September: Learning to Make More From What I Have

September has been a little bit of everything.

A little cooking.

A little experimenting.

A little time outside.

And a lot of figuring out things I enjoy doing just because I enjoy doing them.

Preserving Summer

One of the things I’ve been having fun with lately is learning how to make food last longer.

This month I experimented with the dehydrator — making chicken jerky, meat jerky, and drying fruit.

There is something satisfying about taking something simple and turning it into something completely different.

It reminds me why I enjoy cooking so much — not because everything has to be perfect, but because I enjoy the process of experimenting and being more intentional about what I make.

Growing Something Small

My little container herb garden has continued doing its thing.

What started as a few plants has turned into something I actually enjoy checking on.

I’ve always enjoyed growing things. Even when my kids were little, I had a small garden. Nothing huge. Nothing fancy. Just enough to remind me how satisfying it is to plant something and watch it grow.

Even a few herbs in containers can make a space feel a little more alive.

Getting Outside

Even though running has slowed down a bit, I haven’t stopped moving.

This month has included hiking, kayaking, and exploring places close to home.

Sometimes a trail close by is just as rewarding as a destination hundreds of miles away.

A Few Weekends Away

And of course, there was still time for adventure.

A weekend RV trip with my cousin took us out to the Ozarks — a chance to get away, spend time outside, kayak, and enjoy a little camping.

Bandit has fully claimed his role as camping partner.

He loves being outside, loves the water, and seems to think every trip is his personal opportunity to investigate everything.

And once we started camping, it was hard to stop.

The first weekend of October, we were back at it again — this time closer to home, camping and kayaking at a local lake.

There is something pretty great about realizing you don’t always have to travel far to feel like you’ve gotten away.

Back in the Kitchen

The experimenting continued with more food prep, including processing a pork roast into ground sausage and breakfast patties, with some already cooked and ready to stock the freezer.

I love that feeling of looking at something and thinking, “What else can I do with this?”

Enjoying the Season

September wasn’t about one big event.

It was a collection of small things.

A trail.

A kayak.

A meal made at home.

A weekend away.

A puppy who is growing up way too fast.

Just continuing to build a life I enjoy living.