It’s Labor Day weekend, which can only mean one thing…the glorious summer has officially come to an end and with it, a return to our ever so familiar routines. As a busy mom of 3, I always find this time of year bittersweet.
I enjoy the low key nature of summer vacation, but by the time we hit August, my kids – and myself included – are overly ready for their school routines, time with peers and extracurricular activities to resume again.
It’s sad to say goodbye to the endless sunny skies, warm temps and trips to the pool, however it should go without saying, if you’re a longtime reader of this blog, that I am a hopeless romantic for the fall season. It’s my favorite time of the year, so I welcome it with open arms. Bring on the pumpkin spice and crisp, cool air!
We spent our summer doing what we love, tending to our gardens and reaping the harvest.
I ended up with a bumper crop of tomatoes, carrots, radishes and strawberries this year, and we even tried our hand at growing sunflowers and cantaloupe.
I had some fun creating a cute “Hose Wreath” and potting station on the side of our little red shed.
The DIY barn quilt I made last year is still holding up nicely. All too soon it will be replaced by a Christmas wreath…only a few months away!
Sadly, our cat of 19 years passed away in May, and our hearts were broken and missing the presence of a kitty in our home. So in June, we welcomed not one, but two new fur babies to the family.
After finding these sisters available for adoption at our local shelter, we opened our hearts once again to these adorable kittens. Since we’re Harry Potter nerds, we named them Luna and Hermione.
We call them “the babies” and they are extremely spoiled with a multitude of love and snuggles and endless cat toys.
It’s pretty easy to see they have immediately found their place in our home.
Speaking of home, we’ve spent a great deal of time this summer figuring out how to make the most of our home’s square footage and layout. Due to the current nature of the economy and the aftermath of pandemic shutdowns and shortages, we’ve had to get extremely creative in both budget and planning.
But I think we are finally at a point where we have a good idea of how we’re moving forward. Our goal is to expand into the unfinished remaining portion of our basement, adding a 4th bedroom and full bathroom. The bedroom will serve as a spot for our oldest daughter, who will soon be starting high school, to settle in and have her own space after sharing a room with her sister for the last 11 years. And eventually, this space could serve a guest suite.
I’m looking forward to sharing more details once we get started on that project. But for now we are still in the process of purging ALL THE BASEMENT THINGS!
Ugh! Why do we collect and keep so. much. stuff?!
The older I get, the more appealing minimalism is to me!
I’ll be back soon with another post once I have the house decked out for fall, which shouldn’t be too much longer now. Goodbye summer, my dear old friend! I will miss you greatly until next year.
Yes, goodbye to summer and Hello fall! I always look forward to your fall decorating and the new ideas you come up with. Darling kitties and I’m glad you are not moving far away. God has got you here for a reason. ♥️