despite the heat that just refuses to abate, it's unmistakably the beginning of a new season. It's getting dark earlier at a rapid pace (as it does close to the equinox), the green of the leaves on the dogwood tree has taken on a golden tinge, and the sky is a deeper shade of blue today than it's been in several weeks.
I am thankful...
that even based on my small salary, we were able to get approved for a mortgage loan! Although our new home's deed will be in both our names, I'll be the only one carrying the loan. Gregg had a very good credit score before he had cancer, but after six years of never ending medical bills it's been impossible to keep it up. So I have the credit score needed to get the loan, but Gregg makes two thirds of our income. Since we can't claim what he earns if the loan is only in my name, I was afraid that my lesser salary wouldn't be enough. It turns out I was worried for nothing; we were approved for more than we plan to borrow! What a relief!
From the kitchen...
fresh eggs from the science teacher at work who has a tiny homestead farm, as well as fresh local honey from her beehives! She's a certified beekeeper and is also mentoring her 13 year old son, William, who is on track to be certified himself as soon as he turns 16 (the minimum age allowed by the Department of Agriculture). William is a student at our school and he's the one who's been selling me the honey:
Twice now we've had scrambled fresh eggs and biscuits with honey and butter for supper. Delicious!
I am reading...
...nothing much, at the moment. I've been so busy the last few weeks with a new school year starting and working on the house hunt that at the end of the day, instead of reading for an hour or so I just fall sound asleep, early. I've been tired!
I am hoping...
I am hoping...
...to find the perfect house, soon! We keep finding little 1940's bungalows in the "historic" downtown area that really appeal to us both, although they usually need some work. But those older homes have really nice details that you never see these days, and the houses look like they were built when people didn't cut corners or use cheap crap for materials. One cute little house that just hit the market is priced well below what we're prepared to spend, and we could afford to really make it nice provided there aren't too many big repairs needed. We may to go see it next week after the Labor Day holiday.
I am thinking...
I am thinking...
about all the things I need to get done in the next two weeks. I have two Guardian ad Litem children at the moment and two upcoming court dates for them. Both cases will probably be settled and I'll be relieved of my obligation to them, but in the meantime I need to visit both children and write reports for the court. I plan to tell the coordinator that I won't be able to take any new cases until after the new year--I just don't have the spare time this fall.
Around the house...
Around the house...
Gregg has taken down some of the smaller aquariums and we're collecting boxes to begin packing some of our things in preparation for finding a house and moving. I know it's awfully early, but any packing we do ahead of time we'll be thankful for later.
I am working...
...on staying consistent with counting calories and losing weight. I've had a lot of other things going on, but I'm determined not to backslide into old habits and to continue my forward momentum. I've lost over 30 pounds so far.
I am listening...
...to Marco talking to himself in the other room. He's been very talkative since I went back to work, probably because he misses the extra attention he got when I was home all day. The other morning I was putting a bowl of fresh food in his cage and he looked me in the eye and said, sweetly, "Love you..." Today he pulled out a large feather while preening, watched it fall to the floor, and shouted, "What?!" He's such a little card!
Celebrating the season....
It's Labor Day weekend and I'm thankful for the extra day off. Cookouts are traditional for this unofficial end of summer holiday, and we might throw a couple of hot dogs on the grill Monday afternoon. I'm looking forward to the coming of autumn and everything that that means: cooler weather, apples and spices, changing leaves, marigolds and mums, blue sky mornings and golden afternoons....
"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September
"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer."
- Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer."
- Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885
I love this post! It is filled with goodness and grace. I hope you find the house that makes your heart know it is home.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too! The way our local market is going, new homes get snatched up too fast to wait around if you see something you like. The inventory of homes for sale (in our price range) is very low.
DeleteWonderful poems and picture to accompany a wonderful post, Jennifer! I am so, so pleased for you that the house hunt is going ahead full steam now that you have been approved for the credit, and already found one you're really interested in. You are right - what you can pack now, you won't have to think about later.
ReplyDeletePacking some boxes now gives us the feeling that we're doing everything possible to move forward with the search. All of a sudden we're impatient to get on with things!
DeleteSo much going on! And a new home on the horizon. Beginning to pack now seems like a wise choice.
