Rewind 09.2026

 

Welcome, sweet potatoes!!  Thank you for being here today for my 09.2026 Rewind post.  We are already well into October and at this point, I prefer looking forward than looking back.  But let's see how September stacked up.

1 Sec Each Day

Let's start with my video recap of the September, thanks to the 1 Sec Each Day app.

Rewind 09.2026

Amusing - something funny:  I think I mentioned these silly Instagram Reels in a recent post of some sort.  Babypop.com on Instagram makes me laugh.  An interviewer asks 3 babies who is better (more or less), mom or grandma.  And they always say grandma is the best.  Grandma gives the best snuggles, grandma buys the best toys, has the tastiest treats.  I love it!!

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A post shared by BabyPop (@babypop.co)

Balancing:  Rover.com drop-in visits.  I had a 12-day kitty visiting job that overlapped with a 3-day puppy walking gig.  On the overlap days, I was doing 4 visits a day and met myself coming and going.  The paychecks were nice, though!  This is Brew, the miniature poodle I was caring for.

Crafting:  a couple of things, thank you for asking!!  I participated in the Pumpkin Palooza step-by-step online painting workshop with Karen at Over the Artsy Moon.  I gave my final product to Lauren because the red polka dot mushrooms reminded me of her.

The day before his surgery, PC and I put together a cauldron for our front porch display.

Dating my PC:  we really haven't had any 'official' dates.  We took the EP grandgirls to see "Coyote v Acme."  It was adorable.  Very cute and very funny.  We all laughed a lot.  

Eating:   too much.  And exercising too little.  Our exercise routine has fallen by the wayside while PC awaited surgery and has now been recovering from surgery.  That isn't a good excuse for me to not be exercising and eating well.  But them's the facts.

Flowing - this is my word of the year so will share a way I went with the flow during the month:  

• with the housework; have really relaxed my standards!!
• with life while PC recovers
• haven't gotten into a tizzy over not subbing; haven't taken it personally that I haven't been called to sub but once.  Feeling kind of over the whole subbing thing these days anyway.  But the people at central office (administrators, directors, etc.) are subbing rather than allowing teachers to hire their own subs.  It is an effort to bring down the district's 52 million dollar deficit.  A deficit that NO ONE in the district can explain.  

Glimmerings - little miracles:

• crazy big rain:  we needed it so badly and are now over our annual rainfall average thanks to Hurricane Polo.  

• church message about apologizing:  Gary Chapman was the speaker and he introduced his latest book, The 5 Apology Languages.  
• pumpkin pancakes:  'nuff said 
• Cami stood before my dia de los muertos altar, folded her hands in prayer and said 'hi' to everyone in the photos on the altar (my mom, my dad, Paul's dad, and our baby Andrew.  She told me she even said 'hi' to the people she didn't know.
• Francisco, our SIL, recommending an orthopedic surgeon for PC's surgery:  our PCP had sent us to one doctor with whom we met, but when Francisco heard who we had been sent to, he spoke up and recommended another surgeon.  We went with his recommendation, and it was a wise decision.  
• our friends, Dick and Denise: who sat with me during the surgery
• everything is green after the rain
• after car troubles on the way to New Mexico nothing was found to be wrong with my car
• finding tails up dimes and a penny

Home sweet home: all the fall!!  We are decked out over here, girls.  But the new carpet is being installed so the house is upside as I type this.  We have pumpkins on every flat surface.  My dia de los muertos ofrenda is set up on the dining room buffet.  And we have all the fall at our entryway/porch.  

Interesting - something that piqued my interest:  I read to the senior citizens at White Acres retirement community when their regular gal (also a former El Paso school librarian) was out of town.  I really enjoyed doing it but was very anxious going into it that what I chose to read wouldn't be of interest to my audience.  Because International Peace Day 09.21 was earlier that same week, I decided to read the children's book Sadako by Eleanor Coerr, about a child who died of 'atom-bomb disease' in Japan after WWII.  A monument was created in her honor and in the memory of all who died after Hiroshima was bombed.  It is a poignant story. 

From there, I started researching meaningful, uplifting essays for seniors.  I discovered a number of books with short essays meant to be read aloud to the elderly.  I chose an article about the popularity of the TV show "M*A*S*H" from Short Stories for Seniors:  the groovy 70s by Lilian Whitmore. One of the women to whom I read was my age.  Hard to wrap my head around being a senior citizen myself.  This book included questions to encourage discussion.  We had a lively conversation afterward about seeing the Vietnam War played out on the nightly news on our TVs.  

I have since checked out several similar books from the library in case I get invited to read again.

