"cause that's the way of time, nothing and no one goes unchanged"

Nearly everyone says autumn is their favorite season. For me, it's mixed with longing and nostalgia. I adore the radiant displays of colors, but the fact that it ushers in so much change makes me a bit melancholy. I don't accept change very well these days. So, naturally, I found myself struggling with some sadness most of the month of September. This is largely due to the fact that I reached the six month mark from when I last saw my family and friends. I have noticed this pattern ever since I moved away from my first home in fall of 2013. I can make it pretty well for awhile and enjoy my life without them, but after six months of not being with them I am overcome by enormous waves of homesickness and longing. Needless to say, all the feels came on strong in September. Darn my intense emotions! Also, the end of summer and beginning of autumn season has always marked huge transitional changes during my 20s. In 2009 August, I was given a terribly rude awakening when a very close friend (who I thought was going to be in my life forever) betrayed me and I was forced to wake up to reality and make some decisions about my life. In 2010 August, I came home from a Bible school to find that my parents' marriage was on the brink of its end and, also, we were moving away from our house that was dear to me for six years. In 2012 September, Nolan and I became engaged. In 2013 August-November, Nolan and I are started to prepare for our move to ABQ, NM. In 2014 October, my battle with chronic anxiety and pain began (a chapter which is coming closer and closer to a happy ending, thanks to the wonders of herbalism, nutrition, and physical therapy). So, as one can see, the entire period from August through November is mingled with hard, tragic, and good memories that spurred radical change in my life. The weight and reality of this is almost always on my mind. Thankfully, this autumn season hasn't been too eventful. September was mostly filled with routine and as dull as some days felt, I am happy to just feel a bit more settled here in Durango.

At the beginning of the month, I tried my hand at some grain-free English muffins, which tasted scrumptious with melted butter and raw honey drizzled on top. My husband made the delicious "James Monroe Punch" (an actual recipe put together by the James Monroe, yes!) with fresh grapes from his parents' vineyard that we juiced. It was divine! 

I came to the end of one of my goals this year by printing the past 3.5 years in photos. As I type this, I am waiting on the last batch of 300 photos (of all the ones I've taken in 2016 so far!) to arrive at my door soon. It will be added to the collection below. ^_^ It's pretty fun to finally have hard copies of our photos from our 3 years of marriage. We've seen and done so much and I am so glad I have become more intentional about taking photos. 

We spent a weekend picking more produce from the Rhodes' homestead. Apples, plums, pears, grapes, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, and more. Picking fruits and veggies there never grows old. I want to always remember the abundance of my husband's parents' home and hearts. The moments I have spent with them have been comforting and dear.

Beautiful Russian Sage!

I went on a little shooting excursion with my husband, sister-in-law, and her husband. As you can see, things got interesting...hehe! I'm all pro-gun and stuff, but personally, I don't really feel the sport is for me. >_<

And, as promised, some photos of our finished bedroom decor! While I still plan to re-finish and paint the bed frame at some point, I am done with purchasing pretty items for our space. Most of the ideas for our room came straight from Pinterest. I wanted to keep our space pretty simple and, as much as possible, fairly minimalist. There are lots more ideas I could have implemented in our space, but due to the budget going towards more important items (like the macrame wall display, macrame plant hanger, the Song of Solomon verse wooden sign, and the canvas prints of our engagement/wedding), I decided to keep it straight-to-the-point. The dried lavender hanging on the wall by the door is from our wedding day. Still a lovely reminder of our special day!

And one with the strings light on! Ooooo!

And thus ends another month! I leave you with a gorgeous and sultry Jazz tune, Everything Must Change, as sung by Oleta Adams. I was introduced to this song by a vocal instructor of mine years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. I sing it to myself to help myself through life transitions because music = peace in my being, even if it's a melancholy tune and the music makes me cry. Isn't it just divine that music is always a balm of healing?

Everything must change
Nothing stays the same
Everyone will change
No one stays the same
The young become the old
And mysteries do unfold
'Cause that's the way of time
Nothing and no one goes unchanged
There are not many things in life
You can be sure of
Except rain comes from the clouds
Sun lights up the sky
And hummingbirds do fly
Winter turns to spring
A wounded heart will heal
But never much too soon
Yes, everything will change
The young become the old
And mysteries do unfold
'Cause that's the way of time
Nothing and no one goes unchanged
There are not many things in life
You can be sure of
Except...
Except rain comes from the clouds
Sun lights up the sky
And hummingbirds do fly
Rain comes from the clouds
Sun lights up the sky
And hummingbirds do fly
Rain comes from the clouds
Sun lights up the sky
Hummingbirds do fly
Everything must change
No one stays the same
No one, no one
Everyone must change
Except the rain, the sun...
The music makes me cry