The house remembered her whole life. It had always been the sameā¦it had never changedā¦not really. Only little surface changes. How she loved it! She loved it in morning rose and sunset amber, and best of all in the darkness of night, when it loomed palely through the gloom and was all her own. This beauty was hersā¦all hers. Life could never be empty at Silver Bush. Somebody had pitied her onceā¦āso out of this world.ā Pat laughed. Out of the world? Nay, she was in the world hereā¦her world. ā I dwell among my own people.ā Wise Shulamite!
There is just something about Septemberš¾šš that has gotten under my skin and deep down into my soul. The golden tinge, the lazy, drift-y woodsmoke through the warm sunās slant, the cool, autumn-touched mornings, and the swirl of leaves š behind my van as I go a toolinā down the road. Sigh. I declare September as my ānew yearā, the sitting among fluttering Queen Anneās Lace with the Chicory and Golden Rod as my only resolution. Oh, glorious September, donāt go with your woody smell of freshly sharpened pencils, favorite cardigans pulled out, and bold Zinnias flaring out of gardens. The cicadas screaming buzz, green speckled grasshoppers, and that deep, dark secretive cricket singing from behind the refrigerator. There is an end of summertime, early autumn š rustle and crunch to everything, cornstalks, leaves, and a rattle and roll to the landscape. It is SO unbelievably beautiful and Iām thankful for new seasons and new, fresh beginnings.
Never put the key to your Happiness in somebody elseās pocket.
Iām really trying to get into focused prayer and devotions. I have a well established devotional time, but it has been very distracted and disjointed. Iām loving the second half of Ezekiel! Itās an intense book, but oh, thereās some richness and encouragement, too.
Again He said to me, āProphesy to these bones, and say to them, āO dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the LORD GOD to these bones: ā Surely I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live.
Ezekiel 37:4-5, NKJV
I bought this charming pumpkin, her name is Hazel. š ā„ļøšøļøš·ļøš
Physical:
Iāve really struggled and I know itās because my good habits were not well established again after letting them fall by the wayside. Homeschooling began and it has been a battle for me in getting enough well, everything. šš Sleep, water, walks, and healthy, nourishing meals. Pray for me to slowly integrate these back in as our homeschool days are evening out now.
Mental:
Honestly, with school beginning, Iāve felt myself feeling ācrazyā and even though homeschooling is going well, itās just that added āon- nessā that I know contributes. We have extra outside obligations, also, and I know that adds to this feeling. Iām recognizing I need to adjust some of my summer habits and be very choosy about what Iām giving mental space to and also remembering to judge my feelings by Truth. Taking my thoughts captive! My sister sent me this quote to think on:
The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not be able to do something, and enter Godās realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His Almighty Power. Nothing is too small for His love.
Corrie ten Boom
Emotional:
Iāve been *trying* to turn off social media (curse you, Booktube- jk, jk! ) and actually use my hands to make bouquets, write penpals, and lately, create altered composition notebooks. Creating with my hands always helps encourage and calm my emotions. We took a little āTookishā adventure the other day to a cemetery with gorgeous leaves and had a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie šŖ snack there, yes, I know thatās sort of weird , but we loved reading the history of peopleās lives on the headstones šŖ¦ and enjoying the autumn atmosphere. We then visited a new-to-us public library and it was fun setting aside my Baggins habits of wanting to hide in my house all the time. šš
Half of a .69 cent composition notebook šcollaged into a gratitude journal! šAnother half a composition notebook collaged into an Inspiration notebook! Much easier to cut them this way in half than the other way. My hubby says heāll help me with a saw next time! š I may do some of these as Christmas gifts. Used Modge Podge over and under it all! So fun and relaxing!
Servanthood: thinking š¤ on this quote! šØā„ļøš
Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition. It will devise subtle, religiously acceptable means to call attention to the service rendered. If we stoutly refuse to give in to this lust of the flesh, we crucify it. Every time we crucify the flesh, we crucify our pride and arrogance.
