I made my promises in September for Fall, but I thought I'd let you know what's on my list for October. It only feels right I should have a few plans, especially since November's calendar is quickly filling with appointments and must do items. It' looking as though October may be my last 'free' month until December or possibly next year!
1: Get the patio cleared off once and for all. There was a lovely cool morning last week, when I had nothing to do, the weather was perfect for such a dirty task...And I did NOT feel in the least bit well. In fact, that whole day of perfectly cool weather I could do nothing more than sit in my chair wondering why I felt so darn bad. I'm thinking now it was a mild virus because along about dark I started feeling fine and the next day I accomplished much, but not on the patio.
The pots are now devoid of plants (since everything died between July and August heat) and it's time to get everything OFF the patio, clean it really well, and then determine what, if anything, is coming back. And how to make the best of what I have (long, narrow patio and basically nothing else).
2. There's a planned trip this month with Katie and family. I've never (technically) been to the state we'll be visiting and I'm looking forward to it.
3. Start to sort out the study/music room. Yes, I did do this early before summer, but that was sorting through John's things and moving mine in. However, it's been left in a state of neither being music room or proper study for months now. I have new curtain and rug to go in the room. I have a few things of John's that I had offered to someone who has never come to get them as I requested. I think after six months it's safe to assume they were being polite in accepting and I should just do away with those things at last.
4. Look hard at what I really want my life to look like. Right now, I'm getting up early enough (most mornings), have two days with a suitable routine that keeps me on top of the household, but I want to live well and fully. And living well is something much different than the drifting lazily along as I've been doing, watching too much tv, tucking into social media too often and reading all hours of the day...
Life must be lived, and while I've enjoyed the rest and the opportunity I've had to more or less begin to feel like myself once more, I'm ready to be focused on projects, to make my home and leisure time count.
What that looks like is still a work in progress, but I've a few ideas: 24 hours free of social media, being far more mindful about having the money on hand before I do projects instead of scratching for it after it's spent, researching repairs and work that needs to be done that I'm not that familiar with, actually traveling and not just thinking vaguely that I want to go here or there.
And a lot of living well comes down to planning, scheduling and most of all, doing.
5. Traditionally, October is a roaming month. Mine and John's tradition, mind you. When he worked, he planned his time so that he had the whole month of October off because it was his favorite month of the year (mine is November). We did some longer trips but a whole lot of little day trips here and there. The weather was much more pleasant for traveling than any other time of the year.
I'd like to kind of stick to tradition and plan some day trips to do things I've been thinking I'd like to do for months now. Next month will busy and then we're into the holidays so it's kind of now or next year.
6. Porch time, twice a day! It's been so hot and the gnats so pesky that I've used the porches as entrance/exits to the house and nothing more. Now that the weather is nicer, and breezier, I want to take advantage and get outdoors morning and mid-afternoon/early evening every day that is dry. Soon mornings will be far too cold and if we have the wet late fall/winter promised then I'll not get much time to make the most of that space. I want to enjoy it while I can.
7. I will not compare my autumn to anyone else's. This was borrowed from author Jennifer L. Scott, The Daily Connoisseur. She reminded her viewers that not everyone lives in the same climate, has the same ability as another, to do what someone else is doing. Honestly, I'd give much to be wandering down lanes in England picking blackberries for pie this time of year, sitting near a heater with a cozy sweater on, but alas, I live in Georgia and my season doesn't look a thing like that.
That doesn't mean that I have to give up and say I can't enjoy autumn. There are plenty of things I can do that are seasonal for my area. I just need to plan to enjoy my autumn.
8. Begin projects! Seriously, I have a limited time window for working on projects outdoors (porch floors, sheds, flower beds. Mind you, I've a little longer if we don't get all the promised rain in the cooler season ahead but I'm really hoping we do because we need it. However, I'm scores of projects I want to work on outdoors/indoors and sitting about dreaming of what I'd like to do is not as satisfactory as doing and seeing that dream come to life. Hence, I've begun painting the sheds despite a rather nasty allergy/cold that is determined to settle in my chest. I was disappointed with my progress on Day One, but I reminded myself when I came indoors "At least you've started. And starting is always a beginning on finishing."
