Let's finish off September

After coming home from Utah, we still had a few days left of September to enjoy. This included the first Cyclocross race of the year!

This was Paul's first race since he upgraded to a new category, so he wasn't sure what to expect, but he did really well! I can't remember his exact place but I believe he was top 20 when he was hoping for top half of the field (of about 100 riders). His new cross set up he is pretty happy about, a new frame and the newest and greatest in cross racing: disc brakes. Personally, I think it's his long hair that is making him ride like the wind. 

Ready, set, GO!

 And hey! I rode my bike that day too. :)

We stopped at Tummy Yummies on the way home. Could that sign be anymore unappetizing? I didn't think so but luckily we didn't get food poisoning. 

 

The Goates stayed at our house this weeekend and it was a real treat! Reuben loved our playground and didn't even let the rain stop him. 

(This afternoon I went to pick up the Hart's from the airport and while I was away our upstairs flooded and came through the ceiling through our kitchen cabinets! Who would've thought that an apartment on the second and third floor could flood twice - neither incident having to do with the two hurricanes we've had).

Once I stopped training for the marathon I gained some weight.

Or... maybe Target just decided to be real confusing with their new plus size. This is not the size 4 I was expecting. But I just wanted that past the knee and cutest bird print dress so bad. No belt could salvage it.

One very happy Tuesday Talksoft lunch day I convinced my co-workers to go to Princeton and go to the Art Museum. It was a real treat.  I wanted to go so bad because they were doing an exhibit on "Roots and Branches" and I do love my trees.  Witherspoon welcomed us to the ivy-covered building campus and the tree exhibit did not fail me (though my low-light iPhone photography did so please forgive).

This was the neatest thing. I hope it's real. First read this little newspaper clip from 1914.

And the photograph that it describes:

(Hint, look in the trees on the left side of the picture).

I am so happy that some people can paint in a way that makes the picture looks like it is glowing. And I especially appreciate people who paint mountains too. Double win for this guy!

And hey!  A special treat! An original Cezanne. We have a print of another version of this painting hanging in our house (here! Day 25).

And look how Autumn was starting to come. Now all those trees are so naked and kind of sad, but I enjoyed the moments while the colors lasted.

One night I had to go to a training for the Catholic school I coach at. I arrived at this church, and it was dark and foggy and right then the bell tower starting going off and it just felt like I was in a scary movie.

I finally went on a post-marathon run about a week after coming back to New Jersey and this little groundhog was the best treat. He was so scared that he didn't scurry away like they usually do, he was just frozen in place to my delight. I miss these guys so bad now that the weather is warm and believe me, I was worried about them during Hurricane Sandy. 

I ran to my favorite little place and felt glad to be back in my New Jersey home. I loved being in Utah and Idaho visiting our families and enjoying our favorite scenery, but the good news is that I have those favorites in New Jersey now too! I've gotten used to the moss, the humidity, all the green and I really enjoy it here!

 That does it for September. October here we come.