September Time Warp

Hello again Farmgirl Friends!

I hope this finds you well and cozy as autumn starts to creep across the northern hemisphere.  We are well on our way to more wintery days up here in AK.  Last week the leaves turned their bright yellows and oranges, while this week they are decidedly more brown.  On a walk the other day with the girls, Ava kept exclaiming, “I don’t like these ugly plants!  Why is everything dying? Why is it brown?  I do not enjoy these ugly plants!!” She was very adamant about her distaste for the senescing leaves…Alas, the nature lover in me could not convince her that this was meant to be–that the plants and trees are getting ready to sleep for the winter.  She was stuck on the aesthetics!

From a hike a few weeks ago.  She wanted to know what it fells like to be a mushroom.

From a hike a few weeks ago. She wanted to know what it fells like to be a mushroom.

The last month has felt like kind of a time warp for me!  It felt like it had gone by very quickly, but then looking through photos for this post some of them seemed to be taken ages ago.  I’ve also had this strange feeling throughout September where I can’t remember what day it is (both in the date and the day of the week).  People at work will say “see you tomorrow!” and in my head I say to myself, “wait, I work tomorrow?  Isn’t it Friday?” (I don’t work Fridays).  Of course, tomorrow is Thursday and all is good.  I also kept feeling like it was perpetually the beginning of September until about…today ;).  A few friends have mentioned this same phenomenon.  We hypothesized it’s because of the quickly changing daylight times.  We are almost at our peak of losing minutes of daylight per day and it can be discombobulating.

Enjoying the view with friends.

Enjoying the view with friends.

Losing daylight means it's a good time for beautiful light streaming through windows.

Losing daylight means it’s a good time for beautiful light streaming through windows.

Along with the loss of daylight, it was rainy and windy for days on end through August and early September.  On one hand, this was a drag; but it also helped me realize just how bad it was in the paths of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.  We seem to have come to a decent balance over the last week or so, but it was rough there for a little bit!  It definitely helps one appreciate the nicer days.  Actually, looking through my photos, I was reminded that it was actually beautiful more days than I remember.

Opal and I danced with some fun characters at the state fair, despite howling winds!

Opal and I danced with some fun characters at the state fair despite howling winds!

High winds mean low crowds at the state fair.  Because of this, Ava won a cute little chair at the lumberjack show!

High winds mean small crowds at the state fair. Because of this, Ava won a cute little chair at the lumberjack show!

I wonder what I would do without digital photos at my fingertips?  Maybe I would keep a more detailed daily log like my grandmother did: “Monday, September 11: Partly cloudy with a few sprinkles, overall nice weather.  Went to Northern Fruits with Evan and the girls, picked apples for apple butter.  Hiked on the Lazy Moose Trail for a bit.  Ava wants to be a trial runner.  Moki loved running free.  Opal walked quite a bit, too. Went to Vagabond Blues for yummy treats afterward.”

Picking apples with some help from daddy.

Picking apples with some help from daddy.

Future trail runner on the Lazy Moose trail.

Future trail runner on the Lazy Moose trail.

Apple orchard sister love.

Apple orchard sister love.

As it stands, I can scroll through myriad photos that we’ve snapped over the last weeks and be gently reminded that time, indeed, is passing. The sun, indeed, did make its appearance several times.  The girls, indeed, are growing SO big. The farm, indeed, is transitioning. We are, indeed, making the most of our time during the changing of the seasons.

Picnics!

Picnics!

Time in the hammock!

Time in the hammock!

Pie eating contests!  She did disturbingly well...

Pie eating contests! She did disturbingly well…

Piñata in the mountains at the Hatcher Alpine Xperience first annual Blueberry Ball.

Piñata in the mountains at the Hatcher Alpine Xperience first annual Blueberry Ball.

Opal's first egg toss...

Opal’s first egg toss…

I’ve always loved the transition from summer to autumn.  It’s harder to appreciate in Alaska where the rainy season comes in the fall, but there is much to celebrate and appreciate.  Berry picking reaches its peak, the mosquitoes are gone, the colors are vibrant, the correct gear makes outdoor excursions enjoyable, and the sunlight is delicious as it pours in at low angles: golden and illuminating.

