September on the prairie is...

September on the prairie is...HARVEST. Seven letters spelling out a culture, climate, and a vibe all of its own. Harvest is busy days and action filled moments, keeping everyone's focus sharp. Harvest is repetition and familiarity and routine. Days when we think we know what's coming, until we are reminded that we don't.

Nothing says love like what's packed in a lunchbox. Eyes scanning the clock and mind on my work, I try to make the schedule work. Sliding the pan of smoked meat from the oven, I deftly wrap chicken thighs and smoked sausages in their appropriate wrappers. Drop in a bag of chips. Slide in an ice pack for the drinks. Choose drinks per the palate and the diet of the individual receiving the lunchbox. A little something sweet is added. I cut up the apples and drop them in the lemon water wash so they won't turn brown. Oh yes, and a napkin! And a little barbecue sauce in a cup. I zip each lunch box up.

Now where are all they all at? I wonder. On the road? In the field? Coming by the house? I call Jackson since his two-way radio isn't working. "Do you want to drop by the house for your lunch? Or do you want me to leave it out in the field somewhere?" He tells me he'll drop by the house for it. Scooping up the remaining lunchboxes, I head out the door.

Dry, hot wind blows. The dust swirls as I drive down 30th road. At the field, I drive to one end to find Josh. After delivering his lunch box and getting one of his signature grins, I drive around the half section to the other side. There I meet the grain cart driver and the combine driver. In turn, I deliver each of them their love in a lunch. I'm lucky enought to be able to take my own lunch and climb into the combine cab with the combine driver. While the dust swirls and the combine chews throught the field, we ride in campanionable togetherness. We catch up on current events. We compare notes on the day. We ask each other for advice. It's the kind of togetherness that comes from years of doing this together.

When we get back to the end where my expedition is parked, the combine driver gets out for a few minor repairs; I climb down too. There's too much work waiting at home to be just sitting in the field. I decide I'll walk to my expo. The combine had worked over to a new section of field so my waiting vehicle is now a little walk away. It is 100 degrees. The wind is blowing. I still decide I'll walk to it. By the time I get there, I am happy to climb in and shut the door behind me on the dust and wind outside.

September on the prairie is...CHANGE. Summer vacation mornings morph into school mornings. Late bedtimes become try-to-go-to-bed-on-time events. But harvest reveals deep challenges in this area. Everyday play dresses are exchanged for freshly sewed and crisply ironed new school dresses. Schedules of our own choosing are exchanged for school day schedules, complete with getting to use all those newly purchased school supplies.

Housewives all over the prairie turned their calender pages to September. Summer suns glowed rich and hot, completely unaware of the change of the calendar. One hundred degrees had reigned supreme for so many days in a row that prairie dwellers hardly thought anything else was possible. The wind blew gustily. Dust blew as the seasons struggled together. The fierce temperatures could not hold their ground; by afternoon there was that rich tingle in the air that hailed FALL. September's metamorphosis was complete.

September on the prairie brings...LIBRARY DAYS. With the return of the school year in September came the return of my Thursday afternoon pilgrimages to the little cubicle bearing the name SCHOOL LIBRARY. In anticipation of these Thursday afternoons spent in said cubicle, I went to Menards and picked out paint. A deep rich forest green color that made one think of places other than prairies. Enlisting my ever-faithful spouse's help, we spent two evenings turning that little room into a forest-like retreat. I perused amazon for library decor and hit the add to cart or add to Thursday's delivery as seemed appropriate.

It brought a nod to nostalgia of the past to be at school on summer afternoons decorating a space to be enjoyed. I loved every minute. And when I had hung the decorations and spread the new library rug and arranged the little chairs and table just so...I stepped back to admire the results. I couldn't wait to get started.

That first Thursday afternoon they came in shyly. With shining eyes and eager anticipation, they listened to the new rules and then drifted towards the reason they were here: the BOOKS. All the effort I had expended in curating new finds for our little collection was paid in full, immediately. When I witnessed their excitement about the shining covers and the glossy pictures, I knew why I had put in the effort. The readers reverently lifted promising finds from the shelves, handling them, turning them over to read the summaries found on the back covers. Some readers found last year's favorites. Some just wanted a recommendation from the librarian for a good book. As their stacks grew, they lined them up on the counter, with their library card lying on the top of their stack. I began checking them out.

September on the prairie brings...SEWING LEADER DUTIES. September's change included the return of our montly sewing circle. My fellow sewing leader and I prepared. We set out the tables and the trash cans in the social hall of our chuch basement and perused the leftovers of last year's projects. Consulting the calendar of our congregation's upcoming wedding and events, discussing with the comforter committee as we went, our plans fell into place.

On sewing day, we got there bright and early. The coffee perked and the projects were started. Sewing sisters basked in the delight of conversation and togetherness after a summer of heat and drought and duties. The potluck meal sent off beckoning aromas while the chatting deepened to heart matters. Stitch by stitch, many hands accomplished much. When the day was accomplished, we had an astonishing stash of completed items. We cleaned up and put away and stored, making notes for next month's sewing day. With full hearts and tired feet we concluded: She hath done what she could.

And now...September blessings to you. Drop me a line in the comments or send it to me direct by selecting the 'contact' tab at the top of this page. I'd love to hear about your September days.

All the best,

Vanessa