It’s time for another Global Writing Challenge prompt. Our current membership consists of MK’s Adventures in Style, Deb’s World, Women Over 50 Living Well, Suzy Turner, Rosie Amber, Within a World of My Own, and me. Suzy chose this month’s theme. I’m not exactly sure why because it’s been a bit, but I’m sure, if you pop over to her blog (see below), she’ll tell you! We also welcome Sally from Within a World of My Own to the group. Sally lives in the United States and loves all things Alice in Wonderland and bunnies but maybe not always in that order! I love the Global Writing Challenge because it’s always fun to see what others come up with…the responses rarely repeat. On top of the wonderfully different opinions and thoughts, the writing itself is wonderful! I hope you’ll visit all of these blogs because you are going to be amazed at, not only the diversity of ideas, but the stories of each person. There’s also a link party at the end of this post!
A remembrance…
I want to take just a brief moment to remember the events of September 11, 2001. It will be seared into my memory forever. You see, Nigel was on a plane in NYC and saw the first tower on fire. The second hadn’t been hit yet. I, however, knew nothing of that. What I did know was his connecting flight was in Pittsburgh. When I heard about that plane, I lost it. Our guidance counselor took over my class so I could try to get some answers. It was noon before I talked to him. He knew nothing about it until he reached the car rental agency. The agent told him to get out of the airport ASAP because it would be shutting down. He was surprised I knew anything about it because he honestly had no idea what had happened. I remember the day, the lives lost, and the loved ones left behind. But, I also remember how we came together as one country, united in our grief and mourning the brave men and women who worked tirelessly to rescue those in the towers but lost their lives in the end. I remember we were Americans, not Republicans or Democrats. I remember.
If you want to participate…
If you’d like to join in, we post on the second Thursday of the month. You can link up with me or any of the other bloggers. Here are the next few prompts of the year:
- October: Kindness
So, on we go…
There are so many different times in the year to think of as a starting point. I mean, there’s New Year’s Day, the first day of Spring, and even the first day of Summer. But, I wonder how many people consider September to be the start of something new. Well, I know of at least one, and you’re reading her blog!
Trees…
I’m not sure why I think of September as the season of rebirth. The trees turn the most amazing colors from deep, deep burgundies to brilliant oranges to everything in between. If we’re lucky, the trees hang onto those leaves for a bit. Usually, we get rain and thunderstorms which send the leaves flying. My annual and perennial flowers seem to shout hurrah one last time and give me some of the most brilliant blooms of the year.
Pumpkins…
I also feel this need to do things inside the house. I decorate like you wouldn’t believe. I don’t even want to count the number of pumpkins I’ve collected over the years. Some of them are homemade, but most have been purchased after the season on deep discounts. Let’s face it, pumpkins really don’t change all that much from year to year. If you came to visit, you’d see almost every surface in the house with at least one if not three (always style in threes) pumpkins on them.
Hygge…
It’s in September, I begin to think about soups to nourish us through the longer nights. And, yes, I love those longer nights. More lights are switched on and create such a cozy atmosphere. The candles I light create that hygge mood I’m always after. September also has me digging out the throws and afghans that have been packed away for a bit. Oh, and I can bring my fall pillows out of storage, too.
Pumpkin food…
September brings on the pumpkins spice season, but I’m not talking about the coffee. I’m talking about the cake, muffins, or quick breads. September is just the portal to the cozy fall baking I do that makes the house seem more like a home.
DIY…
September, much to Nigel’s chagrin, is also when I start bugging him about new DIY projects. I’ve got a couple planned already. We both know he probably won’t be the one doing the heavy lifting, but he will definitely be doing the planning and supervising. I’ll be the beauty as well as the brawn. He’ll be the brains of the outfit. What I’d really like to do in the living room is the dark moody version…the moulding, not the color. What we’ll probably do is the lighter color.
So, yeah! September is a season of starting not winding down. It’s a season of beginning…beginning to plan for colder weather, beginning to create that hygge space, beginning to think about Christmas and what to get my people to show them how much I love them. I love September!
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
What others are saying…
Suzy “shares why September feels like the magical doorway into autumn, with cooler nights, cosy anticipation, and the promise of boots, rain, and Halloween delights.”
Sally “discusses the strangeness of September with a focus on nature outings and bird sightings.
Mary Katherine is still on hiatus, catching up with old friends, and vacationing.
