September is nearly gone and I am still not quite certain where it went – kinda how I feel about my mind some days.

September has definitely been a busy month for us as Jess got back into full swing teaching 6th grade language arts at Traverse City East Middle School, Will started preschool 2 days a week ( half days ) at Eastern Elementary, we took the boat out of the water, finalized our fall “to do” list, became members of the Grand Traverse Resort, and I have begun weekly tennis classes there.  Work for me has been insane, the days have been mostly sunny, the nights too short, and I finally finished reading my latest Christopher Moore book.  The summer plants have been replaced with mums and pumpkins, the grass doesn’t need cut quite as often (  I had been paying my 8 year old neighbor Brian $5 to cut it, so that extra 5 spot means the return of weekly boxed wine for this guy!  ), and I am still making really bad jokes all around.  Seriously.  They’re pretty bad.

But given the flurry of days, Will has kept things in perspective with his “ice soup” recipe and lazy days with a pumpkin, his tractor, and Elmo.  Because when it comes right down to it, a fella doesn’t need much more than a big vegetable, a good buddy, and something to haul it all around in…