TToT – The Interim
Unbelievably, here we are at the end of summer.
School begins on Monday for Kidzilla, so this is our last weekend of summer freedom. But I still can’t pull my brain away from the thought that summer lasts until Labor Day and this whole back-to-school before Labor Day thing is nonsense.
![20150828_194855[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150828_1948551.jpg)
So for the next week, we’ll be sort of hovering in the interim between back-to-school routine and what should be the final days of summer. Of course, it’s all moot since summer doesn’t end by the calendar until late September. I guess the answer to the question of when summer ends is dependent upon the person you ask.
But whatever.
While I’m a bit sad to see summer end, I’m also glad we’ll be getting back to a more structured routine with the start of school. I’ve learned to appreciate the beauty of each season, but seasons must and do change. I’m ready, I think.
Regardless of what the school calendar says, it’s still the weekend and that means it’s time to stop for a few moments and be thankful for the good in life…
I’m thankful again for the beautiful produce from our CSA. Last week we had a large pile of fresh “seconds” tomatoes that produced a huge batch of homemade spaghetti sauce. We had dinner one night and froze five more quarts. I should’ve taken a picture of the HUGE pile of tomatoes pre-cooking. Didn’t. Here’s a shot of the peppers instead with Mr. Melon and Mr. Eggplant photobombing.
![20150828_174014[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150828_1740141-1024x576.jpg)
This week I have an abundance of peppers – some “firsts” and some “seconds” which will find their way to diced and frozen to use in winter. We aren’t huge pepper eaters here, but we do manage them mixed into things like a delicious stuffed pepper casserole.
![20141109_190326[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/20141109_1903261-300x225.jpg)
I’m thankful that I didn’t flip into crazy back to school mode with Kidzilla this week. We’ve been moving her bedtime and wakeup time back to what will be expected for school, but I let go of my conviction that we were somehow morally obligated to drill numbers and skills before school starts. Instead, we spent this week playing and reading and wrapping up some summer projects.
Zilla and I also managed to share a whopper of a late summer cold this week and I’m thankful that’s on the tail end so we’ll be back to rights for the start of school. And I’m always thankful for my “sick tea” recipe and that Zilla drinks it so willingly. She asks for it as soon as she doesn’t feel well. Smart girl!
I’m thankful the Hub cleans up cat poop. You probably do not want the details on this week’s episode of As The Rotten Cats Crap, so we’ll leave it at that. I may be thankful for wet cat food in a few days. We’ll see. One of these three noodleheads needs a diet adjustment which may or may not resolve the ongoing litter box problem. Stay tuned.
![20150823_214202[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150823_2142021-e1440806891625.jpg)
I’m glad to have done a small bit of writing this week other than my TToT and I’m so very happy that it was well-received. Check out my Six Sentence Story here if you missed it. I’m pretty happy with this one. And thanks to Ivy for hosting it!
I’m thankful for the Anti-Gravity Challenge (did I get the name right?) and for Clark’s daily wake-up messages and undying encouragement. I’m determined to keep going, even if this week looks like a big huge gain in the weight department and having others (Clark, Val, Joy, Christine) in the trenches helps.
This view. Outside my office window. Right now. Obviously the photo doesn’t do justice to that full moon rising, but take my word for it – it’s gorgeous.
![20150828_195921[1]](http://www.themeaningofme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150828_1959211-e1440807288296.jpg)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now how about you? What are you thankful for this week? Are you ready for fall and the start of school? Are your kids already back in school?
You know the drill – share ’em or link ’em!
Your hosts
Join the Ten Things of Thankful Facebook Group
Love this? Share the love and tell someone!
46 Comments
Comments are closed.
I just picked the end of our tomatoes tonight. I am gonna have to make sauce this weekend and green tomato pickles. I thank you for participating in sss this week… great story! And the rottens on the stairs or the last window pic… cant decide which is better… they are both great shots!
Zilla loves fried green tomatoes. I hope to see more at the market or at the farm in the next couple of weeks to make her another round. I have some scallops in the freezer waiting to be paired up with the tomatoes. Yum.
Yeah, I’m happy with how my Six Sentences turned out – I had NO idea that was going to come out of me. It’s not where I started, but it did develop out of my original idea. Glad to be back!
I like both of those shots – both good (if I do say so myself) for different reasons.
Yay for moon shots and men who are willing to pick up cat poop.