Joyfulness: remembering our marriage and home blessing ceremony way back on 09.28.2008.  And celebrating the special moments since then.

Kudos:  

• to Declan for writing his name and learning his letters
• to all 3 grandgirls for good report cards
• to the Keller Interiors (through Lowe's) carpet layers who moved our heaviest furniture and then put all the furniture (heavy and not) back in the rooms for us
• Dr. Torres for taking such good care of Paul

Loving:  this is the last prompt I am addressing before publishing this Rewind post.  And it should be the easiest...I love my life, love my family, love my pets, love fall.  So much to love.  But I wanted something unexpected for this month's response.  

I was scanning and organizing photos this afternoon, and came across the handmade/homemade invitation for our marriage and home blessing in 2008.  Mentioned the ceremony above for JOYFULNESS.  Scroll up just a sec and reread what I wrote.  Then check out the image below.

Yup, for years, I have been remembering this date incorrectly.  Have always thought it was 09.28.  But apparently not.  Hmmm.  And what I love about this is that it really doesn't matter.  Half the time we forget our actual wedding anniversary.  However, that isn't a reflection of the love (or an indication of a lack of love) in our relationship.  It just means the numbers don't really matter.  

The love does.

Making:  zucchini bread for the first time this season.  It was so yummy.  I followed this Pinterest recipe for snickerdoodle zucchini bread and the best part is you don't have to dry the zucchini.  

Needing: apparently I needed some new Lizzie High holiday dolls.  Who knew?  I really didn't see this coming!! Years ago, I bought Lizzie Highs for my daughters' rooms and to decorate at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  I wound up taking my dolls to school to decorate my library and when I retired (and was so terribly sad) I gave them all away.  Now I realize my mistake - 14 years after the fact.  So, I ventured over to eBay and Etsy to see what holiday Lizzies they had and wound up buying 'a few.'  

Organizing:  as we prepared for the carpet installation, I started going through things again.  We have so many things.  (But WE NEEDED MORE Lizzie High dolls!!)  Going through my clothes again now that summer has passed and autumn has arrived.  Cleaning out dresser drawers and nightstand drawers.  And lord, the photos!!  I am trying to scan them and get them into albums but they are multiplying like rabbits.  Discovered more photos as we cleaned out dressers and bins ahead of the new carpet. 

Planning:  our trip to Tennessee and Ohio to see the fam.  We had wait until PC's surgery so we could get an idea about his recovery time.  He has done so well.  And the surgeon cleared him to start back to the gym, begin walking more without a walker.  Time to pull the plug and buy the plane tickets.  Hope to go to my sister's in Tennessee for a few days ahead of Paul coming up.  Love my sissy time.  And then we will go to Ohio and fly home from there.  Contemplating getting tickets for the Tennessee-Kentucky football game which would be a doozy.  Will at least tailgate with my brother, SIL and his kids.

Quoting:  this is a quote from my book club's October book of the month.  So I probably should have saved it for October's Rewind post.  But it is so good that I don't want to wait.

Thank God for Miss Tolbert, who’d bitten her lip and straightened the library name badge on her linen cardigan and told him with a faint quiver of purpose enlivening her usually soft smooth voice that she would personally ensure he never ran out of things to read. She was a magician as far as Peter was concerned. Decipherer of secret codes, master of index cards and Dewey Decimal, opener of doors to wonderful places."

 ~The Lake House by Kate Morton

That led me to looking up other quotes about librarians.  Check this one out.

She's the first person to smile at me today.
The first to make me feel wanted.
Understood.
I blink back tears.
It's unknown how many students' lives
librarians have saved
by welcoming loners at lunch.

~Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Now those are good librarians.

Reading:  finally finished up some books that I had been slowly working my way through.  

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love)

Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should by David Gaughran

Now That She's Gone: A Daughter's Reflections on Loss, Love, and a Mother's Legacy – A Grief and Healing Book for Women by Chelsea Ohlemiller 

For my quiet time, I am continuing to read Be Still and Know: 365 Daily Devotions by Broadstreet Publishing Group LLC.  Will finish this up with the year's end.

The Come Read with Me book club members selected In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn for our September read.  I loved it.  The story was told from an interesting perspective and I zipped right through this one in about 4 days.  Which HAS to be some kind of personal best. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

And wow - Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke!! What a wild ride.  Finished it in September while watching the Lindsay Clancy trial.  Post-partum depression and psychosis are hideous.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two children's chapter books by a pair of my favorite children's authors popped up on radar.  Wish by Barbara O'Connor and Blended by Sharon M. Draper.  The librarian and grandmother in me is always looking for books to share with my grandangels.  I think Cadence would like Blended as it is the story of a biracial child who splits her time between the homes of her divorced parents. The main character in Wish has been sent to live with an aunt and uncle while her mother tries to get her life together.  Fiona wishes to be able to go back home in a million different ways.

