September by Helen Hunt Jackson

The goldenrod is yellow;
The corn is turning brown;
The trees in apple orhcards
With fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes
Are curling in the sun;
And dusty pods the milkweed
Its hidden silk has spun.

The sedges flaunt their harvest
In every meadow nook;
And asters by the brook-side
Make asters in the brook.

From dewy lanes at morning
The grapes' sweet odors rise;
At noon the roads all flutter
With yellow butterfiles.

By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather
And autumn's best of cheer.

My fellow bloggers...

Knowing that today will be chock full of outdoor activites since the temperature is below 85 degrees, I'm assuming I won't have much time for blogging. I did, however, take some time this morning to stop by my girlfriend Elysa's most awesome blogspot. Check it out, she's got some great stuff up. She's a true blog artist, a homeschool mom and she has 7 (that's SEVEN, y'all!) children. Rock on, Elsya!

Not Measels

My son Sam has a virus that isn't measels. He had a fever that came and went, and then he woke up covered with red spots. Unlike my other children he has not had his measels immunization. Abigail also has had a fever and appears to be getting these "measel-like" spots. She is not due to get her immunization until next month. Apparently, this virus that is not measels is contagious, but only to other children who haven't been immunized. My children who have had the measels immunization have not gotten this virus.

I'm also to keep my children with "not measels" home, lest they spread it to other non-immunized children. But it's "not the measels".

The Difference

If anyone wants to know the difference between boys and girls, look here. This is what happend when I told my children to go play outside. Apparently, the boys heard something entirely different than the girl.

Leisure by William H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep and cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass
When squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Same Song, Second Verse

Well, here I am again, explaining my blogger slackerism. Once again, I've been caught up in a book series. This month, it's Lynn Austin who's got me hooked. She's a Christian who writes historical fiction, and I'm caught up in the Refiner's Fire series. In fact, as I write this article I'm on the phone with my wonderful husband, asking him to run to the library before it closes to get the next book in the series. I feel somewhat like an addict, and maybe I should be ashamed, but I'm not. I am rather desperate and at times pitiful. I have been known to stay up reading until my eyes hurt, only to deeply regret it a few hours later when I have to pry myself out of bed. My husband tries to warn me (as he hands me a new Dean Koontz novel) that I'll hate myself in the morning, that I'll be miserable as I trudge along bleary eyed and cranky. Who is he kidding? He may as well change his name from "Wyatt" to "Enabler." Not that I'm complaining, I know he's right. I know I need to change my ways. But then, it's not in the knowing, is it?

Oddly Enough

Let me tell you about this wonderful new-to-me character I've recently discovered!! His name is Odd Thomas, and you have to check him out. Dean Koontz has written 3 books (so far) that revolve around this very likeable character whom I just can't get enough of. I read all 3 of the books this past month...they're page turners. If you've never read any Dean Koontz before, well, you should. He's incredibly creative. He's got the awesomeness of Stephen King without the profanity. He's got the mystery, suspense and freaky stuff without perversion. He is why I haven't posted anything in a month.

Well, he and another writer I've come to love. Ann B. Ross has written a bunch of books about a southern widow named Julia Springer, also known as Ms. Julia. I love Ms. Julia. I've read 5 of the Ms. Julia books, not including the one I started tonight. She's very funny...always getting mixed up in bizarre situations and not at all creepy or freaky. This is good after a few chapters of Dean Koontz. She takes the edge off so you can sleep.

Anyway... that's where I've been the whole month of July. Hanging out with Ms. Julia and Odd Thomas. Now, if you read the Odd Thomas books,you have to start with first book in the series, Odd Thomas. If you start on either of the other 2, you'll be really sorry. In fact, I'm not even going to tell you what the other 2 books are titled so if you start on the wrong book, you'll have only yourself to blame.

As for Ms. Julia, the first one in the series is Ms. Julia Speaks Her Mind, but it's not a big deal if you start somewhere else. I started with Ms. Julia Meets Her Match and I'm just fine. Enjoy!