🙂
I wonder, why go back to school this week, before the official September 8th? I think, abound here, it’s next week.
I suppose there are lots of logical answers, Kerry, but honestly I think after Labor Day should just be the rule. But that’s just me and I’m just whining because it’s new. Or something. 😀
The photos of your cats and the moon are awesome. And, I must say, the six sentence story was, too!
Thanks, Michelle!
“I guess the answer to the question of when summer ends is dependent upon the person you ask.”
For me, it’s not so much about when summer ends as when fall begins 🙂 There’s one day when I “know” fall has arrived.
Won’t you miss your produce? That is the saddest thing about summer ending – back to winter “fresh” produce.
I did read your 6 sentence Thursday. It was good! I love reading them. But it intimidates the hell out of me. I sit so long with no ideas and then I go read yours or Dyanne’s or Zoe’s and think man, I got nothin’!
Love the pic of the Rotten Cats. Those as some scary looking felines lol
I totally get that – there is definitely a day that happens when you know it’s fall. Agreed.
I do miss the summer produce, Denise, but over the last couple of years I’ve learned a lot about eating what’s in season. I avoid the “fresh” things from the supermarket that I know are shipped in from other places and stick to what’s locally grown and available and what’s actually in season. It works. And I do keep some things frozen to help round out what’s missing – the nutritional value on frozen veggies is just as good as fresh if it’s done right. Sticking with what’s in season helps me appreciate and try new things, too. I sure do miss tomatoes and cucumbers in the winter, but they taste so awful anyway it’s not worth it! And then they are that much better when they show up again.
Do the Six Sentences!!! Just jump in and give it a go. I often have nothing right up to the time the link goes live. I’ve also tried taking something I have half-baked somewhere and working it down to six sentences.
The Rottens think they’re scary but they’re really not. They are actually three very sweet boys. They just like to pretend they’re tough. And they do look pretty tough. They’re especially effective at Halloweeen! 😀
I don’t know about the “in season”. I’m already limited on what I eat vegetable wise that my luck in season means brussel sprouts!
I’m with you on the tomatoes and cukes. There is nothing like growing your own or farmer’s market stuff 🙂
You know Lisa, I think I’ve written maybe 3 of the 6 sentence but I keep using the time thing as an excuse when in reality I just get stumped. Excellent idea rummaging through past “junk” and doing a re-write. Thanks!
Hit up Pinterest – lots of graphics about seasonal fruits and vegetables in particular areas of the country. I happen to love Brussels sprouts, so I’m kind of happy when they’re in season! 😀
Do the Six Sentences!!! I’ll look forward to reading!
I am so jealous of your CSA packets every time, but this one?! Wow!
Happy back to school. I hope it is a great year for Zilla. One of our teachers was pointing out to me that we have already been going so long that when we get back from Labor Day teachers need to start recording mid-term grades. Wrong….just wrong!
This week was fantastic, May – kale, potatoes, a melon, eggplant, peppers (and extra peppers), tomatoes, garlic.
Wow, that really is crazy! And to what end? Our change to earlier came with a sort of promise that it would make the end of the year earlier. It’s not – in fact, it’s a couple of days later. Silly.
Your three black cats lined up on the stairs has to be the coolest picture ever after my picture of Miss Kitty sleeping in my purse.
Kitty in the purse would be very sweet. I find my cats are most amusing when all three are in the same place – sort of entertaining, sort of disturbing all at once. 😀
The week before school starts should be a named week. Interim is a perfect name for that time where you hold onto summer, but are excited to begin a new school year. This will be my third school year not working and I still get a little misty when I see those crayons and markers. Lovely view out the window of your office loft. Good luck to Zilla next week.
I think I’m in a very different place than you are about the start of school, Val – there is no nostalgia or mistiness for me at all. But I think our departures from the classroom are very different circumstances.
I really can’t believe she has school Monday!!!
I’m with everyone on the photo quality of this week’s TToT… every nicely done on all counts! (I’m not a cat person, but that ‘Portrait of Three Cats and Stairs’ very cool!)
summer ending really sucks. (At least I remember not to act like I’m surprised by it…. seriously, that being said, the disappointment is quite real. Not sure how I justify that!
Am glad that you are with us on the Gravity Challenge… it is fun and satisfying on many different levels, as is so much in the virtual world.
The Rottens are photogenic for sure. And they sit on those three steps often – each has kind of claimed a spot as his own. I was lucky to grab that one.
