Fall again

But I wonder for how long? There is a sneaky forecast of some possible snow flurries in the near future.

It is definitely colder out. I am thinking about hats and gloves but not boots yet. They are already cleaned up and sprayed with their protective coating.

I am thinking about my winter check up for the car. There is an offer of a free snow brush - I will definitely take it.

My bags and rake are ready for activity. The leaves are still changing on both my maple trees.

I have bought some new winter clothes and sent some to the second hand shop at the church. A reorganization of my cupboard was in order.

The days are definitely shorter. When I go out to the stables early in the morning it is still dark. I have to wait until it is a bit lighter to bring in the mares from the fields. Soon they will all be spending the night inside in their cozy stalls.

Fall too soon

The 2nd of August today and that means that summer is half over.

There are signs of fall activity round and about.

Walmart is having a back to school sale. A friend was buying school supplies for her son.

Someone who gets up early in the morning like me said - what is happening that it is still dark.

The television has been advertising fall programs for a while now.

Loblaws has folded up their garden centres.

I have just received my Altar Guild schedule that takes me until Christmas. Oh dear!

What about Abracadabra - she is still enjoying the camp kids and she is certainly not getting ready for a warmer coat just yet.

Falling into fall

I have been shutting the windows instead of opening them.

The furnace and humidifier are all cleaned up and ready.

The dehumidifier has worked well this summer and my basement has not been damp. Now it is resting.

I washed and put away my summer clothes.

I have also put out my warmer riding clothes. The T-shirts have been put away and I have found my long-sleeved shirts and my sweat shirts.

Outside the geese have been preparing for their fall trip south.

The leaves have been turning lovely colours and are starting to fall.

My petunias have gone to the composter.

There has been some frost in the mornings and I have started looking for my gloves.

Summer progress and fall outlook

House and horse and church activities and friends and writing and reading and watching TV programs and DVDS - these are all part of my life right now.

Abra is always a priority. I look forward to the fall when it will be cooler and so does she. I always ride early in the morning and sometimes it is cooler then.

In the house I have had some regular maintenance done. I am changing my fireplace to gas so I had various things to organize about this. The actual change will not happen for a few months but that is alright because I do not need it before then.

I want to do a bit of painting of some old wooden furniture - but that will wait until it is cooler.

Altar Guild duties go on all the time and there are so few of us at the moment - only 6 people. I am trying to help out as much as I can with different special events - like what is needed for weddings and changing of liturgical colours. The head of the Altar Guild has some major health challenges in her immediate family and that is just starting.

Flowers and candles need ongoing attention.

Committees will start again in September - Worship Committee and Parish Council. I go again to the Diocesan Synod in October.

I did get into the church library - I have not done much in the last year or so. I have disposed of some unwanted books and I am getting ready to reorganize what is there.

I have on my calendar a weekend at the convent in Toronto. It will be a retreat on Henri Nouwen. I hope to take a friend with me.

I have signed up for a day long workshop at St. John’s also on Henri Nouwen and his images of death. I think I have written more than once on this blog about friends dying. There were another young man - a church acquaintance - who died of a stroke. He was 43.

I am preparing for a workshop presentation to the parish Women’s Renewal Weekend in mid September. It is on journaling. I am having fun getting ready for this. It is a 1 ½ hour workshop and it is taking some planning.

I will be around home at Thanksgiving. At some time my sister will come for a visit from Vancouver.

It makes me tired just reading all of this!! How did I find time to work?
　
　
　

Summer church activities

The church leaders including the two priests and the musicians have been coming and going on their holiday time.

The church looks emptier on a Sunday. The back doors are kept open to let in the cool breezes and the noises from Elgin Street outside.

The flowers for July are almost all done. My schedule for August flowers is well under way. I have started to think about September flowers. By then most of the folks arranging them will be available to help out.

I have started to plan some fall activities. When will I be available for Altar Guild duty?

What else can I add to my calendar? There are certainly lots of opportunities to get involved. I may not help with driving new Canadians or take a shift in the church office. Later on I may help with counting the Sunday collection.

I am thinking about helping with the seniors’ fellowship service that happens once a month. I know most of the folks who attend and I am sure the helpers would welcome me as well.

The church library keeps on calling me. I have recently noticed that a couple of boxes of donations have been dropped off. I think some cleanup is on my schedule for a day soon.

Where did the summer go?

I want to wear my jeans and sweaters instead of my shorts and sandals.

My furnace is all ready for future activities. I had it cleaned.

I want to curl up on my sofa with my fuzzy blanket.

I have been adding some soups to my grocery list.

I have shut the windows in my house - at least some of the time.

Signs of fall…brrrr

How about having some summer here in Ottawa first?
It has been cool and rainy - very rainy.

OC Transpo has out its fall schedule.

There was information about Super EX - the local end of summer fair. I have not been in many years - since there is no longer a horse show.

The school starting date was mentioned because different school boards have different days because of Labour Day being on September 7th.

Someone mentioned the days getting shorter and of course they are.

Fall part 2

I think I am thinking more of the changing seasons this year as I go into my second year of retirement. Time passes quickly.

*****

My furnace and heating ducts (after major renovations this past winter) have all been cleaned. A few mornings when I woke up my house was a little chilly so I did turn on the furnace.

The other morning when I stepped into the bus it was nice and cosy and warm - the heat was on.

I am starting to find my winter clothes. Do I have enough gloves? Where are my jackets and sweaters and sweatshirts? Goodbye to shorts and sandals.

On my morning walks in my neighbourhood I encounter lineups for school buses. If I am out later in day I can hear the kids outside at recess at the two schools near me.

There is a large section of forest near the highway I use coming home from visiting the horse. The colours there are not as green as they used to be and soon the colours will be quite brillant and fall like.

Fall

Is fall coming?

It takes a little longer for the light to appear in the mornings. I am not saying sun – because I do not see much of that this summer.

The local newspaper is talking about birds getting ready for their fall migration.

When I get up in the morning it is darker.

When I go outside I want a jacket – at least for a while.

My calendar is starting to fill up with September dates.

The TV schedule is looking towards fall.

Bishop's coat is starting to feel a little like velvet so it will soon be thickening up for the winter.

Some of the trees are starting to change colour.