Can you believe it is September already? I know I sound old when I talk about how quickly time flies by, but it really does!! Christmas will be here before we know it! I always view September as a time to re-organize things and sort of hit the reset button.

What Is Going On Around Here

We are in the midst of a major roof overhaul and repair. We knew the roof needed to be replaced as it was 26 years old. We were concerned about a few places that might be rotting. Living in the wet Pacific Northwest brings us beautiful green landscapes and forests, but it also brings it's own unique problems. The dampness is hard on houses and structures. We had the roof looked over about a year ago and everything seemed well. However, once we pulled the trigger and said it was time to replace it before something major happened (that seems the be the norm for us), our contractor found that there was So. Much. Rot. It was a shock to us, as well as him, because on the surface everything looked fine. So, this project has turned into a 4-5 week ordeal, with much tearing off of the roofing and plywood sheathing.  It will all be worth it in the end. But, boy howdy, it is a noisy mess right now.

The dogs are dealing with it surprisingly well. Or perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. They are a very happy, friendly bunch of pups. Once they got to meet our contractor, Chris, and his assistant, they are happy to see them arrive each morning and look forward to potty breaks, when they can go out and get attention from everyone. Poppy is loving being the center of attention! 

I have kept them busy and less stressed by prepping some frozen treats for them, as well as stuffing some Kong toys with different yummy flavors of Buddy Budders from Bark Bistro. You can find them on Amazon, or their website HERE.

Poppy has settled in and is such a sweet, sassy little thing. She loves to cuddle with me and will nestle her little head in my neck as soon as I pick her up. She is proving to be a feisty little sister to the other dogs. Some of them just don't know how to deal with her and will look at me like, "What the heck did you bring home, Mom?"

We  homeschool our 14 year old daughter, and school is now in full swing. It's very noisy, but she is doing a great job of focusing and concentrating on her lessons. I am challenged with providing her with high school curriculum that meets her needs and interests, as well as graduation requirements. It was so much easier when she was doing elementary level work. That's another example of how quickly time has flown by!!

What I Am Working On

I really enjoy making quilts and am currently working on some autumn ones. I had high hopes of completing several quilts over the summer break, but alas, that is not how things went. Now, I am trying to play catch up and get them done.

As part of my September re-set, I have been doing a lot of purging of things that I don't need/want anymore. Our plan is to someday in the near future downsize and move into a smaller, one level home. As I purge, I look at each item and think to myself, "Would this be something that is worth packing up and taking to a new home?" I sort of surprise myself with how often I say "No!" and am willing to let things go.

I am thinking of getting the boxes of fall decorations out and start doing a change over from summer to fall. I am certainly ready for some cooler weather, but no rain until our roof is completed!!

I picked up a new training book the other day, entitled, Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love by Kerry Nichols. I am really enjoying it and I like Kerry's style of writing. I am becoming more intentional in my dog parenting and am excited about the results that I am seeing in doing so.

Tip Of The Month

As part of the September re-set, I like to start doing some freezer meals. I like having the meals ready to go, whether it is to dump it all into the crockpot in the morning, or to have ready to put together quickly for dinner. There are tons of recipes on Pinterest. Time becomes more of a premium as kids go back to school, and get involved with activities and sports. And, we are barreling towards the holidays. Try to find ways to simplify your life.