Do you remember, the 21st night of September?
I remember it all, and that’s why I’m here to recap the last month for you. Hard to believe we are already in October. 2023 has gone by so fast. Pretty soon, we will be getting ready for Thanksgiving, celebrating the holidays, and decorating for Christmas.
Summer came to an end in the wee hours of September 23rd and we were welcomed to fall (or autumn) with gray skies and quite a bit of rain. A nice welcome to the fall season as temperatures did not get out of the 50’s. The beginning of October will not feel like it as we go above average early in the week before our next chance of rain comes on Friday and we cool down.
Next weekend is a big one for my family as we have a birthday party Saturday and a family reunion Sunday. Those 80’s that will be here at the beginning of the week will be replaced by below average 50’s. We’ll be in the higher elevations of Somerset County next Sunday so it will be even cooler for our Fall picnic. We’ll have to keep warm by the fire. I might even provide the pumpkin spice hot chocolate and fall treats for everyone.
The first frost will be here soon and then we’ll be talking about the first snowflakes of the year.
Before we begin the new week and enjoy October, here’s some of the events that made news for me in September.
Labor Day weekend brought with it summer-like heat and humidity. It was our last real week to keep the pool open and it felt like the best one of them all. I didn’t swim much in 2023, maybe only a handful of times, but I made the most of them. Work and other activities (like this blog) kept me busy.
My week off came in the middle of September and it was the perfect time for a vacation from work. We closed the pool at the beginning, I took walks around the lake, and attended one of my old Toastmasters clubs that met on Zoom. Just missed testing out my webcam for the Achievers meeting but it was a great meeting. As we climbed the vacation mountain and ascended the peak, I took some trips. From Flight 93 on Monday to the Pittsburgh Zoo the next day, and another trip to Somerset, I was very well-traveled. I dialed it back at the end of the week and spent the afternoons walking around Mammoth Park and Twin Lakes and looking ahead to big events in the Fall months. I shopped for Annabelle’s birthday and added to my fall wardrobe with some cute fall outfits.
Also in September, I got a late start on it but I quickly got caught up on the Halloween Baking Championship. I started watching this a few years ago, along with the Holiday Baking Championship (which I look forward to starting in November) and enjoy all the fun that goes along with it. These competitions air on Food Network but I watch them through the Discovery App on my Roku.
I’ve been getting my pumpkin spice on with fall coffee at local coffee shops and at home. I always make sure to have a little pumpkin spice creamer to go along with my coffee. I need to enjoy my tasty fall treats in October before Gingerbread and Peppermint Mocha season begin in November.
Finally, as I wrapped up vacation, I did some fall cleaning. I ended up giving five bags of clothes to Goodwill and put away all my summer clothes. I need to make way for Fall and the new clothes I’ve been buying. It’s nice to clear out all that clutter and let go of what’s been holding you back. I’m ready for sweaters, scarves, boots, and leather jackets. I’m also in the market for a houndstooth coat for colder weather which will be here before we know it.
Happy first of October, everyone.
Stylish 🍒 