We harvested pumpkins and winter squash a few weeks ago.  We've had a couple of frosts in September.

We harvested pumpkins and winter squash a few weeks ago. We’ve had a couple of frosts in September.

Ava sized pumpkin!

Ava sized pumpkin!

This pig was super proud of his kind of rotten pumpkin hunk.

This pig was super proud of his kind of rotten pumpkin hunk.

Picking raspberries

Picking raspberries

Gotta help those cover crop seeds germinate, huh Opal?

Gotta help those cover crop seeds germinate, huh Opal?

It is also the time where creative juices start flowing.  It’s time to start moving toward that candle-lit coziness where words are unleashed and color and beauty are yearned for.  After the harvest is complete, the gardens and yards are laid to rest and that list of indoor projects can be slowly ticked off.

Ava helping me make the blueberry piñata.

Ava helping me make the blueberry piñata.

Time to dust off the paint.

Time to dust off the art supplies.

As we appreciate the last teases of summer in anticipation of the coming autumn and winter, I hope you, too, are reminded of what the time warp of September has brought you–whether through photos, a written log, chats with loved ones or your own impeccable memory!

It's autumn in the mountains and autumn on the farm!

It’s autumn in the mountains and autumn on the farm!

Until next time, Farmgirl Friends, Sending Peace and Love from Alaska!

Alex, the Rural Farmgirl

  1. Krista says:

    I feel the same way. August and September have just flown by. I figured it was because I had so much going on with multiple deadlines but I guess the changing weather and daylight probably play a big role. Every day I kept telling myself that I needed to take my little guys 9 month picture. Well…I finally took the picture last night and he turns 10 months tomorrow. That’s how time has been escaping me. I’m hoping by the first of October I’ll be back on track. I loved seeing all your pictures and adventures. Looks like your family made some wonderful memories. Your girls are growing up so quickly. Thank goodness we have cameras to document all those times.

    • Alexandra Wilson says:

      Thanks, Krista! I love your story about the nine month pics. It’s interesting how these seemingly simple tasks are the ones that keep getting pushed back. It probably takes all of ten minutes to accomplish somethings, but often ten minutes is very difficult thing to come by–especially when everyone/everything is cooperating. I’m looking forward to October, too! And yes, thank goodness for cameras. Our mom-brains can only retain so much. Hope your schedule calms down soon!

  2. Ramona Puckett says:

    Beautiful family and beautiful pictures!

  3. Susabelle says:

    My day job keeps me busy from mid-August to mid-October, so the whole thing always goes by in a blur. Here in Colorado, our “golden sunshine” has been because of smoke from wildfires, and while we’ve had some cool days, we’ve also had a whole peck of 90+, so it’s hard to think about fall. But my garden is pretty ready – the squash and pumpkins are dying back, the roses are on their last bloom, and the beans have given up production. I will still have tomatoes, and eggplant, and the flowers are glorious. But we need rain. 🙂

    I love fall, and the coming winter. It really does mean I get to slow down. At least, after November is over!

    • Alexandra Wilson says:

      I love that the plants know it’s time to rest even if the weather isn’t feeling like it should be fall yet. I hope the fires die back soon. There have been so many natural disasters this summer…I also hope your schedule calms down a bit!! Thanks for checking in 🙂

  4. bonnie ellis says:

    I love the vignettes of your adorable family. Those girls are getting a wonderful education in life and nature. You are lucky for the new technology of cell phone cameras. When my kids were little, we just took the pictures and had to wait for them to be developed. No chance to see them right away and e-mail them to grandparents.

    • Alexandra Wilson says:

      Thank you, Bonnie! I think if we had to develop film I’d end up with rolls developed long after they were taken (perhaps even years!), which would be a nice surprise in some ways…

  5. Joan says:

    Great blog!! We too are mostly autumn! sunny days too. The Aspens are beautiful. Take care. God bless.

  6. Marilyn says:

    Ava and Opal are having so much fun. They are two beautiful girls.
    Marilyn

  7. Joy Pascarella says:

    Great blog! I felt the excitement and joy in it. It is good to look back to remind us that life it really good.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *