes.

THINGS I LISTENED TO

Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole… I mean, what else do you listen to in September?

Try Hard by MaryAnne Muglia – I also learned about this debut album from MaryAnne Muglia. I really like it a lot.

The Illustration Department podcast – Lots more episodes of this while on the school pick-up commute. And while reorganizing the studio too. Some favorite episodes recently are with Hilary Knight, Robin Preiss Glasser, and Jules Feiffer.