Celebrating September's Eve!

I have had the very best September's Eve EVER!!!

 I was so excited about today that I woke up early and hopped right into the day.

One reason for my joy was that Summer arrived safely here at home from her trip to Florida that was aborted in Gulf Shores, Alabama due to the coming hurricane.

She had a harrowing experience driving back when in the late night she was going North bound and a truck was speeding past her going South bound - the wrong direction! She was smart and pulled close to the shoulder as he sped past her. She called 911 and they said they had received several reports.

At 11:30 yesterday morning she was at Gulf Shores State Park.  She was at our house at 10:30 this morning. Needless to say, she was exhausted! After a shower she went straight to bed and slept soundly for a good 6 hours! A lot of her pain may have been from the driving and the stress.

She was so disappointed to not get to see Rayne and Sabrina but circumstances change and we must roll with them.

While she slept and Louis Dean was working on the gazebo - I was happily cleaning house and preparing for my September First Family Dinner. This dinner is a first for me since it falls on a Sunday where my family can join me in my celebration.

Sometimes I spend the day by myself baking and doing all my little rituals and I love doing that.

But I am thinking tomorrow - which is now technically TODAY - will be the best September First EVER!

After Summer woke up refreshed and feeling so much better pain wise - she went with me to the Mexican Supermarket on O'Connor to get desserts for tomorrow.

My menu is Taco Soup - my sister, Nita's, recipe!

I am making a huge batch!

So I thought Mexican pastries would be perfect!

And they were on sale! Two for $0.88!! WOW!!

I loaded up!

Every one's favorite seems to be the sugar cookies with sprinkles and Amber asked for some extras for next week's school lunches!

I ordered candied fruit mix from Amazon Prime on Thursday and it was delivered this afternoon.

My special batch of Fruitcake Cookie dough - ready to bake up in the morning.

I added an extra country egg - it calls for three and I used four - and I added a bigger dollop of clear vanilla from San Antonio purchased on a Sibling Trip......and a splash of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum!! I even lit my Cook's candle to celebrate the moment!

I have the cheese, carrots, and celery cut up for the appetizer table and the crackers set out.

The cantaloupe and strawberries are cut up and the grapes have been picked off the stems so they can be eaten like popcorn. I roasted some hatch chili's for the Taco Soup and prepared the stuffed jalapenos with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon - ready to  cook tomorrow right before we eat.

It looks like there will be 13 people around 2 tables.

Yes, I have been busy all day but I have enjoyed every single minute.

The house is as clean as it has been for some time.

Laundry done. Bathrooms cleaned. Furniture polished. Clean sheets on the bed.

I have honey and pretzels for tasting out on the table.

And speaking of honey - I have 253 comments and will draw the winner first thing in the morning.

Plus I am going to draw a 'runner-up' just because!

The winner will get an 8 oz jar of Wildflower Honey from the ranch and the runner-up will get a 4 oz.

So I know it's late and it's actually already September first but I wait until the morn!!!

I will close this journal entry with an Ode to September written by a dear friend, Debbie.
She shared it with me this evening and gave me permission to share it with you......

 My Ode to September

Evening sounds fill the air. Cicada songs softly begin the chant.

I recall my joy at seeing a few colored leaves dotting the parched ground this last day of August. 

In the stand of trees at the fence line birds stop flight. It seems they are resting a moment. Their singing and squawking drowns out all other evening sounds.

Then, just as suddenly as the noisy song of the birds began, it ended. They took flight — headed to roost for the night.

Once again the cicada chorus filled the air, but only briefly. 

The last moments of August sunshine gave way to its last night.

Soon will come the first

 September morn!