For October, my book club is reading The Lake House by Kate Morton.  It is described as an atmospheric, moody mystery.  I am just a few chapters into the story but so far, I am enjoying reading (with my ears) on Audible.

I am also reading (with my ears) American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.  Have temporarily set it aside to listen to the book club's read for October.  But it is gripping.  Curious about the meaning behind the title and have my suspicions about it.  Will be interested to see if I was on the right track.

Finally, I am reading (with my eyes) a book written by one of my Rover.com clients.  I met Ron and Tina Chapman almost 2 years ago when they hired me to puppy sit their trio of doodles while they went out of town.  Since then I have sat for their pups several more times, and on occasion, have just run by to walk Latte, Mocha and Daisy.  When we met in 12.2024, Tina had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Tina died this past May and Ron has written a book about their life together fighting cancer.  Life with Lazarus: A Couple's Journey through Love, Illness, Faith and Miracles is available on Amazon.

Untangling:  a blue million cords.  In preparing for the carpet installation, I untangled so many cords to lamps and devices.  Cords for Nooks, Kindles, desktop PC, lamps, TVs, DVD players (why do we still have those?), alarm clocks, Amazon Alexa and Google Nest speakers.  First world problems.  For sure.  

Viewing:  last month it was the Lindsay Clancy trial on YouTube.  This month it has been the trial of Caleb Flynn who is charged with murdering his wife. Caleb and Ashley Flynn are from Tipp City, Ohio, where Paul grew up.  And where Paul's mom and son still live.  It turns out that Paul went to school with Ashley's parents and played ball with Ashley's dad.  Just crazy.  PC began watching this trial with me when we realized he knew these poor people who lost their precious daughter.

PC was looking for a new series for us to watch when he came across "Stick" with Owen Wilson as a former golf pro who discovers the PGA's next Tiger Woods.  It is a very sweet story.  We are finishing the first season tonight, and I might add I am a little choked up as the last episode winds down.  Looking forward to the start of season 2 early in November.  

And we enjoyed the latest season to "Ted Lasso."  I was a little worried the first episode or so because it seemed forced or contrived.  But the acting and the story improved.  Hope there will be another season of "Ted", too.

Writing:  I didn't do much writing in September.  Did update the manuscript for my 'book' Crinkles and Dots with the revisions and suggestions children's author Dianne Ochiltree provided me through our consultation.  Now I want to look into self-publishing.  I just need to pick one day to sit in my loft and get that done. 

Xercising:  while PC has been recovering, I have been enjoying early morning walks.  Just need to remember to set my clothes in the bathroom so I don't wake him when I am getting dressed.  I saw this statistic recently which made morning walking even more attractive.

A regular morning walking routine can cut your risk of dementia by up to 50% to 60%, while significantly slowing down cognitive decline if you already show early symptoms.

[source]

Also attended Grandparents' Day Fitness Friday with Cami at school. We started PE with exercises in the gym and the moved outside for a lap around the playground.  Then the kids were released to enjoy the playground equipment.  

Yardening:  one of our 2 ornamental plum trees died late in the summer.  We had planted it the first summer we were in the house.  It had such a pretty shape and had the sweetest light pink blossoms in the spring.  Bark beetles got it.  So we had it cut down and dug out.  I was so sad.  It was like they dissected it.  Or dismantled it.  Poor baby tree.

Zhooshing:  this one always gives me pause.  I have to get kind of creative to come up with something that I am 'zhoosing' or enhancing, improving or just plain blinging up.  This month it is the little red wagon I took out of layaway for my front porch.  I have zhooshed it with pumpkins and gourds.  Isn't it fun?

When I decorate or zhoosh it for Christmas, I think I will tie a big festive bow around the handle.

Your Turn

September was a busy month.  And October has started out even busier.  Tis the season, though, for doing things around the house, celebrating lots of holidays, and we always take a trip back to Tennessee and Ohio in the fall.  How did you feel about your September?  What would you rate it on a scale of 1-10?  I think I will give our September a 6.  I don't like hectic and it was kind of hectic.  And there was PC's surgery.  But thank goodness, that went very well.

Going to do a little rebounding on my trampoline between football games.  And Paul has given me the night off from cooking - hallelujah!!  

Wishing you a quiet week!!  Thank you for popping in to visit. 

Hugs and kisses,