Highlights and Favorites; One Sentence a Day in September
September felt like it flew by! We had a pretty great month with some pretty great weather... until the Nor'Easter of rain hit at the end of the month bringing with it some localized flooding and lots of power outages and in our case a fender bender. I've gotta say, these past two months have nearly done me in.. I don't want to be an adult anymore. 🤣
1.Thankful for some much needed rain. Slept in then went to yoga and spent the dark, stormy day inside cleaning the house top to bottom. 3,581 steps.
2. Thankful to see how well Evan is settling into school and for an unexpected date night with my husband. Gym, spent part of my day chatting with my mom, then my husband picked me up before his haircut so we could also drop a bag of things off for Evan; he elected not to go to dinner with us because he had plans with friends instead. 6,556 steps.
3. Thankful for good audiobooks to keep me company on my walks. Yoga workout at home, then headed out hiking by myself. 12,213 steps.
4. Thankful to have had a decent talk with all 3 boys individually throughout the day. Gym, grocery shopping, Alec came home for a dentist appointment and stayed the night, finished my puzzle while watching Jeopardy with Alec. 8,114 steps.
5. Thankful we finished the yard work before the rains came. Went with Ian and my husband to buy supplies to over-seed the lawn, then spent most of my day reading 4,447 steps.
![]() |
| picked quite a few more tomatoes; seems like we're getting a big batch every other day now |
6. Thankful we had no real plans for the weather to mess up. A mostly rainy day spent predominantly inside reading, blogging, and hemming my pants. 2,891 steps.
7. Thankful for a beautiful day of hiking and hearing about Evan's first few weeks of school. Hiked Mt. Wachusett with Evan and my husband then swung by Bj's on our way home. 12,284 steps.
8. Thankful for our gorgeous weather today. Spent the day running errands, had a late day perm at the hairdressers with my mom who was also getting a cut at the same time, then home to cook dinner. 6,556 steps.
9. Thankful for fresh apples and veggies from the orchard. Gym, home to scrapbook and do some crafting, then off to the apple orchard and spent my afternoon reading, crafting, and blogging. 7,902 steps.
10. Thankful that my new painting turned out as good as it did after hating it for 90% of the way. Grocery shopping, finished my latest painting, did two workouts at home (this ab workout and this arm weight workout), and nearly finished my latest book. 6,240 steps.
11. So thankful for a really fabulously long and beautiful hike. Gym, contacted a few lawyers in Florida, went for a nice long hike to clear my head then spent 2 hours on the phone catching up with Evan's week. 16,136 steps.
12. Thankful to see some pea pods in the garden. A sunny Saturday spent at home doing some yard chores, spent my afternoon reading and ended the day with a trail ride. 7,098 steps.
13. So thankful we never got any severe storms or floods in our area. We had a very rainy day with threat of thunderstorms and flood watches all day so I mostly just crafted. A rather pitiful 1,693 steps.
14. Thankful for a fun afternoon of games with the family. Gym, spent my morning cleaning house, reading, then ended my day playing tri-ominoes with my mom, mother in law, and son. 10,239 steps.
15. Thankful to have finished scrapbooking our Utah trip. Yoga, spent my morning scrapbooking, then went for a hike. 9,797 steps.
16. Thankful for the spectacular sunrise and that my mom didn't mind my pulling over to snap a quick photo on the way to the gym. Gym, cleaned house, spent much of the day chatting and running errands with Ian then ended the night starting 5 Star Weekend on Paramount. 6,885 steps.
![]() |
| Alec's sage plant is looking pretty good-- know of any good uses for sage? |
![]() |
We finally had a few peas to harvest (they were planted so late we didn't really expect to get any but there are pods everywhere!) and yet more tomatoes |
17. Thankful both baked good turned out so good! Grocery shopping, home to work on lots of baking, mailed out a package, talked with Evan for a bit then went to visit with my mom. 3,801 steps.
18. Thankful my husband was able to fix the dishwasher after dinner. Gym, home to make a salad and work on the blog, then went to meet my girlfriend for a lovely afternoon hike. 12,835 steps.
19. Thankful Evan decided to spend the night at home. Spent the morning clearing the trail with my husband and mother in law while our driveway was resealed then went to pick up Evan and 2 of his friends for a day at the movies/shopping. 7,447 steps.
20. Thankful the whole family was able to be together for one last meal with my mom & stepfather before they leave to head back home. I spent the morning chatting with Evan, Ian, and my mother in law then we left for a family lunch at Wrights Chicken Farm with my parents before driving Evan back to school then we spent the rainy afternoon watching TV. 4,124 steps.
21. Thankful I got to wear my new sweater today. Gym, home to clean, then I honestly can't remember what I did; clearly I walked at some point.. 8,207 steps.
22. Thankful to have (hopefully!) found a new doctor worth keeping. Skipped yoga for a doctor's appointment then ran a few errands and went to get my blood work done too before lunch and then a long walk through the state park. 10,047 steps.
23. So thankful all my blood test results came back and everything checks out just fine. Gym, home to work on housework and some more art project then off for an afternoon hike with my mother in law; I had planned to meet Alec in Providence to see a show but my tetanus shot really started making me feel pretty awful by late afternoon so I stayed home and went to bed early instead (he was already going with his roommate anyway so he was fine either way). 10,336 steps.
24. Felt good enough to go to the gym (after a dose of Motrin), went grocery shopping, then spent my day doing my nails, working on the blog, and reading. 7,212 steps.
