Gone

Summer is officially gone.  Not that you could tell by the 87 degrees F day out there.  The thunder storm clouds are rolling in and I can sense the change.  As most of you are well aware, I don't do well with change.  I do love the change of seasons, but it brings on this melancholy feeling.  A sense of time passing too quickly, of things that must be left behind, commitments that must be met.  Tonight we start back to the Fall training schedule at the gym.  Though I am happy to see all my girls again after three weeks, I do miss the peaceful time spent here at home.

Again I managed to 'survive' the visit to my childhood home in New Jersey.  I work myself into such a frenzy over this every year and every year I manage to accomplish so much there and help my parents with so many things.  I always leave there with that dreaded sense of change again, because after the first few anxiety-filled days I get into the habit of living in their house again.  I become part of their daily routine, now regimented by the schedule of pill-taking and doctor's appointments.  I think they welcome my "interruption" in that lifestyle.  I bring them back to a time when it was just school, the grocery store, library, and a TV set that was only tuned in to baseball or the daily stock market report.  But as soon as I had settled in there a bit, it was time to come home.  I immediately poured my nervous energy into crafting some new terrariums.  These two are a tribute to my love of the seaside.  I didn't get to "The Shore" this time around.  My mother's health doesn't allow her to get out much, so we bypassed that annual trip to my aunt and uncles house at the beach.

I comfort myself also with my "therapy" of knitting socks.  The 'round and 'round repetitive nature of knitting socks is so soothing to me.

The daily life of my bird friends is changing too.  I filled up the hummingbird feeders one last time.  They love the sugar-water I put out, but soon it will be time for them to move on and I don't want them to linger here too long into Autumn.  This lovely Goldfinch enjoys his treats too.

The season also brings about the harvest.  Although we are not a large working farm, we get our share of veggies.  Mostly tomatoes ans cucumbers this year.

Joe planted four rows of sweet white corn and had a bit of success with that.

I missed my sweet animals so much for the 9 days I was away.  The one who missed me most of all was Roy.  He is always calling for me to come and play or give him some treats.  He is one of the most talkative cats I've ever had.

I strive to enjoy these pleasant days of Indian Summer.  I think of Autumn crafting and yes, even Christmas gift-making.  The Midwest Wool Festival is coming up on the 15th and 16th and I hope to post some photos of that next time.