Labor Day U.S.: celebrated on the first Monday in September in honor of the American Labor Movement. I am fairly sure that most of the current U.S. population do not have a clue what that is. Labor Day is the “end of Summer” holiday for most … including me.

Almost always, at least as a property owner in Northwest Montana, Labor Day weekend has been a time of thinking about and starting property prep for Winter.

This year, my Labor Day list includes: prepping Wild Thing for sale (yes … I plan on selling Wild Thing), prelim house and window cleanup.

So.

Day 1.

This week’s cherry tomato haul … background is…

Wild Thing! I moved her out to allow access to water and power for wash and cleanup.

There were some issues with retracting leveling jacks. But WD-40 and a lift from a shovel resolved those. Pedal to the metal and out she came!

And then the power washer.

My current weekend task M.O. (modus operandi) is to work on my task list, with breaks, until noon-1:00 p.m. ish.

Today, Day 1, I did the off and on bit until 2:30 p.m.

I managed to get all set up and cleaned the front and 1/3 of one side in that time.

In my defense, this was all along with “outings with Emmett”! Walks, playing fetch, playing in the hose.

I feel the same!!!

Labor Day Weekend: Day 1.

***For the record … temps were a very pleasant 70ish … high was 73F late afternoon (my house)

Yes, I know … September follows my birthday in just two weeks, but the suddenly … it was hot and dry and kind of miserable up until the day after my birthday … and then…

It cleared (smoke) and cooled (by 20F degrees) and suddenly felt very Autumn-like.

I was afraid to believe!

But, it has stayed cool-warmish, i.e. NOT hot and mostly not smoky.

Every morning, I look at the weather expecting some return to heat and smoke …

So far, we seem to be firmly entrenched in normal: low to mid-70’s F daytime and lovely cool nights (40F).

And suddenly, it is September 1 with Labor Day weekend approaching!

The weekend is forecast to be warm-slightly hot at 80F for Friday-Saturday-Sunday! There is some chance of return of smoke…

No problem here.

Emmett and I will be home, enjoying the woods and the yard and the hose …

I have some indoor video projects to keep me busy!

And we will take naps :)

Suddenly September and lovely weather and much to enjoy at home.

There is a weather phenomenon called a singularity. It is “a characteristic meteorological condition that tends to occur on or near a specific date more frequently than chance would indicate”. Here, in Northwest Montana, we have or did have an August Singularity for August 24-26: a very cool, cold event. Locals and particularly local fire fighters are on the alert for the singularity as it has often given an opportunity to get a leg up on wildfires.

In the 27 years that I have lived in this part of Montana, I have experienced and enjoyed this weather phenomenon many times.

This year … after a 6 day heat wave that was forecast to end on my birthday: August 16, we have experienced a dramatic cool down AND rain!

I look each morning at the forecast to see when we will return to heat and smoke … shuush!!! so far, nothing more than 76F is forecast for the forecast future.

It feels like early Autumn.

As I told a friend, I am enjoying and ignoring the future.

So cool outside, that I brought in two trays of microgreens!

The first non-cherry tomato … Manitoba Tomato … is ripening!

Front Porch gardening: 2 Fuchsia are doing well, kale has been harvested from the rolling planter with remaining herbs and flowers all good, microgreens, impatiens, “rock garden” and other herbs are all flourishing!

Afternoon sun …

Morning mist.

32 days until official Autumn, but we are having respite from summer and a preview of autumn.

I have many, many favorites of all of my pets, but this photo always sticks in my mind. It was an incredibly lucky capture of Auggie and Emmett … in sync.

Walk this way.

Sailing Vessel Sunrise, on corrected time, won the overall. The skipper gave an impressive recap!

In my favorite class: IMOCA 60, Charlie Dalin and co-skipper Paul Meilhat took a VERY impressive first!

Above video is also a great summary of conditions and perspective.

A legendary race in extreme conditions.

It was an incredible race to follow,

Kudos to all of the Rolex Fastnet team and to all competitors. Thank you for a spectacular show!

I am writing this as I approach the end of my 66th trip around the sun … actual birthday being tomorrow, August 16. As it (tomorrow birthday) is a work day and I have had several weeks with various work interruptions, I decided to take this weekend for getting my birthday kicks!

