September Serenity: Farmhouse Transformations, Pet Adventures & August’s Best Reads

A monthly list of good things to see, buy, read, and watch – curated for you with care and personal insights.

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As the warmth of late summer begins its gentle fade, the month of September always arrives with a unique blend of emotions for me. On one hand, it’s a truly special time, marking our anniversary and a beloved birthday, not to mention the bounty of the garden’s final, glorious produce. On the other, there’s a bittersweet acknowledgment that the long, sun-drenched days I cherish so deeply are drawing to a close. For two glorious months, I’ve been privileged to wake up to breathtaking sunrises painting the hills through our windows, a daily spectacle that truly sustains my spirit.

Thankfully, the Pacific Northwest often graces us with a beautifully extended summer into September, offering a reprieve before the true autumnal shift. So, while the temperatures will inevitably begin their seasonal dip, I’m holding onto hope for many more days of those stunning sunrises, embracing this transition with gratitude for the good things each month brings.

Good Things List: Celebrating Life’s Simple Joys

Our Farmhouse Renovation Journey: One Year Later

This charming photo of our farmhouse, taken around mid-August, captures a moment of tranquil beauty. I deliberately left the foreground flowers in their natural state – some charmingly in need of deadheading – to keep it real! It’s hard to believe it’s been a full year since we completed the extensive exterior renovation, culminating in that fresh paint job and new roof last summer. Every time I look at it, I’m filled with a sense of pride and contentment.

The transformation from when we first moved in is truly remarkable. From addressing foundational issues to aesthetic updates, every step has contributed to making this house feel more like home. We’ve received such lovely comments from neighbors who express their happiness at seeing the house cared for and brought back to life. Hearing their appreciation for our efforts, especially regarding the critical foundation work, is incredibly gratifying.

While there are still areas inside the house awaiting their turn for renovation, I’ve created a dedicated Farmhouse Renovation page. This resource makes it easy to explore all the “before” tours, track our progress updates, and see the dramatic “before-and-after” reveals of our projects. My goal is to continually update this page as we tackle other areas, offering a comprehensive look at where we started and where we are in this ongoing remodel. I sincerely hope our journey provides inspiration for your own home projects – if we can do it, anyone truly can!

Explore the 1900 Farmhouse Renovation page here for a full overview.

Kayaking with Jynx: Discovering an Affordable Dog Life Vest

My first attempt at taking our small dog, Jynx, kayaking with me was, shall we say, less than successful. She was absolutely terrified, clinging to my lap and making it impossible to paddle effectively. It was clear I needed a new approach, not only for her comfort but for our safety. So, I decided to try again, this time equipping her with a proper safety dog life vest and positioning her in front of me, rather than on my lap.

As you can see from the adorable photo above, it worked wonders! While Jynx was still a little nervous at first, the vest gave her a sense of security. She quickly became curious, looking all around as I easily paddled with her nestled comfortably between my knees. It was a completely different, much more enjoyable experience for both of us, turning what could have been a stressful outing into a delightful adventure.

Many dog life vests can be quite an investment, often ranging from $20 to $30 or more. Since I wasn’t entirely sure if Jynx would even take to kayaking, I was hesitant to spend a lot. That’s why I was thrilled to discover this particular dog vest, which I found for about half the usual price, especially with a fantastic 40% off coupon available at the time. My expectations were modest given the price, but I was genuinely surprised by its quality.

The vest is remarkably sturdy, making it incredibly easy to lift Jynx safely in and out of the kayak using the convenient handle on the back. Putting it on her is a breeze: it slips over her head (comfortably, not tight), then secures with one large Velcro strap and two strong buckles. This design ensures a snug and secure fit without being restrictive. Jynx walks around easily in it and shows no signs of discomfort when it’s put on or taken off. This affordable find has truly been a game-changer, allowing us to include Jynx in our outdoor activities. She’s like many dogs – giving the most heartbreaking look when she can’t join in the fun – so having this option means no one gets left behind anymore!