Sue is vacationing this month!
Debbie is also vacationing this month!
“For Rosie, September has always meant endings and new beginnings.”
And, now, it’s your turn!
If you’d like to link up your Supernatural posts, you may link up here or at any of the other blogs!
Yes, I imagine for Americans there is no escaping that memory. It’s funny to think how your Husband must have processed it – being away from information. So awful.
It’s so funny seeing you guys planning for the cold when we are chomping at the bit for our warmth! I thought this was a hard prompt. Next month will be better! (But clearly I need the challenge! Good exercise. You’ve stumped me a couple of times this year)
Thanks, Lydia! He’s an engineer so I think he just compartmentalized it. Other than telling me he’d seen the first tower on fire, it was many years before he really spoke any more about it. My kids all had cell phones at that time, but I don’t think I did. If Mike did, it would have been a company phone.
I feel the same way when I read about you all celebrating Christmas in warm weather! I do love the challenge of meeting the prompt!
Well done Marsha, I feel all cosy already after reading about all your plans. Good luck wit the decorating.
I only recently realised that we would be posting on the 11th. It’s a shame that the ‘pulling together of a nation can’t be bottled’ everyone has gone back to their own islands and pulled up the drawbridges.
Thanks, Rosie! It’s always a bit of a jigsaw puzzle when I’m trying to put out the pumpkins…especially since Jack would be more than willing to destroy them. I also may have added three more!
I think it is even worse now than it was before that awful day. I’m not sure this country can come back from it, either.
It must have been terrible not having any information. Hard to believe that it has been 24 years since then when the memory is still that vivid in the mind.
I don’t think I ever connected September with something special except thinking about summer finally being over, but reading your post I found I can really relate to some of the points.
Thanks, Cat! It is very vivid in my mind. I remember what I was wearing and got rid of those clothes because they reminded me of that day every time I wore them. Once I heard from Mike, I was able to calm down. My next problem was getting gas. I knew I needed it, but I was going to get it after school. That was a huge problem as everyone was panic buying gas.
I’m glad you were able to find things in my post you related to!
I’m starting to look forward to the cool, crisp weather and more baking! I do love fall and since we’re still in that back to school mode September is a reset for all of us to get back into a routine… that I plan to start next week!
Thanks, Joanne! Mike was just telling me how much he wanted to bake some cookies so I guess I need to stock up on the ingredients!
I love fall and even though our weather doesn’t really change every once in awhile a cool front comes in and we have less humidity. It feels like such a treat!
Reading about your 9/11 experience – OMG, I cannot imagine what that was like for you! I will always remember that day too. And yes, we were all Americans and stood together.
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! I like having four seasons though spring and fall are very short these days. I doubt I will ever forget that day. I was so panicked, and Mike was really surprised I even knew about it. I don’t think he realized, at the time, the extent of the attack. It did take him several years to even talk about it, though.
What a lovely post, Marsha. We both took this challenge in a similar way—and I love that you go all in on decorating! You home must look absolutely amazing with all those pumpkins!!
I am sorry though, that Mike was on a plane when the first one hit. I can’t even imagine how horrendous that must’ve been for you. Someone commented here that there’s no escaping this memory for Americans, but it’s not just Americans. I will never forget where I was and what I was doing on September 11, 2001, but I chose not to talk about it on the blog today, because I wanted to focus on more uplifting and positive aspects of September.
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thank you, my friend! I do love decorating with my pumpkins. I’ve got them stashed all over the house…even in Mike’s bathroom (I’m not sure he knows they’re there, though). I didn’t realize it spread beyond our shores. I wasn’t going to mention it, but then I felt I really had to do so. I do love September but not as much as October!
LOL I wonder if he has noticed the pumpkins in his bathroom lol!!! I agree…October is wonderful and the main reason I love September is because it means October is close!!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
I don’t think he has. All of his junk is in this ugly cabinet he insisted we bring to the new house! I have to put them in as if I’m playing Tetris!!
OMG that’s hilarious!!!!
xxx
It’s truly one of those cases where you slam the door before anything falls out. I’m not kidding. When I die, my kids are going to be so mad at me because everything in this house is positively stuffed! That’s what happens when you move from 4000 square feet to about 1800 square feet!
Thanks for acknowledging 9/11 in your post. I cannot imagine how confusing that must have been for Nigel and how terrifying for you!