ReplyDeleteLife feels very busy right now, but I like it. For so long while I searched for a new job (and the thought of buying a house had to be put on a back burner) life felt stagnant. I much prefer growth and forward movement!
DeleteYour picture is perfect! Half way through your post I said to my granddaughter, who has far fewer Septembers to her name than I, "We need a grill!." I explained a little grill on the deck, and celebratory hot dogs or hamburgers. "Why? We don't eat either! We can still celebrate at Steak and Shake, like we always do!"
ReplyDeleteApparently a celebration is what you make of it, and we will go to Steak and Shake until the end of time. What I invented in desperation is her holiday.
Our old charcoal grill finally rusted out in big spots on the bottom. I'm sad to see it go, we had it for years! We won't be buying a new one until we move, which reminds me, one house we saw for sale had a very nice covered patio with a big expensive gas grill, and the ad said the grill was to remain for the buyers to enjoy! A nice backyard/screened porch/covered patio is one thing I'm looking for a new home...not all three, of course (although that would be nice!) but at least one nice outdoor feature is important to me.
DeleteGreat goings on. Wow! I love honey with a story. We received a jar from Natalie of Ontario (http://knatolee.blogspot.com) when they were in Spain a while back. So good. And our nephew and his wife make their own, too. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe honey is delicious, and was produced about 2 miles from my current address. I love buying locally produced food whenever possible, and you can't get much more local than that! :)
DeleteThe science teacher also got a grant for a honeybee apiary at our school last year, and it's doing great! There will soon be our school brand honey for the 4H club to sell to the public. I'm really proud of that!
Snap! I have that illustration on my blog today!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the home hunting
I don't remember where I got it...I sure hope I didn't snatch it from your blog! If I did, I'm sorry! It was too perfect for my blog not to share it, though. :)
Deleteand thank you for that John Updike poem - I didn't know it and it's perfect
ReplyDeleteI thought it tied in really well to my entire post. Thank you for the comment!
DeleteI am definitely all for buying an older home. They may need updates with plumbing and electrical but they were built to last with pride in workmanship. Nothing was made in China. You get real wood and not particle board. Solid. Solid. Solid.
ReplyDeleteYou are right...solid is the best word to describe them! I love the original fixtures and the hardwood floors, and sometimes the original tile work from that era is really good quality. My grandmother's last house had such lovely ceramic tile that I asked my aunt's husband if he had installed it (that is the business he's in) and he told me that no, the tile was all original from the 1940s and "They made good stuff that would last back then".
DeleteYour day book is full of positive entries and considered forward planning.
ReplyDeleteOlder houses have much to offer and the last few lines of the John Updike poem are wonderful.
I wish you the very best September can bring you.
Alpbie
Thank you for the kind comment, and for reading here, Alphie!
DeleteI would definitely recommend buying a home that needs some attention. If it's your first 'owned' home, then you can instantly add value. A few of those in succession, and you'll soon be in your dream home for ever!
ReplyDeleteWe don't want a succession of homes; we want a home that we will continue to make more and more "ours" over the years. We plan to stay a long time, barring any unforeseen life events changing our minds.
DeleteMr. Cro is a materialist always looking for future profit. Not a romantic at all.I wish you luck .
DeleteWe have only ever bought 2 houses in our married life....44 yrs, but we both had a gut feeling as soon as we walked in that it was the one ! We have now been in this house for nearly 40 yrs, and it is still " right" after 2 extensions and bathroom been " done" twice ! I hope that you and Gregg can get this feeling for the house you are going to look at.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you are right about the feeling when we find "the one". Our agent told me that we would "just know" as soon as we walk in the right house, but my husband has his doubts. I'm trying to have faith that our right home is out there waiting for us, and that the stars will align so that we'll find each other.
DeleteCongrats again on the weight loss, and good luck with the house hunting! An older bungalow DOES sound wonderful. I much prefer older houses with character to newer ones.
ReplyDeleteThere's one bungalow that was just listed for sale and it has so much character! It looks slightly shabby in the photos, but a fresh coat of paint and a little bit of sprucing up here and there and it looks like it could be really nice. It's also near the downtown area of the city that's undergoing "revitalization" these days, so the neighborhood is on the rise, so to speak.
Delete