What's Up Wednesday, August 2025 Edition

 

We are on the cusp of autumn and, while I often wish for time to slow down, I can't deny that the onset of my favorite season makes me more than a bit giddy.

Many thanks to Sheaffer and Shay for the writing prompts again this month!

What I've Been Eating

I have been eating so well! I've cooked more recently than I had in months, and, more often than not, those meals have included something from my garden, whether it be green beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, or tomatoes (So. Many. Tomatoes). 

           

        

            

                                                       

What I'm Loving

I'm still loving the flowers from my bouquet subscription from the local flower farm! Each bouquet has been unique, and the flowers last for several weeks, which means I generally have an arrangement in the kitchen, as well as one on the table on the porch.

           

What I'm Reminiscing About

Schools are back in session here in our neck of the woods. I've seen numerous Facebook posts from parents a bit younger than me, bemoaning their newly empty nests, and I am reminded of the two times that we dropped our kids off at college for the first time. The trauma was real, and I have nothing but empathy for those parents.

What I've Been Up To

I had one nice dinner out with this guy this month, right before he abandoned me for a two-week fire deployment. I weathered Fireman widowhood every bit as well as I weathered Wrestling Official widowhood for the past twenty years, so it was fine. It is nice to have him back, though.

While awaiting the return of my other half, I  spent more time on the porch. I went through a ton of ice and iced tea, so much so, I just started keeping the ice machine on the bar cart and a pitcher of tea in the mini fridge.

Guinness missed Hugh almost more than I did, and he showed his displeasure by attaching himself to my hip pretty much every time I sat down.

The day that Hugh was due to return, I had the opportunity to host Mom and one of her best friends from High School on the porch. Miss Darla was in town to see Mom for the weekend, and it was fun watching them catch up.

What I've Been Working On

I've been working on my garden harvests! It seems like there are new vegetables and herbs ready for harvest every time I open the gate and wander around the raised beds. It's a labor of love, and I have no complaints about it.

I have an overabundance of herbs, and have been working on drying bundles of thyme, oregano, and rosemary for the winter.

I mentioned earlier that I have been eating a lot of tomatoes, which have been plentiful in the garden. This weekend, I roasted a bunch of them along with some of the peppers I grew, an onion, and some garlic. Then I blended it all into a pasta sauce that Hugh and I had with Italian sausage. I was quite proud of myself. 

What I'm Excited About

Queen B has already booked her holiday PTO dates on her company calendar, and we are going to be seeing a lot of her! I am especially excited to have her home for an extended period in October, when we will be attending my nephew's wedding.

What I'm Dreading 

Nothing at the moment!

What I'm Reading

I am still on a streak, and am still mostly enjoying the fantasy genre.

What I'm Watching

I'm still basically boycotting television. Instead, I'm watching the original Nature Channel. The Hummingbird show is my favorite.

What I'm Listening To

The hummingbirds aren't just fun to watch, they're also really cool to listen to. 

What I'm Wearing

I feel like I never have a great answer to this question. The most comfortable outfit I own right now is a pair of linen pants that I wear with a black tank top and some strappy sandals. It's comfy and fashionable.

What I'm Doing This Weekend

The fact that this is Labor Day weekend really came as a surprise to me when my office manager reminded me that she would need timesheets a day early in order to have payroll done before the holiday. So, Hugh and I made no plans. I am also on call, so it isn't like we can go out of cell phone reach, so it looks like a quiet weekend at home. Although Kristi is in town and we have been talking about doing a wine and chocolate pairing for a while now, so maybe we will pull that off.

 

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

The beginning of the months that end in BER! So excited for the fall!

Favorite Purchase This Month

It's a tie between this sweatshirt and this glass tumbler. I love them equally.