August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.
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I am hopeful for some August rain…we need it in Western PA. August… my least favorite month of the summer. My garden is… less than lovely at this point. It is a sad and forlorn place however, my butterfly bush has just begun to put on a show and I am grateful for the blooms!
But still… August means the end of so many things. The daylight is receding, the garden gets worse not better, and cooler nights begin to creep in.
So how to I set myself on the path to enjoying August? That is my challenge for this month and I have a plan that I think will help me!
- Morning coffee and meditation on the porch will continue throughout the month. I love starting my day this way and I need to soak up as much of the outside that I can!
- I am going to add in an afternoon porch time with some hand stitching – either appliqué squares or temperature circles… it will be a nice break from my usual routine.
- I am going to get some spring bulbs ordered so I can plant them later this year. I am excited about this but don’t really have any idea where to look (online) so if you all have suggestions… I’d love it! Leave your suggestions in the comments (and thank you!)
- And finally… one generally sucky project, but one that is in dire need of completion. I am going to sort though the plastic “leftover” containers that have overtaken an entire cupboard. Out go the things that don’t have lids and lids that don’t have bottoms! And perhaps a bit of reordering will move them back to their corner of a drawer so I can get a cupboard back!
So welcome August, let’s do this!
I like to clean out ‘stuff’ for us it’s our clothes closets that need attention. I did mine mostly but my husband needs to do his clothes. I cannot believe after moving here two years ago I need to do this already!
Funny how things pile up (left-over containers and the like), isn’t it? I love my patio time – either early morning (before the heat) or in the afternoon with a beverage and Fletch by my side. it is a calming and soothing place. I like that quote at the top of your post – the “odd, uneven time” seems appropriate. I just think of August as bringing me closer to my favorite time – FALL!!
We’ve got a lovely rainy day here today and I hope you get some rain in the near future. Your August plan sounds lovely. I haven’t been sitting on our porch because John is in the (long) process of scraping, painting, and repairing. It looks pretty bad, but will hopefully be better when he’s done. It’s so satisfying to clean out your kitchen and know that when you grab a plastic container there’s going to be a lid to match!
Starting the morning quietly is the PERFECT way to start the day.
Your porch time sounds blissful. We’ve just had so much rain it feels unfair.
Your porch time sounds wonderful! It is still too hot &humid here to enjoy being outdoors. I look forward to some cooler weather!
I think this list is refreshing and inspiring! Especially the addition of that afternoon porch time. (And now, whenever I see you’ve typed ‘applique,’ I think of that project link…so stunning.) Sounds to me like you have every intention of making the best of August in pretty fantastic ways.
(And I ate those damn leftover containers.)
When I was teaching August felt so much like the end of summer. The first week of the month was time for one last summery adventure. By mid month I would be back in my classroom preparing for the upcoming year. Your list sounds perfect for extending the best of summer while transitioning to fall. May I suggested White Flower Farm as a great place to order bulbs. I have done this several times.
I hope someone chimes in with a bulb recommendation because I need one as well! Now that we’ve finally gotten rid of the holly bushes that I hated so much, our front yard is looking a little empty, so it would be nice to have some early spring flowers to look forward to.
It looks like we will get some rain today, and I hope it helps the garden.
You will feel so good after reorganizing that drawer that words cannot describe the feeling!
If I may, I suggest that next year you plant zinnias and dahlias because they will make your garden explode in August. Good luck with your August goals and lists. As for bulbs, I always get mine from Brecks. They will mail them to you when it’s time to plant them.
Colorblends.com for bulbs. They have a $60 minimum but it’s easy to get there, so many gorgeous selections. Enjoy!
What a good idea to make a plan for August. Quiet morning time is essential. This August the temperatures have been more reasonable AND we have some great fun coming up this weekend and through the next week.Man, I think those plastic containers multiply in the dark. Making order, even in some small space, generally makes me feel better.