Currently - October '21

Anyone else surprised every time they have to write out the date or look at a calendar? Mid-October? How could it be? The weather has been pretty humid in the DC area, so it doesn't totally feel like fall outside, but there are certainly other signs that the seasons are changing - shorter days, Halloween decorations multiplying on people's lawns every time I take a walk, and a partial return to the office for me starting November 1. 

C&O Canal somewhere west of Little Orleans

borrowing - Or at least taking advantage of fun activities with my cousin's kids and loyal doggy love from the pup that lives next door. We've got plans to go watch some little league baseball and carve pumpkins with the cousins on Saturday, and the last time we took the neighbor's dog for a walk I started to wonder if we should get one of our own. :-)

buying - After at least an hour of searching, I made my first ThreadUp order, full of black and grey items for fall. Of seven things, five worked out, including an exact replacement for a pair of jeans that I wore through last year! Pretty good for a first try. If you use ThreadUp, any tips for happier shopping? The thousands upon thousands of items is quite overwhelming!

prepping - We spent the last 8ish weeks prepping for a 100-mile bike ride that took place this weekend. We gradually built up our mileage on the weekends, completing an 83-mile ride last Saturday, then resting up and trying to eat healthy and get enough sleep the rest of the week. Overall, it went great and it feels good to have accomplished something so ambitious!

planning - Now with the bike ride behind us, it's time to plan a belated birthday dinner out, thanks to the restaurant gift card from my brother and sister-in-law. Looking forward to dressing up a smidge (still not ready to wear anything even slightly uncomfortable) and trying a new place in the near future!

reading - Finished two novels recently that I'd recommend: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi and Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver. Very different stories, but both have a strong historical theme.

Best of September

• Birthday camping at New Germany State Park - We were greeted with a dose of real fall weather and the park was a great home base to do some bike rides on new sections of the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal. Hoping we can squeeze in one more camping trip before it gets too cold.
• Birthday wishes - Thanks to everyone near and far who texted, emailed, wrote cards, etc. for my birthday. I felt really special and I appreciate you helping me mark the occasion!
• "End of summer" dinner with friends on the patio - We served a messy, eat-with-your-hands shrimp boil with some of the last of the summer corn from our CSA box and a peach crumble for dessert. Typing this out is reminding me it's high time to start doing some fall baking - pumpkin roll, pumpkin cookies, apple something....mmmmm.