I absolutely obliterated my Gravity Challenge today – failed to remember to weight and send this morning (or did I?) before we left town and had dinner like I never eat anymore…ugh. So I’m hoping for a huge detox day tomorrow and a fresh start on Monday.
I’m with you–school shouldn’t start until after Labor Day, but I’m clearly not consulted about the matter, as students here started weeks ago.
I’m thankful for the anti-gravity challenge, too, though I’ve been away from a scale for 2 weeks, so I haven’t been much of a participant. I’m afraid that my vacation only increased the gravitational pull. 🙂
After Labor Day just on principle, Kristi – that’s the way to go.
I’m kind of “detoxing” from a not so great week this week. Hoping to see some better numbers as we head into September. You’re in, yes?
Fresh tomatoes are AMAZING. I’m lucky to get some from my Mum every now and again.
The moon DOES look gorgeous, and I’m glad you’re enjoying the time you have left 🙂
I will miss the tomatoes when they’re gone…but there is so much good that comes after that I won’t really cry until about January or February.
The moon was even better in person and I just love when I can sit and see things like that through my little window. We’re down to just a few hours left until school tomorrow…sign. I’m ready and not all at the same time.
Ahhh I got some greenhouse tomatoes from Mum’s tonight, and they’re going to be AWESOME.
And school? YOU GOT THIS!
Ooh, good for you with tomatoes! We just had some from the farm tonight. So good. Actually, all of our dinner sides were from the farm – rainbow carrots, eggplant, and tomatoes.
School will be OK – it’s not like Zilla’s never gone to school before. But damn I’ll miss her little head. And I’m much happier since she’s decided she’s excited for school – most of the summer she was all “I don’t like school” which is worrisome. But today she’s excited and happy so that’s good.
That really IS awesome. GOOD! It’s always a comfier feeling when they’re happy to go back.
There are RAINBOW CARROTS?!?!?! I MUST FIND SOME!
There are. I’m sending you the ones we made tonight. Well, not the ACTUAL carrots – the Pinterest version. 😀
I love peppers and I had no idea that one can freeze them for later use. We live and learn.
Glad you and your little one have gotten over your colds. They can be irritating as you’re not officially sick (!) but feel lousy any way!
The picture of your cats had me smiling! Do they always pose this way? 🙂
They can very definitely be frozen, Corinne. I think I pinned instructions on my Pinterest board for Food – Tips and Other. If you’re on Pinterest, I’ll send it to you.
Colds really are more irritating than anything. I think we’ll be in pretty good shape for school tomorrow.
My cats…well, no, they don’t always pose so nicely. But they do often sit on those steps lately and I happened to catch them all looking in sort of the same direction. They’re hams.
Thanks, Lisa. Peppers are considered to be exotic veggies here in India and therefore, quite expensive. We buy them sparingly.
Wow, I did not know that!
Best of luck to Zilla tomorrow morning! I am in a state, as you might imagine, especially with several unfolding events and new information since Friday. Oh my, things have been crazy. I am also reminded that I got texts from you this week that I did not respond to because I was in the midst of one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life that I might tell you.
And to all of you, too! Unfolding events and new information and embarrassing experiences…you’ll message me when you’re ready, yes? I’ll be waiting to hear.
This is why Canadians love Americans.
We take advantage of your go back to school before Labour Day…
While your kids are in school, we hit up your amusement parks that are pretty much dead.
It’s beautiful.
Thanks America.
We definitely need structure. It’s wearing us all thin. Chunky has developed a fear of all the things in the dark and night time rituals are a pain. And the sassy attitude because lack of sleep and hanging out with older kids at camp and baseball and my sassy attitude from insomnia and being home with him for ALL. THE. DAYS…which I am so blessed to be but sweet Jesus….you pee on my toilet seat one more time…We are both getting on one another’s nerves. My husband thinks it’s hilarious. It’s just time that school starts and we get routine going.
I say that summer ended the day it started. It’s the weather that dictates it and we’ve had nothing but fall like weather. Go home nature. You’re drunk.
I loudly protest the pre-Labor Day school start, Kim. Near-empty amusement parks would be awesome.
Ooh, too bad about the nighttime problems – that’s the worst and there isn’t much a parent can do about it, sadly. I’m with you – I love having Zilla home and am so happy to have had these long summer days together. But it’s time.
I will trade you our nasty 90 degree weather for your fall weather – deal?
