No-Slump September

Only one week of summer left! I am craving autumn coziness and have been welcoming fall for a few weeks already.

Back in the Flow State
I paid a trusted literary press for feedback so I could begin a first-chapter novel rewrite. Which loosens a number of strings across the whole project and leads to a full novel rewrite.

I feel so motivated and inspired! This rewrite isn’t a drag at all, at least not at this time. In the last two years my manuscript has been a semifinalist twice in book contests, and an agent requested full manuscript for the first time in my publishing career. I know this is my strongest work and it’s time to land the project a home. I am tightening everything up and evening out more creases in the work.

My brain is alight and it makes me feel like myself.

Solo Adventure Day

I truly felt like myself after a solo day in Philly. What a treat!

Food as Homecoming

As summer progressed and time moved me farther into post-operation life, I got to reintroduce more and more foods. Each felt like a party!

Sadly both Reese’s peanut butter and tomatoes still give me heartburn. They can’t be daily treats. Maybe that makes them even more delicious?

I’m still learning new ways to adapt recipes to be lower in fat. Simply being able to enjoy weekend cooking feels like a homecoming, too.

Daycare

My spouse went back to work so our baby began daycare. We had to label absolutely everything.

After nine days of daycare I can report: my kid doesn’t cry at dropoff, probably because breakfast is served right away. There have been tears twice at pickup because too much fun was being had. Seeing him babble at other babies has been a delight that I think back to all throughout the workday.

On day three, we had a daycare cold. As of this writing the babe has brought down both parents and three out of four grands with a head cold. I keep being told, Get used to it. Great.

Blooms in Camden

The heatwaves killed many urban gardening attempts this summer, but finally this month we have some blooms in the pollinator beds.

Mobile Food Pantry

My job keeps me busy and fulfilled. It’s an honor to spend a Friday helping at a mobile food pantry:

Firepit and Windows-Open Weather

September began with beautiful weather and a small gathering to welcome the season change.

I thought this bathroom counter was the perfect snapshot of life:

We were gifted a sweet book and while I am never posting my child’s image on the internet (he can decide if he ever wants that someday), I swear this is my baby: