September Comes Along Again

"SEPTEMBER WAS A THIRTY-DAYS LONG GOODBYE TO SUMMER, TO THE SEASON THAT LEFT EVERYBODY BOTH HAPPY AND WEARY OF THE WARM, HUMID WEATHER AND THE EXHAUSTING BUT THRILLING ADVENTURES"   Lea Malot

At one time, September was my favorite time of year. I loved school supplies, and the idea that everything was filled with new beginnings. Now it seems that everyone is hurrying through September, and that fall wants to rush in too soon. (Except, of course, for the days when the weather still insists on being hot and humid). I am trying very hard to not think about pumpkins and lattes until October, and to let September have all the time it needs.

We had a busy summer, even though I didn't spend a lot of time here on the blog. I am doing some other writing though, and am thinking a book.  Our house has new siding, and is looking quite spiffy. We also got a new roof, courtesy of a nasty hail storm and our insurance company. 

The first photo is during the shingles removal. The storm didn't do all that damage! We have one of the few old farmhouses left in this area. It seems like new houses are being built here every day. I have always lived in old houses, except for my time at the frat house!  I love having a real front porch, and my own little she-shed cottage. Life is good.

This is my new favorite picture. I photographed it through a window at a real estate office, so the quality isn't very good. I am hoping to find a copy to hang in our lake house------if we ever get one!      " Moonlight on the Lake Always Soothes My Spirits". Isn't that perfect? Of course, we only dream about a house on the lake. $$$$$$$. We are actually looking for a place in the picture perfect town of Clear Lake, Iowa. Every house there is just a few blocks away from the water, and the prices go down dramatically as the distance increases. But with the housing market the way that it is right now, we haven't been able to look at many. They almost always have offers pending as soon as they are listed! We've seen lots of pictures and found many possibilities, but some one always gets there first. I can't even imagine what it would be like if we actually needed to find a house immediately.

                             We have been to the lake several times this summer. When we got married, I thought we would travel more. But of course, Covid became a part of everyone's agenda soon afterwards! Short trips are all we need to revive and rejuvenate. Just being by the water is always a grand time. I imagine by now that you are thinking we boat, and swim, and fish, and all those other things that lake people do. Well, no, not really.  We watch the boaters. We look at the ducks. We picnic. We eat at our favorite restaurants and walk along the beach. We talk to other people.  We shop. We watch the sun set.

The only thing I miss in this town is a bookstore. We joke about opening a combination donut shop/bookstore. We won't. We are content, and it is good.  We aren't ready to move. But we know that it won't be too long before we want a smaller house, less land, and fewer stairs.  We like the idea of being equally distanced from the Iowa and Minnesota grandchildren. And, as silly as it seems, I still want a place where neither of us has the "home court advantage."