Hello and good morning! I’m freshly showered after a 5:30 AM workout and sipping on whole milk and peanut butter chocolate protein, the new whey one from Truvani. 7 ingredients and 20g of protein per scoop; it’s pretty good!

I worked out with David this morning because he has a full work day and wouldn’t be able to join me later, but I’ll be honest: while I like the morning workouts and stuck with them for several weeks, ultimately I don’t think I can keep them up. I’m going to have to move them back to the afternoons.

See, the early morning time really is my only chance to be creative with writing. I love the morning quiet and just sitting here at my computer talking to you about life. I can put together a how-to post in the afternoons, but a life chat? These kind of posts only happen for me in the mornings, like we’re sitting and sipping our first morning beverage together.

This leads me to think about routine. It is the time of year we’re starting to let go of summer’s whimsy and embrace the comfort of fall’s more predictable rhythm again. I feel like I’m smack dab in the middle of the blurred lines between the seasons right now. Still enjoying summer’s offerings and yet getting the flutter of joyful anticipation of what’s to come.

First, the summer piece. This past Friday we drove to Charlotte to experience the girls’ first concert with our friends. It poured rain at dinner and the gates delayed their opening, but then the clouds parted, Thomas Rhett rocked the stage, and we got to experience the full glory of a summer outdoor country concert. My dress and my boots (both very comfy for dancing).

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Also tucked into the summer category is the garden. While beginning to dwindle, there are still fresh tomatoes to make delicious BLTs on my new favorite sourdough (baking my way through this book and understanding fully why it gets rave reviews) to be enjoyed alongside a homemade dill pickle. I’m still picking beans that I string, blanch, and freeze. And there are still peppers (both bell and jalapeno) producing happily on their plants.

Beautiful zinnias and wildflowers are still in bloom and my friend used a bunch on Sunday to decorate the cake she made for her daughter’s first birthday party. Isn’t it gorgeous?

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And yet, there are hints of autumnal shifts beginning to appear. The biggest one is certainly this faux fall weather we’ve been experiencing the past few days. It’s cool and cloudy with some days even being downright rainy and cozy. It’s been great weather for playing on the slackline and taking long walks.

It’s been great weather to try out a new soup (herb sachets for the win!) and bake chocolate chip sourdough bread. It’s been great weather for picking back up my beginner embroidery kit to keep my hands busy while watching Just Add Magic with the kids.

It’s been great weather for stocking up on new colored pencils and lined paper. It’s been great weather for playing chess and playing with the chickens. It’s been great weather for kicking off our new homeschool year, which we did yesterday.

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I’m pleased to report the ease-in approach we’re going with this year worked beautifully. We started with a favorite, the art cards in competition form (the winner procuring a 30 minute screentime token prize). Then we cracked open their new math books and logged onto Nicole the Math Lady’s new interface (LOVE). Then into medieval history, maps, and reading. A little World Watch viewing and boom, day one complete. Full curriculum here.

So yes, the fall feelings are strong at the moment but I know next week the heat will return and I’m OK with that. While I’m a fall girl through and through, I also am OK savoring the longer days, a few more pool swims, and the flexibility that we have before fall sports and activity commitments return. I had neighborhood kids in my house until 8:30 last night and listening to them all laughing and playing games made my heart happy. Yes, right now feels like a sweet spot.

So that’s the latest from around here. I’m hoping to go this afternoon and look for some art for my walls to keep my occupied so I don’t start hauling out storage boxes and putting up pumpkin decor. And if I’m being honest, the anticipation of that season is almost the best part. August is giving Thursday energy and I’m here for it.

What’s your world like right now? Still in full summer mode? Are you in the blurred lines phase like me? Or are you fully into backpacks and fall schedules? Thanks for stopping by. Hope your Tuesday is lovely <3