Even though it’s been a very long time since the school year has meant anything to me, all these back to school posts are freaking me out – surely we’re not there yet?! It’s partly because, thanks to a horrendous July, summer only arrived in Sweden about three weeks ago, so I am NOT READY to be thinking it’s autumn. Congrats on managing some writing on top of a busy week!
The weather here is nothing like fall and back-to-school at all, Claire. Makes it pretty hard to think about falling leaves and apples and pencils and notebooks when it’s going to be in the 90s all week. Although I suppose in other areas of the country and the world, people go to school in those temps all the time. I guess it’s all what you’re used to.
Enjoy the summer now – autumn will arrive in its own due time!
Love the moon! We have our room under the roof, with two roof windows, so sometimes I wake up bathed in moonlight.. Don’t remind me of back to school! Still need to find Lily’s supply list and organize whatever’s still missing. And re-label her folders / notepad covers to say “2b” instead of “1b”. One fun way to introduce math again: I started playing the dice game version of “Settlers” with Lily, and have her calculate the scores at the end. So far, she’s won twice! I have to try harder!!! 🙂
The roof windows would be so cool…
We have all of our supplies in place and Zilla’s first day went swimmingly. Great idea on the math game – I think any way to work it into everyday and fun things is great. So good and so disturbing when the kids start beating us, isn’t it??
Ok that photo of the cats on the stairs — I thought it was the same photo duped down until I looked more closely and OMG what a cool photo!!! Seriously! Also gah to school starting — ours doesn’t start for another week (SOB). But yeah, it should always start after Labor Day. And oooh the moon.
Also I don’t know what’s up with this zero gravity Clark inspirations in the in-box each morning. I obviously am so behind.
Aren’t they hilarious? They are so weird when they all do the same thing, but it’s really cool at the same time.
Clark’s zero gravity is a bunch of us checking in each day in an effort to lessen our gravitational pull – we’re trying to drop a few pounds (or at least not gain, I guess).
Great photos!
I too am SO thankful the husband scoops poop. If you need cat dietary suggestions, let me know, we too have had those types of issues.
I envy your veggies and your proactiveness with freezing, I wish we did that.
I would LOVE some kitty diet suggestions. Right now, the vet asked us to try getting him to eat wet food (our cats actually don’t love it) to see if that helps un-stick his digestive system a bit. So far, he seems to be eating it and seems to be not pooping outside the box. Hallelujah! Here is one instance where being outside the box is a BAD thing, right?
It makes me very happy when I find my frozen summer veggies in the freezer mid-winter. I have a ton of peppers to freeze right now…need to get on that tonight, I think. They’re great for stuffed pepper casserole, Spanish rice, cheesesteaks, and more.
I’m not a huge fan of green peppers, but I like orange and yellow okay in small quantities, and by small, I also mean chopped up in small pieces.
I think school should start the day after Labor Day and end the Friday before Memorial Day.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was some kind of special instrument that would “read” animal poop and pee and identify the culprit of poop and pee “accidents” (which are really “on purposes” and we both know it)? I’d rather have poop accidents than pee accidents, if I could choose.
Hope Zilla’s first day went well!
Yeah, I like the red, orange, and yellow ones much better than the green. I do have a recipe for a roasted green pepper soup, though, that is absolutely amazing. What I froze tonight was all red, orange, and yellow. Tiny pieces.
Yes, agreed, poop is far simpler than pee. Pee just destroys everything. We’ve got all three sold on the wet food (we think) and hoping that’s helping Cat One’s system right itself. Fingers crossed.
Zilla had a great first TWO days and is so happy she practically floats in and out of the building. I pray so hard that it continues. She needs a fantastic and happy year.
I love the all the photos. The photo of the school supplies brings back memories of setting off to school with school supplies, but in those days we needed to get a cigar box too. Our school supplies, except for the ruler, were supposed to fit inside the cigar box. Those peppers are so pretty! We aren’t big pepper eaters either, but I used to freeze some just like you do, to add to casseroles. What a helpful husband!
Cigar boxes bring back memories for me – we had cigar boxes of marbles that we played with at my Grandparents’ house when we were kids. And we used the marbles to play on a huge Chinese Checkers board that had holes to hold the marbles.
The peppers definitely work best for us frozen for later use. I do like red ones in salads sometimes, but not very often.
My Husband is a great guy – puts up with a lot. 🙂