25. So thankful for a truly wonderful day with my guy. My husband and I were up early and on the road by 8:30/9 to head up to New Hampshire and check on our new Ranger that we bought in June that broke down... after a lovely lunch and a quick stop in Kittery Maine we set our GPS south and headed to Foxwoods resort and casino for a lovely belated birthday celebration-- dinner at Hell's Kitchen, Steve Martin & Martin Short live, and a wonderful overnight stay in the Fox Tower. (no step count as I only wore my watch part of the day).
![]() |
| We made it inside just as the rains started |

26. Thankful that even though the power blinked off several times it always came back on. After a really wonderful nights' sleep we headed to breakfast at Jerry's then drove home through the wind and rain and back roads arriving just before lunch then hit the ground running with unpacking and settling in. (another no count day as my watch needed charging).
![]() |
| I was freezing and changed into long pants and fuzzy slippers the moment we got home. |
27. Thankful no one was hurt when we were rear-ended on our way home. Spent another rainy day making a lasagna for dinner, the afternoon working on art and reading, and then in a last minute change of plans we went to pick up Evan for a very belated birthday dinner out (he was craving steak and called begging us to take pity on him). Texas road house was delicious and fun but getting rear ended while fully stopped at a stop light on the way home was not-- my poor car does not look good.
28. Thankful the company we pay to oversee Alec's laptop was able to help him when he had troubles at school. Went to the gym, home to call the insurance company, found a collision center nearby & got a quote, learned our insurance company is treating this as an uninsured motorist and our rates will go up... struggling to find an upside this miserable rainy day.
![]() |
| did see a random fox in our backyard |
29.Thankful for a quick and rejuvenating afternoon nap. Stuck at home with no car (since we were told ours was not drivable) my plans for the week pivoted a lot and I spent the day painting, wrapping gifts, making a salad, reading, blogging, etc. 4,305steps.
30. Thankful for a really productive day. Hitched a ride to the gym with my mom then home to pay bills, make soup, make bread, make pie crust, etc. 10,011 steps.





























































































You were rear ending and now YOUR rates will go up? Ugh. I'm sorry that happened to you plus you have to deal with not having a car and figuring out getting yours fixed. Your outfits are so cute- I like the jeans with the flowers on them and your cute sweaters. I'm glad the huge storm didn't impact you guys too much. Your month looks like a very good one, overall.
ReplyDeleteWe were told that IF the insurance company can get money from the rental company/holding company we'd get our deductible back and our rates wont change but it could take a LONG time for that to happen so our rates will most likely rise until when/if that is settled.
DeleteSorry about the car stuff...ugh...always a hassle. Loving your outfits- perfect transition pieces
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks. It really is.
DeleteSo sorry about the car incident. Love all these nature photos you share. And love all the pretty nails!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you!
DeleteThe fender bender is such a bummer!! Adulting is hard. I always look at violet when she is just joyfully playing and miss being a kid ha.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is. I wish I had known how hard it was when I was a kid; maybe I wouldn't have wasted all that time wishing to be an adult.
DeleteSteve Martin and Martin Short for a belated birthday sounds like a great night, shame about the drive home after. I also liked that the painting you hated for 90% of the way turned out fine, I get that with my own writing. Hope the car gets sorted soon.
ReplyDeletehttps://canalsandcitrus.blogspot.com
They were so fun and funny. It was a really enjoyable show.
DeleteSeptember did fly by, for me it did anyway! Sending love and hugs, it sounds like you have had so much to deal with and then the car issues too.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful things to be thankful for and fab photos!
It has been a lot all at once but we'll get through it.
DeleteI feel you, this year I am more than ready to be done with adulting, so many hard hitting things. Glad the car situation was not worse. So many lovely nature pictures, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI always enjoy seeing all of your pictures especially outdoors and food and of course outfits, so I guess all of it! Despite September being a very hard month here, there were some wonderful little spots: a wedding, a couple dates, a hike, movie nights with the boys...
ReplyDeletewww.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thank you so much.
DeleteSo much to comment on! Love the purple nails and the pink pants. Wonderful way to celebrate your belated bday.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks!
DeleteYour photos are beautiful, as always, Joanne. I'm glad you didn't suffer any damage in the storm and that no one was hurt in your car accident. Still, it is frustrating to be without a car and then to have it affect your rates, even though it wasn't your fault. Ugh. I also got hit while sitting at a red light once. No fun.
ReplyDeleteI find myself being a bit paranoid and on high alert now those times I am driving... and I wasn't even the one driving for the accident. I just try to keep in mind that it all could have been so much worse.
DeleteThat really stinks you will have to bear the brunt of being rear ended! I've never understood that. When I read about the trail ride, I wondered when you got horses. Then, I remembered you have those motorized toys! I'm so glad your sons are settling in to college so well. Love all the photos of the lake (it is a lake, right)! I hope October goes better for you!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Aw, thank you, Marsha. And yes, it is a lake that we live on.
DeleteHello! I love these posts, because I feel like we are chatting and you are telling me about your days! September did fly by! Your photos are beautiful!!! And I am curious where you buy your clothes because I love them! Have a cozy weekend, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI can see why these are highlights! You had a mostly month apart from rear ending and the storm. Even with no damage, they're no fun. Yeah, even when it's bad, it's a highlight, because who can forget it?
ReplyDelete