October in Review

Another month where I don't get the Month In Review up in a timely fashion. Well, I have a good excuse. 

To say October was busy would be pitching it lightly, indeed. The month was entirely taken up with preparing to move to a different state. Getting the transition ready at work, at our apartment, at our new home, and with the family was intense and exhausting. In the end, all went well, and the movers came at the end of October. 

1) My morning view. 2) Sand toys. 3) Brooklyn says goodbye. 4) New growth. 

We were able to squeeze in visits with friends for dinners and drinks. We tried to eat and drink at as many of our favorite places as we could. We only traveled to our new home, but that was plenty of travel this month. And the weather was beautiful and warm throughout October, so we enjoyed the beach as well as both our new town and our old one. 

So much work was achieved this month!! Quilting was rejuvenated, despite life being so hectic. Watchercats were out in force. But we also had some sad news on the #watchercat front. One of several signs it's time to move on, I suppose. 

1) Not even trying to use that cat tree on 11th Street, South Slope. 2) Being sneaky on 10th Street in South Slope. 3) Notably absent on 6th Ave in South Slope. 4) Still in bloom on 8th Street in Park Slope. 

1 + 4) Out with the Old... 2 + 3) ... in with the New. 

During the end, and most stressful point, of the month, we got a rare treat! We were able to go to the World Series! It was elating but heart breaking at the same time!

The majority of our family felt so-so about the move and didn't arrive at the new house until November. 

1) Bippi enjoys the vantage of stacked boxes. 2) Tom tries to act normal. 4) Pit can't see what all the fuss is about. (PS where's the food?). 4) Flounder helps me pack.  

The anticipation for how busy October would be was totally eclipsed by the excitement (and stress). There's been a lot of work already done this November... let's see what else we can do.  

September in Review

Another month closer to the end of the year, can you believe it?

September was a great month! Maybe not the wild ride I was expecting, but it was certainly a wild ride!

We spent a lot of time Down the Shore at the new house, friends came to visit for the beginning of the month, we visited new places, participated in happy events, and had some quality time with old friends. 

1) Nola #watchercat! 2) An old friend on 8th St. 3) Sneaky, teeny, watcher in Prospect Heights. 4) Keeping an eye on things on 10th Street. 

This is the second year in about the last 20 that I've been in Brooklyn for September and it's always a little strange to me. The weather is amazing; one minute Summer, than the next Snap! Fall. The watcher cats were not as prevolant as I would have thought, though. 

1) Neighbor goose. 2) Alabama style mushrooms. 3) Orange cats are almost everywhere in Park Slope. 4) An impressive Post Office.  

1) Porcelain berries in the backyard. 2) Hilltops in Red Level, AL. 3) Yellow beasts in Asbury Park. Cuties wrapped in Pink. 

We got a lot done in September, but we got to relax a little, too. Some quilting got done, but not as much as would feel healthy. We went on some dinners with friends and it was nice to hear what they've been up to and forget our own adventures for a spell.

In the middle of the month, we traveled down to Alabama for a family wedding. It was lovely to see family and see a new state. We even spent a few days in NOLA after. 

1) The cutest chapel. 2) Staten Island looking majectic. 3) The brightest jelly. 4) Nola looking magical. 

1) Jersey bee. 2) After the storm. 3) Bird on a wire. 4) Brooklyn bee. 

The end of the month it was back to the grind. 

September went fast and although it had it's relaxing moments, it was all about work and it was all about anticipation. There's a lot to get done in October, so let's get started. 

September in Review

In stark contrast to August's slow lazy, relaxing days, September was a whirlwind of work, visits from friends, stress, vacation, change, seeing family, making plans, and more work. 

For the last 20 years or so, I've been away for Labor Day, returning only after the school year is in full swing. In my experience, school starting up signals the real start to a new year. Back to school means back to work, back to Winter and back to waiting for a new Summer. 

1) Prospect Park Zoo's peacocks have refined tastes. 2) Busy bees in Cape May Point. 3) Watcher Dog hanging out. 4) Watcher cat being sneaky off the 15th Street circle. 

Every other year, I come home after the first week of September and it's Fall already. The weather's cooler, the leaves changing, the hustle and bustle already begun. But this year I got to watch the slow change of hot end-of-Summer days to the mild leaf swirled mornings and chilly dark nights of Autumn. It's an interesting sea change to experience, much more lazy and drawn out than I had expected. 

In the beginning of September, friends visited from out of town and we got to visit some of our favorite places, eat giant pretzels, sew, and go to the beach. We stayed Down The Shore, house hunted, met new cats, enjoyed some September Swims. 

We had some sad news when we found out the our truck was too expensive to repair, and we had to let it go. It's been a long time since I've lived in the city without a car, so part of this month was about getting used be being driven, taking the train, or staying put when we might rather be driving away.

At the end of the month we took a family vacation, so we could relax away from the city a bit. We headed down to Cape May, the site of long past visits and more recent stays. We beachcombed and bird watched, checked out the North American Sea Glass Festival, ate at our favorite restaurants, and visited old haunts, we wandered into Critterfest, light house gazed, read, and talked a lot, before heading back home, back to work, and back to a new month. 

1) Strange times, 2) stranger's cat, 3) strange 'Kat, 4) strange name for a bird (Mango). 

Although fun times and adventure were woven throughout the month, September was mostly about work. It was a month for change, getting serious, and getting down to business. It was stressful. It was hard. 

I think of it as a harvest. The work we put in during this month will reap growth, and plow the way to rewards in the future. To me, that is what September is about. Starting again, working hard, making new, getting ready for real Winter. And waiting for Summer to return. The long wait begins in September.

If September is a last harvest, plowing the fields, tilling the soil, then I hope October is the last feast before Winter. October, I'm setting the table.