Discover this great Dog Life Vest for your furry friend here.

August’s Literary Harvest: Dive Into My Latest Reads

August proved to be a diverse month for my reading list, spanning powerful classics, heartwarming romances, and thought-provoking memoirs. Here’s a closer look at what I’ve been diving into:

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston. This literary masterpiece has been on my radar for years, constantly cited as an “American classic” and one of the “100 Most Influential Books.” Finally reading it this month, I realized immediately that my initial preconceptions about its subject matter were quite off. I had anticipated a more straightforward historical narrative about Black life in the early 20th-century American South. Instead, I was enveloped by a narrative crafted with unparalleled lyrical beauty and poetic depth.

Ms. Hurston’s writing style is simply mesmerizing. She tells the poignant story of Janie, whom we meet as a young girl and follow through her journey of self-discovery, navigating a complex world and three marriages. Her prose contains phrases that compel you to pause and reflect on their profound accuracy and unique descriptive power. For instance:

“She sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon its amber fluid was drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst of the day.”

“Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches”

“In the cool afternoon the fiend from hell specifically sent to lovers arrived at Janie’s ear. Doubt.”

We traverse a demanding path alongside Janie, much of it difficult to witness. Yet, through every trial and heartbreak, we bear witness to her growing confidence, her enduring belief in love, and her evolving understanding of the world. It is a story of resilience, self-actualization, and the search for authentic love, cementing its status as a timeless classic for truly profound reasons.

A Modest Independence by Mimi Mathews

A Modest Independence, Mimi Mathews. This delightful book is the second installment in a series whose first book I reviewed previously (see the review here). While the first book remains my personal favorite, I thoroughly enjoyed this continuation. This story follows the distant relation-companion from book one and the lawyer-friend, as they embark on an intriguing journey together. Their quest to solve a mystery takes them through the challenging landscapes of 18th-century India. As they face various hardships and share profound experiences, a tender affection slowly blossoms between them. I particularly appreciated the detailed travelogue aspect of the narrative; it offered a fascinating glimpse into the realities and difficulties of travel during that historical period. The story provides a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion, offering a well-deserved “happily-ever-after” to the budding romance hinted at in the first book. This is a wonderfully “closed-door” romance, yet it successfully delivers all the emotional depth and connection that fans of the genre cherish.

Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struthers

Mrs. Miniver, Jan Struthers. My decision to pick up this book was based on an interesting tidbit I’d read: that this novel, which inspired the Academy Award-winning film starring Greer Garson, was supposedly instrumental in boosting English morale during WWII and encouraging American support. However, after reading it, I must confess I was somewhat bewildered.

The book itself is a series of vignettes chronicling the everyday life of a well-to-do mother in England. Chapters detail mundane activities such as what they eat, where they go for holidays, the clothes they buy for school, and other domestic diversions. Because it was originally published as a series of newspaper articles, each chapter often stands alone, with little direct continuity or overarching plot. I kept waiting for a clear connection to WWII or anything that would inspire a “carry on” spirit, but it simply wasn’t there. There were only a couple of brief mentions near the end about children being sent to the countryside, some goods becoming scarce, and fitting for gas masks, but these felt like minor footnotes rather than central themes. The book predominantly portrays a family navigating their time and place through ordinary events. I’ve since learned that the famous movie adaptation significantly diverged from the book, setting the narrative *during* the war and introducing entirely new plot material to achieve its powerful wartime message. This explained the disconnect I felt – the book is fundamentally a snapshot of pre-war English domesticity, not a wartime epic.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

Nora Goes Off Script, Annabel Monaghan. This contemporary romance was exactly what I needed: a light, thoroughly enjoyable read that offered a charming peek behind the scenes of writing for television and movies. It’s a sweet story with surprising depth, and the characters felt incredibly real and relatable. Nora, a seasoned writer of Hallmark-style TV movies, has a successful career with numerous scripts under her belt. A divorced mom living in an old house, she channeled the heartbreak of her failed marriage into a script that is now being developed into a major theatrical film with big-name stars. When the film crew descends upon her rural home to begin shooting, she encounters the hunky male lead, who happens to be going through a personal crisis. You can imagine where that leads! The narrative is beautifully balanced with lovely, quiet moments of bonding over shared sunrises and coffee, contrasted with genuinely funny scenes, such as when Nora’s new “friend” meets her curious group of school moms. It’s a heartwarming story about new beginnings, healing, and finding love in unexpected places.