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, p. 130
Verse focus:
I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase and they will be secure on their land. ā„ļø
from Ezekiel 34, NASB
Last, but certainly not least, Iāve been so encouraged and enjoying my reading. I finished Volume 1. of Charlotte Mary Yongeās delightful family saga, The Pillars of the Home, with my favorite online book people, Victorian literature lovers. Victorian literature is fast becoming a favorite genre! We will continue Volume 2 for Victober! I also SO enjoyed Distilled Genius by Susan Branch, a collection of her illustrations and hand lettered quotes. Branch and I differ in some worldview and lifestyle aspects, but overall, I loooved this collection. Iām currently rereading for the third time, her Marthaās Vineyard: Isle of Dreams, one of my favorite memoirs of all time.
And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.
I love reading seasonally or at least I get in certain reading moods as the seasons ease into the next. šššš¾šššæļøš»ā„ļø šHere are five reads that I recommend that feel September-ishā¦
1. From the Heart of the Home: Autumn by Susan Branch {this is a delightful collection of joyful reflections, illustrations, quotes, and recipes to get you into the fall mood}ā„ļøš»
2. Pat of the Silverbush by L.M. Montgomery {Iām reading this currently for the first time and itās lovely and cozy for this time of year}
3. Christy by Catherine Marshall {beautiful story full of hope, growth, faith, and wonderful female friendships}
4. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry {honestly, I pull this short poetry collection out all times of year, but have been craving it lately}
5. The Grasmere Journals by Dorothy Wordsworth {beautifully simple journal entries from the sister of the poet William Wordsworth. The domesticity and pace of life is just so relaxing to me and the English Lake District setting is perfect}
P.S. William Shakespeare is another I feel drawn towards. Whatās your favorite play of his?
Do you have any favorite reads that smell and feel of September? ā„ļø Please share!
What are you reading š, exploring, or creating this weekend? Happy September, friends! šš„°š»ā„ļøāļøšššššš¤šššš¬šāØš¾šš²
Iām mostly sipping coffee āļø {maybe Tazoās Lemon š Loaf tea, later} and loving The Grasmere Journals by Dorothy Wordsworth š„°.
There is wonder all around usā¦šāļøā„ļøšæš²š»
Listeningā¦ Johnny Cash – thereās a bit of truth for life I can pull out of this classic. Thinking on it. The things IN my heart are what come out.
Readingā¦ Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. Iām interested in the history, but the portrayal of Joan is hard to swallow. So saintly sheās a bit bland? š The writing is very flowery which I normally kind of like, but not loving it here. Iām going to see how much I can do by the end of this week and possibly attend Zoom discussion. Has anyone else read this?
āThank God, I can keep the shadows of my life out of my work,ā she wrote. āI would not wish to darken any other life – I want instead to be a messenger of optimism and sunshine.ā
Quote from L.M. Montgomery in Liz Rosenbergās biography House of Dreams: The Life of L.M. Montgomery
ā„ļøOh, Maud, you ARE a continual source of optimism and sunshine to THIS woman. š
Listeningā¦ Risking Enchantment episode on Studio Ghibli themes. ā„ļøš
Readingā¦ Iām loving reading along with the Librivox audio to Jerome K. Jeromeās Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of The Dog) . This is a hilarious Victorian story full of sarcasm and British wit. Iām really enjoying it. I hope to finish it this week so I can attend a Zoom discussion on it.
Noticingā¦weāve had a super dry summer, but are having a high humidity wave currently. I love the warmth, but itās not fun to work in! Iām loving the mixture of yellows and purples on the roadsides. Late summer flowers. ā„ļø
What are you listening to, reading, watching, and noticing? There is so much wonder! ā„ļø
Sunlight flooded the ancient schoolroom, and chalk dust danced in the slanting rays. The massive brass inkstand on my desk gleamed like gold, and little rainbows glanced from the glass over the photograph of our Queen centrally placed on the rear wall, in the most honored position.
A.M. Pine - Hearth Ridge Reflections 