Postcards From the Lake: September Flies!

What happened to September? It's like a magician's trick -- Now you see it, now you don't! Well, we still have some time but boy, it's flying by!

 

I headed to the lake to welcome my new refrigerator. I suspected Rick might want to sit this trip out, having been away from his own home for so long. The new fridge is lovely and the delivery couldn't have been better. Right on time, two very strong guys managed to get it in without having to remove my heavy wooden door!

 

 

That said, within 36 hours it began to leak from the front and I've been in customer service limbo for the past few days.  They will send a technician but given that it's at the cottage 160 miles from home, it's going to be a scheduling trick. Stay tuned!

 

My cousin David and his wonderful wife Bonnie were here for the weekend, so I was only a little bit lonely! Spending time with these two is always a treat. I'd seen David this summer but hadn't seen Bonnie in two years! So it was a fun reunion.

 

We also spent time with another cousin, Jack. This is the three of us in the long-ago. (Me, David and Jack, who is eight and ten months older than we are.)

We grew up. (Or should I say we grew old?) Time is cruel.

 

Despite good family time, this was far from my best lake trip. Without Rick, it was very quiet. The lake itself was quiet with very few boats and no neighbor activity. Even the farm market was lacking people, which made shopping fast but probably not great for the merchants! (The sunsets, however, were September-spectacular, with pink and purple skies. I nabbed this photo right after we returned from dinner and it's pretty -- but five minutes before, as we were driving home, it was spectacular!)

 

The quiet is lovely in many ways, but I'd had plans for my "home alone" time that were thwarted by myself. I forgot to pack the power supply for the computer and consequently, found those times a little frustrating. No evenings of streaming, no finishing the slide show I was working on, no blogging. (It's so hard to enjoy your beautiful blogs with only a small phone screen.) I had email correspondence I was eager to tackle. And, my computer connects to my bluetooth speaker so at least the music would sound better than our old radio or from my phone. Consequently, I've not been checking in on you blog pals -- and I know after five days, I will probably not catch up! (I will admit, Lizzie is good company, but she doesn't speak English and my "cat" is limited.) It was a little startling to realize I have a bit of an addiction to my computer.

But until Saturday, when I left, we couldn't have asked for nicer weather. September is always a lovely month at the lake. The smells and tints of early fall settle in and every walk is filled with change and anticipation of what is to come. 

 

There is not yet a lot of color on the hardwoods, but it is definitely getting there. In another few weeks, it should be absolutely stunning.

 

The contrasting colors of change are always so beautiful.

 

The fungi has returned in force! Check out these guys!

 

Then take a look, with the blade of the hedge clippers for scale. So tiny!

 

These were much bigger.

I did tackle our weedy beach again. Weeds have an annoying tendency to grow back, even when you think you've nabbed the roots. And yes, I painted. This one will turn into a note card, part of a series (although it is a 5x7 and I may sell the original.) 

 

I did a couple of pages in my Sketchbook Scavenger Hunt. The one on the left was "An Interesting Leaf." The other was "Something That Inspires Creativity."

 

 

When I was up north the last time, I started this piece, from a photo I took in the Cotswolds in 2018.

 

 

 

I more or less finished it, although I think it might need another wash of shadows on the right-hand side. The golden Cotswold stone isn't as differentiated as I think it should be with the light.

 

 

 

And I read, knocking off three books in three days. I'm not that fast a reader so it gives you an idea of how much time I had when I don't have a computer or other at-home things to deal with! Those books included an unexpected pleasure that will surely be on my top ten list this year. And, if I prioritized it, you'd find it right near the top. (And, much to my own shock and surprise, it's about football.)

 

 

 

So, it's back to the routine. Resettling at home (though I'll be north at least a couple more times).

I suspect many more leaves will have fallen by then!