The start of August
Posted on | August 2, 2007 |
Peaches with juice spilling on the soapstone when we cut them; blueberries fat and sweet; cinnamon swirl toast from the farmer’s market, hot with butter. Summer mornings make me happy. We sit around sipping coffee, flipping through various papers, making each other laugh. It’s been an entire week of sunshine. This means: I’m finally starting to look tan; the chicken coop has been painted red; the grass is starting to look dry.
With the first of August I slipped back into accomplishing mode: tearing through lists of things that have been lingering all summer and forcing myself to return to the page to edit work that has been lingering, troublesome as a hangnail since June. I also snagged a fun writing job I’ll be telling you more about very soon; and am crossing my fingers that another piece of mine will be showing up in Mothering in a month.
More good news? My inlaws sold their house—and will be moving up to take care of Bean in a few months. Whenever they’re around, I always notice Bean’s language skills skyrocket: Nonna never stops talking to him, and he’s smitten with the both of them.
To celebrate, we’re going camping with Bean on Saturday! His first real trip. We’re packing life vests and sunscreen, marshmallows and hotdogs. In the mail, a glorious four-person tent arrived and when we set it up on the lawn, Bean was ecstatic. Of course I will take nine-million pictures and foist them on you.
The crickets have started their tremolo, indicating that summer really is winding down. August is the hottest month here, but already the first yellow leaves have appeared, and monarchs are gathering on the milkweed, roadside. Next week I’ll head back to my classroom, painting bookcases, sorting papers. I had my first classroom dream last night. I always have them in August before I meet my new class.
What’s in store for you this August?
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11 Responses to “The start of August”
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August 2nd, 2007 @ 9:19 am
I hope that my August will mark the end of some lingering projects at work, and some time away from work to travel. It will also hold a wealth of tomatos, as it will finally be warm enough to ripen them up. I also want my August to be filled with a renewed focus on my painting. I’ve been flirting with it all summer, but need to take a deep breath and dive in.
Those are some big canvases leaning against the wall next to Bean. What are you going to put on them?
August 2nd, 2007 @ 9:37 am
Oh what a lovely post. I don’t see how you can tell me you’re not accomplishing anything! You fill me with wonder, as usual. And please, no more pictures of Bean’s chubby little baby feet: TOO ADORABLE. They slay me, especially since Martin & Karin’s feet are huge now and totally NOT baby feet anymore.
August has lazy (okay, lazier) days, a long visit from my brother, open-air concerts, city festivals, trip to the zoo, to Nimis, a crayfish party! And then back to work and real life’s routine.
August 2nd, 2007 @ 10:00 am
looks like he’s a fan of beatrix potter! are those the peter rabbit books? i use to read them to my kids a lot when they were littlies.
August 2nd, 2007 @ 11:20 am
I LOVED Mothering magazine when my girls were little and sometimes I even go to the library to read the latest issue and reminisce about those days. Please let me/us know if you do get an article printed so I/we can check it out!!
I enjoy reading your blog, btw. Thanks for sharing!
August 2nd, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
August feels like the really juicy part of a novel. Today I finished one essay for my Master’s class (20 pages) and tomorrow I am on a five day jaunt to the Midwest for some time with my man in a wonderful city. Then back to the grindstone with another 15 page essay. Finally, on the 20th we leave for 9 days in glorious, sunny, tropical Mexico. 4 days will be on the Pacific coast, followed by 3 more at a friend of the family’s estate in Cuernavaca (a.ka. The City of Eternal Springtime, no joke). Days spent taking surf lessons, exploring the jungle, eco-tours, markets, sand in my hair and tons of good novels to be devoured. Plus we cannot leave out that fact that I get 9 whole days ALONE with the bf for the first time in YEARS. Just the two of us and a backpack full of swimsuits.
The day after we come back…. back into the classroom, painting and arranging and organizing just like you Christina.
Have a great August and keep the beautiful writing flowing. It is such a treat.
August 2nd, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Look at you, pretty girl, with your blond hair!!
Sounds like things are lovely there … can’t wait to read your pieces in Mothering - keep us posted!!
We are getting ready to go down to South FL to visit my family … love having grandmas around to help with my monkey. Also, getting ready for school to start up again; anxious to start a new certificate course (just keeping productive); spending lots of money during tax-free weekend (bought my first laptop!).
August 2nd, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
This August will be a time of decisions. But it will also be a time of swimming at the pool with my son, finally starting the Harry Potter series, working on my blog, playing tennis with my husband, lots and lots of biking and hopefully our first time camping as a family.
Summer is coming to an end.
Already have my back to school shopping done for my son’s school supplies.
August 3rd, 2007 @ 1:48 am
August here means fruitflies in the kitchen because of the nonstop compost because of the endless plopping of watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, zuchinni, tomatoes, tomatoes and tomatoes onto the countertop. A pot brims with skins and rinds and ends.
It also means a huge crow rookery is cavorting over Cuptertino. I have no idea whether this is seasonal, though.
August means a green chocolate trnasformer blacklight bowling birthday for Chas.
And our first getaway: back home to Austin for ACL festival. Just me, D, two skateboards and 4 days of music and unmentionable cavorting of our own
have a fun camping trip!
August 3rd, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
August means I leave my 20’s behind for good, my daughter hits 18 months and a trip to the mountains, one to the sea and many many day trips to the puget sound, more iced coffee, more dining on the deck and perfect evening sunlight in the apartment to dream to. Not a bad way to end the summer.
Looking forward to the possibility of reading the piece in Mothering…
Happy August.
August 4th, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
So much is happening in the writing world, so many joys: Carolyn Forche will continue working with me after this workshop, which makes me so happy. And, exactly one week from today, I will marry my favorite person in the world.
August 1st, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
[…] feeling my body linger on the cusp of sleep deprivation in the midst of Bean’s early toddlerhood. One year ago I was eating peaches and watching finches and feeling ready for anything. It’s funny, having a […]