End of Summer Faves

 

It's Friday and although it's been a crazy, busy week, I'm taking time with other bloggers in the FAVE FIVE community to find things to be grateful for. We do this by linking up at Susanne's site.

FIVE FAVES

Courtney at Sunnyside Gardens
19 Sept 

Sunnyside Gardens Display

• MOM-DAUGHTER DATE:  Courtney, our oldest daughter, requested that we spend the last Saturday of September together and go to the Saratoga Farmers Market and then the pumpkin patch.  We made a day of it!  We were outside in the brisk sunshine all day long. It was the last weekend of summer but it truly felt more like autumn.  It was glorious!  We bought a couple of Christmas gifts as well as some very nice pumpkins for decorating the yard.  We then went out to lunch at a fave vegan cafe in Saratoga and ate outside.  We then walked around a bit visiting a couple of stores and then dashed over to Spot Coffee before heading home.  What a fun day it was with my oldest girl.  I'm so thankful we had this time together.

Courtney and I in Saratoga Springs
19 September

lunch from The 4 Seasons Cafe 

• NATURE TIME! On Sunday I went to the early service at church as Dave had to work production that morning backstage.  After church (I had dressed casually), I stood outside in the gorgeous sunshine chatting with my pastor's wife for a few minutes and then drove north to a little town that has a waterfalls that my friend Cheryl and I were  trying to find.  It was  difficult finding it but we finally found the correct road as well as the footpath down.  It was rather treacherous so I didn't linger as I also wanted to get in a good power walk back at Saratoga Spa State Park.  I walked for just over a mile and then drove home to get some autumn decorating done as well as some chores!  I'm thankful for any time I spend out in nature on glorious late summer days!

Snook Creek  Falls
20 September

On the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park
20 September

Snook Creek

front stoop all set for early autumn

flower bed under living room windows

• AUTUMN!  Autumn arrived on Tuesday and I placed the pumpkins we bought on our front stoop and in the flower garden.  My tulips and peonies are long gone of course although my rose bushes are still going strong. And my chives are growing very well.  The day lilies are gone too although the stems and leaves are still there as you can see.  I also have a big orange pumpkin and a medium sized cream colored one under one of our cherry trees with a wooden scarecrow sign saying "welcome".  I neglected to take a picture of that.  I'm thankful it's been a mild autumn so far!  I just love the weather we get here in eastern NY in the months of August-October! I'm so thankful we live in the North-east!

backyard reading!

• BOOK GROUP!  I'm still a small group leader at our church, but I'm not doing a traditional small group Bible study this year due to covid concerns and new guidelines.  Rather, I've invited 4 close friends and former small group members (one is my cousin!) to join my newly established Book Club Group.  Yes we will be reading a Christian study but it's more of a discussion that I'm facilitating rather than teaching.  We had our first meeting Wednesday.  Everyone who comes in to my house has to sign an informed consent form stating they are symptom free and haven't been in contact with anyone with Covid19.  I have them sign in case we need to do contact tracing. Everyone was ok with it. I provide hand sanitizer for them to use before they pick up the pen, and I keep lysol wipes in the bathroom so if they need to use our guest bathroom, they will wipe down the toilet and sink when done.  I'm only requiring masks if someone presents with cold symptoms.  One woman has a doctor's note stating that she has allergies.  The book is excellent that we are reading and I'm thankful everyone seemed to click and all participated in the discussion.

• THE SOUND OF CRICKETS:  I'm thankful for being able to have our windows open for sleeping.  This is my favorite time of year (August through November) because most evenings we can have the windows open in the bedrooms.  The crisper air, the sound of the crickets......I'm so thankful for them.

That wraps up my week of blessings.

I hope whatever you have planned for the weekend, that it is relaxing and refreshing!