The mention of pumpkins really made me smile! I’m imagining a rabbit sneaking into your house and checking out all the pumpkin figures, trying to chew through the rind to the good stuff inside – “These aren’t food!” THUMP!
Thanks, Sally! I really don’t think he knew how serious the situation was until he got into that rental car. But, I was a mess. I couldn’t remember the names of anyone at ITT to call to find out if he’d made it. I usually had his itinerary with me, but I didn’t this time.
You know, I used to have a ceramic bunny. It was a planter we’d gotten when we had our oldest. I wonder what happened to it. You’re right…none of those pumpkins would be in the least appetizing!
I love how you all think of September as a new beginning and such. It’s definitely a time of change…for us, we welcome some cooler mornings.
XOOX
Thanks, Jodie! I think the start of school is what first got me thinking of September as a time for starting over. But, now it just feels natural. We’ve had some wonderfully cool days but back to the 90s next week!
Ooo these pictures and musings on September make me feel instantly cozy. I think repainting a moodier color will be gorgeous and very seasonally-appropriate.
Thanks, Edi! I would love to do the dark moody room, but I fear it would make the living room even darker than it is. We get so little natural light in there. If paint weren’t so expensive, I’d probably paint more often than I do!
I don’t drink coffee so I am not a PSL person, but pumpkin spice in baking? Yes please! I just made a pumpkin tiramisu that was so easy and delicious! 9/11 must have been so terrifying for you! With the amount my hubby travels, I always get worried about something happening. I am sure you felt the same way whenever Nigel traveled. It’s so scary!
Seriously? You don’t drink coffee, either? I thought I was the only person in the world who doesn’t. I’ve tried to like it, but it’s just not my cup of tea (pardon the pun). I don’t even like the thought of the pumpkin spice latte…that just sounds wrong to me. Yes, 9/11 was probably the scariest moment of my life. I was OK until I heard about the plane that went down in Pennsylvania. I knew Mike flew through Pittsburgh. It took him quite a while to really talk about it. But, he was on a plane back to New Jersey the very next week. He said he wasn’t going to let “them” win by not flying again. We did check in more those last years. I don’t think I had a cell phone at the time, but he had a company one and would call the school to leave a message for me.
Thanks, Laura!
I’m all about decorating with pumpkins and baking everything pumpkin this time of year. Love the molding in that inspo photo!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I really, really like the over the top moulding, but that would be really expensive. And, since I’m doing it, and mistakes will be made, we’re going with the easier route! I need to buy some pumpkin to make some pumpkin cake and take it around to the neighbors. I think I might have done a post on my pumpkins. If not, I’ll do one because I have got a lot!
Yes!! I love September! The gateway month to fall. Yay! And bring on all the breads and soups and soft afghans and quilts and throw pillows, and of course the pumpkins and the leaves. I am so ready!! Now, tell it to stop being so hot!
And how absolutely terrifying Marsha!!! I would have been losing my mind as well. I remember I was at work, and we hadn’t opened for the day yet. (I worked at a small old fashioned office supply store) My boss and I just stood there hugging each other as we watched it unfolding, then my brother called the store to tell me what he saw too. He was supposed to go to classes in college and I told him to stay home. We stayed open but had zero customers all day and we just watched the tv together and tried to process what we were watching.
Oh, I’m going to have to remember that…the gateway month to October! We had some wonderful days of highs in the low 70s but are back to the 90s again! Yes, it was terrifying and something I’ll never forget. My students knew all about it because our school started at 8:55. Mike was on a plane the next week, though, because he said he wasn’t going to let “them” win!
I was getting my middle babies ready for school when the first plane crashed into the Tower. I remember Matt Lauer breaking the news; it was terrifying. I ended up picking our daughter home from school and spending the rest of the day glued to the tv.
I’m with you on the pumpkin breads, but I am not a PSL person at all. It has a weird aftertaste to me. I also love the coziness of candles, flannel sheets,
My two youngest were in college, and my oldest was working. I had to wait for them to call me because I didn’t have a cell phone. It was a horrendous days.
Mike likes his creamer (caramel macchiato) with a little coffee! Hahaha!! Thanks, Daenel! BTW…I’ve made up a new word…you’ll have to check out the blog tomorrow!
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Hi – I love how you picked out the highlights of what we think of in September! Thanks for sharing your thoughts – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! Sometimes, those really open-ended prompts are difficult, but this one wasn’t for me, at least.