No.564: Living Intentionally in September

I’m really loving this new way of goal setting.  While I didn’t complete everything on the list, I do feel like I made a respectable dent, so I’m celebrating that!  Highlights from last month: Eggs became a frequent menu staple as our hens gave us 12+ eggs a day.  I read most of the book about Saint Monica – just a few chapters to go!  We successfully processed 102 chickens and cleaned/organized/packed away all of the gear for next year.  We tidied up the school room just in time for our first day, bought new sneakers for a few of the boys, and even celebrated Fresh Breath Day with packs of gum for the kids!  I finished a cross stitch pillow for The Beautiful Things Project.  I also managed to write 15 posts here on the blog.

Here’s what I’ve got for September:

Eating Seasonally 

It will still be quite warm here in Virginia, but autumn will peek through with the turning of the leaves and the beginning of apple season!  Also in season in September:

• apples
• corn
• cucumbers
• melons
• squash
• tomatoes
• peppers
• zucchini

Celebrating the Liturgical Year

The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.  From the Saintmaker Planner: “This title of the Blessed Mother focuses on her intense suffering and grief during the passion and death of Our Lord.”

• Gregory the Great (3)
• Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8)
• Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14)
• Our Lady of Sorrows (15)
• Matthew (21)
• Pio of Pietrelcina (23)
• Ember Days (22, 24, 25)*
• Michael the Archangel (29)

* The September Ember Days were particularly focused on the end of the harvest season and thanksgiving to God for the season. Ember Days are three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) set aside by the Church for prayer, fasting and almsgiving at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year.

Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency 

• Start work on the property fence.
• Continue cutting firewood.
• Think about the placement for new in-ground beds.
• Set up the covered chicken run.

Homemaking 

• Declutter and deep clean the master bedroom and closet.
• Tidy up the coat closet.
• Wipe down all of the light switches and door knobs.
• Start rotating the kids’ wardrobe to fall/winter.

100 Little Things Revisited

• Finish the little boys’ headboards. (100LT #43 from Round Six)
• Finish painting the second floor shutters.  (100LT #51 from Round Seven)
• Take an Epsom salt bath. (100LT #37 from Round Four)

Family Fun

• Celebrate two birthdays!
• Celebrate some silly holidays:
  • Chocolate Milkshake Day (12)
  • Make a Hat Day (15)
  • National PlayDoh Day (16)
  • National Cheeseburger Day (18)
  • International Talk Like A Pirate Day (19)
  • Hobbit Day (22)
  • Johnny Appleseed Day (26)