The end of the year is always my favorite, those BER months. You know, SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER. Maybe it is because they are closely related to my name amBER and subconsciously I did not even realize that until this year.
Honestly though, no, it is much more to me. These months bring in the cool chilly winds with the crispness of the fall air. The beauty from the sunrise beating on the leaves of color from the trees lighting up the world. The times I can go out in a hoodie and beanie and feel so cozy within and outside my home. The months that have many festive activities and holidays that make this time of year loving and cheerful. Halloween being an all-time favorite of mine, giving me the chance to binge watch some spooky movies with a fav of candy corn. Then November where my belly certainly gets full of whatever food we cook or our family shares around Thanksgiving. Then comes December, hopefully snow, but not normally, but at least I can still get up and walk-through frost tipped grass hearing it crunch beneath my boots. Waking up early in pjs to celebrate with others. Making time for loved ones to celebrate over the reason for the seasons, the gifts and goodies made, and so much more.
Yes, these months grow to mean more and more to me with each new year and with this makes the cherished time go by faster and faster each new year as well. The more we grow to do, the more our days, weeks, weekends get packed full of family fun and things to do causing the minutes to swiftly pass us by.
I wrote once before on the traditions this time of year brings me and my husband and now I would like to share moments with family that made this specific year special and how it continues to grow in traditions each new year that comes around.
First off we took a trip for the first time in forever with several family members. It was a trip to a new part of town and the hilly countryside was quite nice. The neighborhood streets were filled with deer and fawn grazing on the grassy yards of those living there. The Airbnb was very accommodating, so accommodating we stayed there the remainder of the days not leaving once. Walking out onto the back porch with a morning coffee was nice as it overlooked everything that lied below such as horses roaming in the fields and deer rounding the ponds and feeders set out. It was very peaceful and beautiful. Aside from this we played our family fun games we try to do when we are together such as Scattagories previously mentioned and an added one of family feud. It was fun even with my team losing each round.
Another trip made was a day trip by me and my husband far away with my sister and them. We stopped by a small Pioneer Museum first and it was quite unique. Not only did we find out some fascinating facts of the town and our state, but I ran across some history artifacts of coffee and of course had to share them. The first picture seemed to show an old container that could have held coffee and was found in the schoolhouse. Next to it was a quote in German that reads like this:
"Work makes life Sweet, Laziness stiffens the Bones."
The second picture was taken within an 1800s local general store that was an add on to a family home. Some of the items it sold included Folgers coffee in a glass jar and if you can see it towards the back, a Maxwell coffee container as well. What was so neat was to run across things like this. I once was not fond of history but the more and more I try to see and learn then more I become intrigued to know where we all came from and where we are all going.
Not only these coffee things were a good find, but we did a wine tasting, something I had always thought would be neat to do, and also the lady who greeted us had been surprised me and my sister were twins. (We run across that a lot though). Then we of course had to stop off at the small coffee shop on the street and followed this by eating at the small diner that was not packed which was surprising. The food was incredible and different with their own recipe of sauces and different forms of beef and meat additions. Cheese curds of goat milk and beef from Japan. Cheese fries covered in radish shavings and so much more. Things I would not normally like but found delicious.
Now lastly I have to share those little moments that swiftly passed throughout this time. First off, October being Halloween and my birthday is a time to mention. With my birthday I did not want to do anything, nor did I need any form of gift but of course my mom and sister and husband still got me some anyways. My husband brought home a cake that was misspelled along with a Harry Potter card. Now this cake represents Harry’s cake from Hagrid in the movies. It was sweet and thoughtful and what made this moment even better was the fact I wore my Deathly Hallows shirt this day to match it all, which was not even planned. As my gift I received my own Hogwarts trunk full of Hufflepuff items, Hedwig, an acceptance letter, and the jellybeans of awful flavors. I was like a kid in a candy store, so excited I cut my right eye with my letter waving it around, hints to why my eyes are closed in the one picture. I could not hold it open without it pouring out tears. What is even more neat is I received Harry Potter pj’s from my sister and now had a full set of attire to wear during the yearly Christmas Harry Potter marathon. Also, when it came to decorating my small Christmas tree area themed to Harry Potter has now grown with these new gifts.
Next came our 4th anniversary and the start of a new deer hunting season. Once more time to get up before the sun rises to make it to our hunting blind and get settled in before anything begins moving with the lights up. During this time our little tin toilet paper heater keeps us warm within the covered area and a thermos full of coffee surely helps aside from keeping us awake (even though my husband falls asleep regularly). This year I was able to get myself a thermos that I grew up watching my dad and grandpa drink from all day long on their trips or at home and now can take mine with me to drink out of it as well. To continue with this hunting season I was extremely excited because a buck had been showing up on our deer camera quite regularly and I just knew I would see it this year and it would be my chance. As long as I have been hunting and as many trips I have taken I have had maybe two chances to get a buck but never got it. Not because I shot and missed but because one time I did not get my gun up quick enough before it left my sites and the other I got down off my stand to quickly and scared it off just as it was walking up behind the tree line. So, in turn each year I hope I will see one and get it. Well, the second morning of hunting season there was something different. A few doe had made their way out of the brush and began eating but constantly looked up and around. They were shaken by something, and you could hear something was coming. I picked my gun up and waited, then I saw a set of horns above a bush. Not for very long but a quick second, but as soon as I did I pointed the gun out of the blind and waited for it walk into view which it did. It was not for very long, may be not even a minute, but was there. I was shaking with anticipation and excitement and nervousness. As soon as I went to pull the trigger my husband stopped me, and the buck was gone. He said if I shot I would have hit the zipper part of the blind because the gun was not all the way out of the window. I was so upset. Upset with my husband because he took away my chance but upset and disappointed within myself because I was so excited I overlooked the smallest detail of having a clear shot from the barrel. I waited for it to come back, but it did not. The doe ran off and with them so did the buck. I went a few times since then but lack the excitement and hope to see it again. I just knew I had lost my chance and it was just not in my cards to ever get a buck thinking what is the point. I can be hard on myself over the silliest and smallest things such as this and it does take me time to move past it. Of course, I did. I realized going hunting isn’t just about tagging a deer, but to me a moment of peace and calm. It is a time I can just sit there in nature and sip my coffee and enjoy what is around me. I had to remember this and tell myself no shot is better than a bad shot because I would rather miss the deer because I did not want to shoot and scare them off for good then shoot it and miss having to believe I am just cannot shoot. 😊
Lastly we have enjoyed attending community events with my nieces. We spend much time with them when we get together but during this time we attended much more. We took one of our nieces to the Fall Fest in the County Town and then joined along as we all went to the Community Wide Trunk or Treat. It was fun watching them run around for candy and games and photo op opportunities. Not only this but then we were able to enjoy an outdoor Christmas movie and tour the town with Christmas lights with them as well. When me and my husband first got together just the one niece has since turned into three. As they all continue to grow up, we continue to bring them all with us. It started as just the oldest joining in on these events such as fireworks fun and football games but now the middle one is old enough to tag along also. Soon, who knows, our youngest my be able to one day. 😉
Yes it is sad to see these months have once more left me, but all I can do now is look forward to this year as they will soon make their way back around.
How are those BER months for you?
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