The weather is not exactly cooperating, but it is as forecast: hot and VERY smoky. The good news is that is due to change Monday into Tuesday and then … AND THEN!! we are forecast to be cooler than normal for the forecast future and hopefully more rain and less smoke. NOAA claims the weather models are in good agreement for the cool … the rain is still literally up in the air.

So. A mostly inside weekend. Seriously, the smoke is so thick that it makes me feel a bit ill to be outside so I doubt it is good for Emmett either. We do a lot of very short outings for a little walk and a little play in the hose. Thankfully, it has been cooling overnight which is an improvement over the last heat events.

I had planned on going to a kitten adoption event on Saturday (yesterday) … same rescue organization where I found Auggie … but for the 2nd time (they do these once a month), I backed out. Auggie’s loss was brutal and although I miss having a cat as well as missing Auggie … I am finding it very difficult. I thought, ok … a birthday cat or kitten, but when it came down to it, I just could not.

So, I baked and made cherry preserves (from local cherries … thank you @MontanaMilkMoovers!) …

And, harvested more of the “Husky” cherry tomatoes and some peppers. The pepper plants look good, but they have not made new peppers. The existing bell peppers turned/are turning red per their variety. The jalapeno are turning red also which is supposed to make them sweeter, but OMG – they are all hot, compared to grocery store jalapeno! But it is a good hot … at least to me. I am thrilled that the tomato plants have lots of tomatoes and both cherry tomato plants have green/turning red at a great rate for my personal consumption.

Elsewhere in the front porch garden, one of the fuchsia pegged out. It is the one that had the mix of colors and was the latest purchase. They were all doing well and I fed/watered all the same, so I don’t know why that one was not happy. And it was very sudden as in all of a sudden it looked terrible. I pulled out dead parts hoping that would give the remaining bits energy to recover, but this morning, I put it out of its misery :(

Everything else, is beautiful at the moment and depending on how weather looks next weekend, I might do some perennial buying … I am thinking lavender for one thing and need to do a bit of research and/or ask advice at the nursery.

Regarding advice … so with the resolution of my financial situation re the house … at the close of that, I asked the person helping me if the bank had any financial planning service. They did and I made contact and I could absolutely kick myself (VERY HARD!) for not doing this sooner. I thought I knew things, but I did not. At any rate, I am so pleased with some additional options that are in the works.

Other advice kind of things. Some little time ago, I happened on a YouTube channel: Bob & Brad – YouTube. Bob and Brad are physical therapists. They post daily videos as well as other social media … I have only looked at their YouTube. Physical Therapists are experts in body mechanics and over the years have been very helpful to me when I’ve had various issues … the most recent was late 2019-early 2020 with my shoulder. I’m not sure how Bob and Brad’s YouTube came to my attention, but I have used a number of their techniques to great success. Plus, they are fun and funny as well as informative and helpful. A lot of their videos are geared to “Seniors” and in addition to problem solving, they also post “problem prevention” videos like:

I do not watch every single video, but I pay attention and watch ALL of the preventative.

My other recent YouTube find is Earth & Owl – YouTube . This is a channel devoted to rebounding (mini-trampoline) workouts. I have a mini-trampoline and do my bouncy-bouncy nearly every day. I recently added a “bar” for confidence. Nikki has a plethora of video workouts from 5 in 5 minutes to 15 minutes and longer. From beginner to advanced. AND, a number of the videos feature her grandmother bouncing along with doing modified beginner/low impact versions.

I am still somewhat beginner but I go back and forth between Nikki’s and Grandma’s versions as I am comfortable. If you have never “bounced” and think it is too easy to just bounce … HA … so not! One of the best benefits per science is the aid to lymphatic circulation. Great research by NASA as well as by many of the well respected medical organizations. Increasing lymphatic circulation boosts the body’s immune functions including fighting things like cancer. And this benefit is even if you nothing more than the “health bounce” which is just lifting your heels!!

The mini-trampoline set up is not expensive ($500 will get a great trampoline and bar), you don’t need a lot of space and it is fun!

As I enter my 67th year, I am determined to do what I can to make sure that I can do the things I love as long as possible. That includes learning new things, eating well, sleeping well, moving my body, loving my daily life and last, but certainly not least … teaching and playing and loving Emmett.

Here, we go … gettin’ my kicks as I turn 66!!