SEPTEMBER PICTURES, COMMENTS, LUKE, ETC.

These were taken June 14, 2008

Please take note of my changed "welcome picture "- the house.

The change is subtle, but it's a change. I took that picture yesterday, September 16. My first picture of the house, if you've ever noticed it, was taken on the day of my first post. It was the very beginning of June. We're halfway through this month. I'd say September is our buffer month - a chance to shake off summer and prepare for October - FALL. Who can deny loving Fall - Autumn? This season displays, no, God displays in this season all His reds, golds, His entire "warm palette", cooled down just a bit by His evergreens . I love it. This season exudes warmth, creativity, heightened senses, a drying out - God allows nature her last brilliance, before going dormant. People seem different in the Fall - more connected, I think. We huddle up, get cozy, get closer - fellowship. Any region can claim that it has the best fall season. I live in North Alabama, but I still belong to South Alabama. So, as a native of SA, I'll give it to NA that it's hard to beat her Sugar Maples - Although if we go further North I'm guessing those folks would say the Sugar Maples and all those brilliant leaves belong to them. Who's competing? We all enjoy this season. I always want it to last longer - don't go away - please, please stay - but we move into Thanksgiving, some great reds and burgandies and browns, then Christmas, Santa Red and Green and Silver and Gold, and then Winter with its grays. While winter can be somewhat claustrophobic, weighty, I like it. Without it we wouldn't have our new beginning of beautiful Spring and then the heat and green of Summer. I like it all. I can't choose my favorite - but for now I am loving the anticipation of Autumn's colors.

(A side note on October in North Alabama. Charlie and I celebrate our wedding anniversary each October 27. We were married in 1979. It never fails that the week following that date is the peak of the season's color. We know that to be true. Only severe drought, which we had about a year ago, can shift it a bit.)

Let me also just say that the apples we have up here, from Crow Mtn., are the best. And the pecans in South Alabama in November cannot be beat. It's apple season and pecan season. The best.

So, yesterday Luke was with me while Ann went to the doctor to check on "little bit", growing in her tummy. "It" is fine, and next go around, October 2, an ultrasound will be done to unveil its gender. Yay! Can't wait. Anyway, Luke helped me take limbs to the street. The limbs were from our Bradford Pears - I clipped them on Sunday afternoon - would prefer to take a chain saw to those trees - we have too many - I love trees, but these are not my favorite - maybe one or two, thinned out - but these are blocking the sun on the west side of our house - completely blocking it. Below are pictures of Luke helping me, and while he was napping I took September pictures of my house and some trees - I'm going to let the change be seen as we move through these seasons which I've gone on and on about. If that's a correct sentence. I don't think it is, but it's something we say in the South - "they went on and on about it". or "She went on and on about it" - I love that, too - our sayings here in the South. I have a friend who lives in Tallassee and she says, "I cleared out a spot and had a spell". I love it when she says that. She says it very fast. I talk too slow to say it. I say the slower version, "I just pitched a fit". There are so many more. Two things regarding Favorites and What I like to remember - I'd like to comment on all those "sayings" which I know and remember - also - without being sad, melancholy, I'd like to write about when I miss Mother the most. There are things and times which bring her to mind more often than other times - same with Daddy - and my other family members who are now in heaven - but beginning with Mother - I want to list that. It falls under my favorite things and what I like to remember.

Okay, the pictures.

Taking a break - watching Barney.

Luke loves Barney - as well as Thomas the Train and Tigger and Pooh.

Hydrangeas in September - I know I need to deadhead, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

1412 Byron Road in September. There's a difference.

From this angle - the longer shadows. This is just after noon. My crepe myrtle is thinning out - actually not as healthy as the ones in the back. The River Birches are getting very thin. I think we needed much more rain this season. The back received more water due to certain factors.

And finally, our Sugar Maple in the front yard. The leaves haven't turned at all - yet - and this one is always later than others in Scottsboro. Not sure why. Again - water? I don't know - but it always comes through and is actually kind of nice to have waited on its golden leaves.

That's all.