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet by Shauna Niequist

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet, Shauna Nieguist. This particular memoir was, unfortunately, a disappointment for me. Shauna Niequist’s previous works have consistently landed on my year-end best lists, offering profound “a-ha” moments grounded in faith and insightful life lessons that deeply resonated. My expectation for this book was similar, seeking those moments of clarity and spiritual growth. Instead, this memoir focuses on her family’s significant life change: leaving their long-time hometown, where she had grown up and knew everyone, to move to New York City for her husband to attend school. The narrative largely delves into the specifics of their new apartment, their neighbors, the local eateries they frequent, and the types of drinks she orders. While these details paint a picture of their new life, they weren’t what I personally sought to spend my reading time on, feeling a bit tangential to the deeper reflections I anticipated from her.

Furthermore, a significant point of irritation for me was her mention early in the book of a “big” event that transpired within their church in their hometown. She states, “it wasn’t my story to tell,” yet this unspecified event clearly informed almost *all* of her thoughts, angst, and internal struggles throughout the rest of the book. What made this particularly frustrating is that the details of this situation are widely available and “all over the internet.” To refer to it constantly without providing her perspective felt like a cop-out. It undeniably *was* her story to tell from her viewpoint, especially since she essentially wrote a book about its profound aftermath on her family. (For those curious, I had to look it up: her father is the founding pastor of a well-known church who was involved in a public scandal and had to step down.) Have any of you read this book? I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts on this aspect.

Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix

Remedial Rocket Science, Susannah Nix. I picked up this book during a sale, and it proved to be another engaging contemporary “closed-door” romance, albeit one that kicks off with a one-night stand. In fact, the initial premise evolves into something of a cautionary tale about one of the many reasons to perhaps avoid one-night stands: you never truly know when or where you might encounter that person again – or even end up working alongside them! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It features a strong, intelligent female character who is confident and highly capable in her professional life. As the narrative unfolds, we see her growth as she learns to navigate and become more confident in social situations with people who are quite different from her. There are additional books in this series, though they are designed as stand-alones. While I’m not sure if I’ll read the others, this particular installment was a nice, light, and very satisfying read.

Entertainment Highlights: What We Watched (and What Missed the Mark)

August wasn’t a huge month for our screen time; we often found ourselves enjoying the last vestiges of warm evenings reading outdoors or simply being out and about. And honestly, the few things we *did* watch didn’t quite hit the mark, which makes them a bit tricky to include on a “good things” list. For those curious, we watched Stranger Things 4, The Gray Man, and Uncharted. My overall impression for all three can be summed up in one word: ugh. While Stranger Things 4 had its moments, it felt a bit stretched, struggling to maintain the tight pacing and originality of earlier seasons. The Gray Man, despite its star-studded cast, offered a fairly generic action-thriller plot that lacked significant innovation or character depth. And Uncharted, as a video game adaptation, unfortunately failed to capture the engaging spirit and charm of its source material, delivering a somewhat diluted big-screen experience. Sometimes, a relaxing read truly trumps a disappointing screen.

That wraps up another edition of my “Good Things List”!

If you’re eager to discover more of what I’ve been enjoying, you can explore all my previous Good Things Lists right here. I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts – have you tried any of these recommendations? Or perhaps you have some wonderful things you’d recommend to me? Please feel free to leave a comment below and share your insights!

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