The time has come to say goodbye to September 2022. I’m a little sad to see it go; September is maybe my favorite month of the year (I can’t decide between May and September) because here, in my part of the world, it’s like the best of both worlds. One foot is still in summer, but the other is firmly planted in fall, and you all know by now that fall is my favorite season. So we’ve had lots of warm, sunny days but also crisp, clear air and tea-and-fireplace weather.
But! Let’s not dwell too long on the past; let’s instead decide to make October a great month, too. I’ve prepared well; I’ve bought a stack of books to keep me occupied, we’ve got firewood to last us through the winter, and I’ve got plans to make chai syrup so I can drink all the chai latte I want. Sounds like a plan?
But first, lets take a look at what I did in September, shall we?
On September 1st, I officially declared soup season opened. I apologize for the non-social-media-worthy picture (I should’ve wiped the bowl before snapping it! 😁) but focus instead of the contents. It’s taco soup with potatoes and corn and bell peppers and onions, and a big dollop of sour cream on top. It was glorious. And my husband, who forgets how much he likes soup every year, moaned and said “Soup! I love soup!”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. 😁
One morning, on my way to work, I was treated to this beautiful sky. Another great thing about September is that you’re actually awake to catch the sunrises. In summer, the sun rises in the middle of the night here where I live and who has the energy to get up at four to watch a sunrise? Not me 😁
Another food pic! I was in the mood for a good old Sunday roast with potatoes and gravy so I chucked a chunk of meat into my beloved cast iron pot, threw in lots of shallots, and was on the verge of adding a good splash of red wine when I changed my mind. I was in the mood for beer flavor, so I found a couple bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale in the basement and made Newcastle Brown Roast. It was extremely tasty, and felt very autumnal. I’ll definitely make it again.
September is also my birthday month, and on September 11, I turned fifty. Back when I was younger, I would’ve wanted to celebrate a big birthday with a huge party (I used to describe myself as a party princess), but those days are long gone. I told my family that all I wanted for my birthday was to spend time with them. No party. No guests. I just wanted to hang out with the people I love the most. (I also wanted birthday scones and a cup of tea for breakfast, and my daughter fulfilled my wish).
So I got to hang out with this fabulous little person on my birthday, who also had a big birthday in September. My darling little W turned 2 on September 17, and one of the gifts we’d bought for her was this easel from Ikea. Other than this blackboard, it has a whiteboard on the opposite side, where you also can attach a roll of regular paper, so it’s really versatile. And fun (for all ages!). It was a huge success and she drew many art pieces on the blackboard (it was her favorite).
My parents were also here for a visit and we shared a lovely lunch and enjoyed hanging out together. It was the perfect birthday.
I also got a bunch of lovely gifts. For example this iPad from my husband, who got tired of listening to me grouch about the other reading device I had (it was TERRIBLY WORTHLESS and I couldn’t stand using it, so I read on my phone and I’m old and the phone screen is too small…and well. You understand, I’m sure) 😁 I also got good quality kitchenware that I’d wanted for a long time, a $150 gift card in a bookstore (hence the stack of books I wrote about in the opening paragraphs of this post), and a pottery-for-beginners class that I’ll attend with my daughter in November (you can expect pics in my goodbye November post).
I had a few days off work after my birthday, but when I came back to the office, my colleagues had decorated my desk and bought me presents. They know I’m a bookworm and that I have a huge garden, so I got a beautiful gardening book and a gardening calendar. Their thoughtfulness made me very touched and happy 😍
But enough of with the birthday pics already; here’s a picture of a huge and bright full moon I snapped. It was even bigger in real life, and my phone camera can’t quite capture its magnificence, but you’ve all seen a fabulous full moon. You know what I’m trying to convey with this picture 😁
It got a bit chilly toward the end of the month, and we’re trying to hold off on switching on the heat for as long as possible. Instead, we’re keeping warm the old-fashioned way: with a fire! So from now until April (at least), you can expect at least one Nell is reading and having a beverage by the fire every month in these blog posts. If I could, I’d quit my day job and spend all my days reading by the fire, at least during the fall and winter months. But alas, that doesn’t pay well, so I guess I’ll just have to endure the day job…
…especially since my day job still allows us to work from home (at least a couple days per week), so on the last day of September I did just that, and I spent my lunch break reading Poirot on the couch. By the fire.
How was your September? Tell me something you did.
Nell Iris 