Just Me & My Moments in August – Dreaming of Fall
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Here you will find a collection of ideas, tips, and just thoughts. I love to share everything happening in my abundant life and what inspires me.
Welcome to Just Me & My Moments! It’s a little space where I share the bits and pieces that make up my everyday life. From small joys to honest reflections, it’s all about capturing the moments that shape who I am. Nothing fancy, just real life, simple and meaningful, and one moment at a time as a widow.
I’m so happy you are here!
Y’all, August in Central Florida is doing exactly what August does. The heat where you walk from the car to the mailbox and come back looking like you swam there. Just watering the flowers or working in the yard starting at 7 am now feels like punishment, and I’ve made peace with the fact that my hydrangeas and other flowers in my yard are done for the year. They can’t do the heat either. But August is really just the last stretch before the good part. Every year around this time I start dreaming about cooler mornings to walk Miss Dixie, even though it’s still in the 90’s outside. It’s coming. I can feel it.
And with August comes my favorite kind of dreaming, because football season is finally back. Even though its preseson, it’s football for me. There’s something about Saturday and Sunday once the games are on, a little bit of order is restored to the universe, my low carb snacks are figured out, my spot on the couch claimed with Miss Dixie at my side, and honestly, there’s a comfort in a routine like that, one that shows up the same way every fall no matter what else is going on in life.
I’ll be honest, though, this time of year always brings up Mr. G for me. Football season was our thing, the back and forth about our rival teams, the trash talk that was really just love wearing a jersey. I miss that. I miss him showing up every single Saturday and Sunday with an opinion he was fully prepared to defend to the death, and I miss having somebody in my corner to argue with about it. Missing him comes and goes, but football season always brings it right back up to the surface. I think that’s okay though. The people we love leave marks on our favorite seasons, and maybe the sweetest way to carry them is to let a Saturday and Sunday afternoon remind us of them instead of trying to forget.
So that’s where I am this August. Hot, hopeful for fall, and settling back into my football weekend routine with a little bit of both joy and really missing my person. I think that’s just what it means to get older and keep living life fully. I hold the happy and the bittersweet in the same hand and keep going anyway. God’s been good to me through all the seasons, the easy ones and the harder ones, and I trust He’s got this one too.
How about y’all? Are you counting down to fall yet, and does football season bring back any memories of your own? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
This is my go-to fall candle, and it is SO FALL and so affordable (under $12) and burns for 52 hours. I grab one every year, and this year I will use my vintage-looking candle warmer.
Make this your first choice for a fall candle this year.
🚗 MAJOR PURCHASE: I did a thing this month. Something I have never done by myself. I purchased a new-to-me car. I had been doing my research for several months, watching pricing and checking on what my trade-in would be, all to replace my 2013 Hyundai Tucson. Then I accidentally came across a car I was interested in. I went to the dealer, and almost four hours later, I drove home in my purchase. I was pleased with the deal, and I stood my ground on my budget. After I signed the papers, tears came to my eyes. I did that all by myself, for the very first time in my life. I have been part of a few car sales, but not alone. Another stepping stone to becoming independent. ☺️
🐕🦺DIXIE’S CORNER: Hey, cute little dog fans! Football season is here again, and Mom is acting all kinds of crazy on that couch. She’s yelling at that TV, jumping up one minute, then real quiet the next. I don’t get it, but I stay right by her side just in case something goes wrong or if a snack happens to fall my way. Sometimes she yells so loud I jump and look at her face, then she pets me and says “it’s okay Dixie” but she don’t look okay! Then a couple minutes later she’s jumping up happy, and I get excited too even though I don’t know why. I just know when Mom happy, I happy. Football season is confusing, but I guess it means extra snuggle time, so I’m not complaining one bit. See you next month!
🍅 TOMATO PIE: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place 5 peeled and sliced tomatoes in a colander, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 10 minutes. Pat dry. Make sure the juice is gone, or it will make the pie really runny. Layer tomatoes, 10 chopped fresh basil leaves, and 1/2 cup chopped green onion in 1 pre-baked 9-inch pie crust. Season with salt and pepper. In a bowl, mix 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 cup shredded cheddar, and 3/4 cup mayonnaise. Spread over the tomato layer. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.
🎃 FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: The original Jack O’Lantern was not a pumpkin since they don’t grow in Ireland. On All Hallows’ Eve, the Irish traditionally hollowed out turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes, and beets. They then placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away.🎃
⛪ IN CLOSING: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven – Ecclesiastes 3:1
Something to chew on
“Growing older changes you in ways you don’t expect. The need to impress fades, and all you crave is peace, a quiet life, balanced energy, and distance from anything that feels heavy.”
💗What I’m loving this month
- These adorable pumpkin mugs come in 3 different colors
- Cute little fall salt & pepper shakers
- This neck fan is perfect for working outdoors in the heat. One of my favorite purchases lately.
- The perfect t-shirt that helps to hide the upper arms. I have it in 3 colors now, and it’s TTS.
- If you travel a lot, you need this small travel mirror. It’s small enough for your suitcase but has a great light for putting on makeup.
- Have you heard of the Bug Bite Thing? I get bug bites every once in a while, which really bother me and itch for days. I had heard this little gadget really keeps the itching down. IT DOES!! You use it right after you have been bitten. For less than $10, it’s worth it.
- My favorite solar bird bath is for places where there isn’t sun all the time. The birds love it.
- I needed a small stick light in my office where it was really dark, and found one that I have only charged once since I bought it back in January. It’s on sale and has a couple. Worth. Every. Penny!!
What I’m watching, reading & listening to
📺 I thought hard about watching The Five-Star Weekend since the subject matter is about being a widow. But I’m glad I did. Friends are the backbone of our lives!
📺 I watched The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare on Netflix and my heart just ached for those families. It was asked several times why he would do something like that. I think he just wanted to see if he could get away with the perfect crime.
📺 Have you ever heard of the movie called The Shag? It’s an older movie based way back in the day with some young girls going to Myrtle Beach for spring break. It’s a classic, and you can find it on YouTube. Perfect way to end summer.
Let me know of any true crime stories you’ve watched in the comments.
What You Might Have Missed
My Fall Favs
Shop my favorite fall decor favorites.
Our Books and coloring books
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10
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Tammy
I’m a country girl living my geeky boomer life, while figuring out widowhood. Between digging in the dirt, my camera, thrifting finds, and cooking, I’m a child of God walking this next chapter with Him leading the way.
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I’m so glad fall is almost here. Summer has been absolutely brutal here, and I’m ready for cooler weather and changing leaves.