First day of school 2026

I started the dreaded task of working on the school room right after the birthday party at Grandma’s house.

It sorely needed attention after the summer of neglect.

First, though, I tried out my new prime 35mm camera lens Grandma gave me for my birthday.

Last big stack of the summer. I’ve finished the four on top but haven’t started the two on the bottom yet—I’ve been spending my leisure hours, and my birthday money, on watching Sanditon on Amazon Prime instead.

Buck kept me company while I started shoving things around—from behind his fence though, so I didn’t squish him with moving furniture.

After an hour, at my first coffee break, it almost looked inspiring!

Buck agrees, so inspired

But a few hours later the serious furniture moving began and the room entered the “worse before it gets better” phase.

At which point it was rather demoralizing.

Midweek, Ada started her first day of college, notwithstanding the fact that she’s going to the exact same school she went to last year and the year before, where she was enrolled in college classes. Now she’s really, truly in college, as in, only college and no longer concurrently in high school.

On Saturday we acquired a dog. Minnie:

Minnie is indefinitely but temporarily living with us while her owner is in physical therapy rehab. The very first day we brought her home, there was a thunderstorm, which terrified her in her already stressed state. She astutely identified the mommy and daddy of the household and curled up, trembling, as close as possible to our bed.

Minnie is doing much better now and although I’m sure she still misses her real family, she has become quite affectionate with us and I must admit to a self-esteem boost when she greets me at the door with enthusiastic tail wagging. Can you entirely despair in life when a dog looks you in the eye and her tail involuntarily starts waving?

We started school last Monday. I have such a little, tiny student population! *snif*

Minnie is not allowed in the school room since we value Buck’s life. If he catches a glimpse of her when the door opens he freaks out and runs around in panicked, counterproductive circles that only draw attention to himself. She hasn’t particularly noticed him and maybe they would end up the best of friends…but maybe not, so Minnie stays shut out.

I forgot to take the After pictures until a few days after we started, but the room did achieve perfect organization and cleanliness for the first day of school.

 

Late summer

Late summer means wondering if we’ve gotten our fill of lounging and swimming and sleeping in.

 

Late summer means going to the county fair.

Bunny barn was the first and most important stop.

I always enjoy the livestock barns too. This guy had on a Hawaiian shirt, very aura.

For some, late summer means fishing from the lake to stock up Grandpa’s little pond.

every grown-up: Drop in the fish gently, Jackson
Jackson: *spikes the fish like a game-winning football

Late summer means celebrating Grandma’s birthday.

And my birthday.

Any time of year means riding on the unfortunately-named (by Grandpa) Hanky Panky Blankie.

Summer means a cherry-seed-spitting contest, an event that brought one of Grandma’s chickens running.

Late summer means hoping you got enough leisure in to last you through the long school year about to start.