Yes, it's true. It really is. Peeks of Fall/Autumn are showing up here, in August. This is not unusual for our area, but it still feels early! Some of our trees are already starting to turn, as you can see in this picture. My crabapple tree, lilacs, and maple trees have all started to turn colors. Our daylight hours are shortened from what they were a month ago. We are losing 1 minute of daylight a day as the sun inches back towards the equator away from us. My garden is still happy and doing well! But, I am soaking up every hour and minute of the last days of summer as we await the brilliantly beautiful season of fall. 

I was in a hurry when I made this bread. I made it this week, and it turned out wonderful! My sourdough starter was fed and then circumstances changed, and I wasn't able to be home for the 24-hour process of making the bread. So, I made this Hurry Up Sourdough Bread instead. (My own creation!)  This is how I did it :)  Hurry Up Sourdough Bread 2 cups sourdough starter 2-3 cups flour 1/2 cup water 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp Everything Bagel seasoning Stir starter, 1 cup flour, water, olive oil, and honey together. When dough starts to take form, stir in baking powder and salt. Continue to add flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is soft and pliable, about 10 minutes or so.  Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 450, and place your Dutch oven pan in the oven to preheat also. When ready to bake, sprinkle Everything Bagel (or other seasoning of choice) on top of the dough.  Place dough on a piece of parchment paper then place into the heated Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until the bread is browned or the internal temperature reaches 205 degrees.  Remove from the oven carefully and let cool. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

The August super moon was so bright and beautiful!

It was bright and very orange-looking, so incredible to see!

August blooms are thrilling show-stoppers!

August skies over the garden

We've spent as much time at the river as we can, as summer is a fleeting season here!

An evening walk through our acreage shows that Fall indeed is here, in the middle of August! I love the season of fall, and I'm not sad that it is arriving - but I do love the last bits of summer too!

Sunflower blooms are late summer's greatest joy!

My hollyhock has finally bloomed! I wasn't sure it would, as it started from seed this spring. It is a show-stopper too!

Another joy of summertime! Watermelon was enjoyed outside on our front porch on a beautiful summer evening.

Our neighbor found a baby kitten perhaps 1-day-old crying in their shed. Evidently, a stray cat gave birth and left this kitten behind. They've been bottle-feeding her for the past month, and I've helped to care for her on days they couldn't be home. Isn't she precious!  But I can tell you who was not happy to meet the newcomer! Mr. Bandit. He didn't like his position of love and attention being stolen, not one bit! And Riley was just worried about the whole situation in general. Our animals keep us entertained, don't they?

Mr. Bandit is growing by leaps and bounds, and we realized it especially after caring for the little kitten!

August skies never fail to delight, especially as Autumn colors deepen!

Morning walks are brisk now - and I am wearing a flannel jacket in the mornings!  Here are some short videos to enjoy :)

I was delighted to see exciting promises that both the Aurora and the Perseids meteor showers were going to be seen in our area on Sunday night, August 11.  As I waited outside for the clouds to part, I was able to see some aurora activity, but unfortunately, because of the clouds, I couldn't see the meteor activity. It was a truly beautiful night though, and I have put together a video (below) of some of the pictures that I captured Sunday night. The vibrant skies spoke to the incredible Hand of the Lord who created such magnificence for us to see! 

Spring and Summer's parade of blooms has slowed as quiet contentment has set into my heart that Fall will soon be here. Cool night temps in the 40s remind me that summer is quickly fading away - and a beautiful summer it has been. We've been very blessed to have received 1/4" of rain over the weekend, and while our skies have been smoky at times from fires in other places, thankfully we have no fires close by us! There is much to be grateful for, in this time of shifting seasons. August is a month of dry, hot weather, where the skies are usually smoky from forest fires, yet harvest season is underway. Yes. August brings seasonal transition. It's a time of enjoying the beautiful season of Summer while realizing that Fall's cooler weather and clear skies are not far away. 

I have a "She Shed" in my garden where I can sit and enjoy the beauty of the world around me as it beckons my heart in measures of a splendid symphony. The summer breeze whistles gently through the pine and fir trees, while birds call out to each other in their musical tones of cheer. I hear my baby chicks happily "cheeping" as they explore the new world around them. Butterflies dance merrily among the blooms, while the crickets chirp happily in the shadows.  Hummingbirds buzz around as if their life depends on every drop of sugary fluid. A symphony without a conductor, and the only audience is me! 

I could sit in my garden all day and just soak in the beauty around me.

Oh... if only I could do just that!!

Mom arrived at the end of June, just in time to enjoy our beautiful cool weather. Coming from the triple-digit Texas heat, she was thrilled to be here! She stayed for 10 days, and left the day our weather turned hot! It was a blessed trip, and time for all of us, in every way. 

The glorious days of May have slipped by us so quickly - so much has happened in May that I haven't had time to post any updates.  The biggest event was a quick trip to Texas. My Dad's birthday was on May 19, and we gathered to remember him on his birthday. We also visited his grave where the tombstone was newly set. My sister and I visited Dad's tombstone with Mom for the first time and then the rest of our family gathered later.