Hello and welcome to Weekend Coffee Share #39! I’m glad you’re here. Please come on in, help yourself to a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at my coffee station and let’s chat.
It was a mainly sunny week with daytime high temperatures around 19C (66F). I had a fun week that included a day trip to Niagara Falls. Today is the first day of October, a new month, so I took a look back at September and appreciated the month just passed.
Here’s my summary of what made September special.
Health
Family Outing
Friendships
Sisters’ Time
Leisure
Photography: I enjoy taking photographs when I go outside. I’ve shared many images of nature, buildings, flowers, murals and sculptures on my blog. Here are two additional artworks that I like:
Reading: I finished seven books in September and updated my Books in 2021 page. I love opening a new book and see where the story takes me.
Travel: My sister and I took a day trip to Niagara Falls and had a fantastic time. We enjoyed sunny weather, stunning waterfalls and beautiful flowers. Good food and good conversation again. More details in a future post.
Writing: I wrote five blog posts and enjoyed hosting and blogging every weekend in September:
- My 10 Favourites This Summer
- Colourful Laneway Murals #SundayStills
- Going Back To School
- Recent Reads and Golden Finds
- Visiting Ward’s Island
Gratitude
Looking back, what made September special was the heartwarming social time that I had, either in groups with my family and friends, or one on one with my sister and my neighbour. On weekends, I enjoyed virtual coffee shares with my blogging community.
I’m grateful for all the good things that happened in September.
How was September for you?
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Natalie the Explorer 
You’ve had a blessed September! Keep the momentum.
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Thank you, Antoinette. October is off to a great start 🙂
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September for me was one of making new choices, over time, to reduce some of my on-line connections because….I was letting some of the time detract from my real life connections. So, I hosted a 30 day One Word/One Image photo challenge which was fun and stimulated a few on-line conversations between the participants and gave me time (and myself, permission!) to slow down somewhat. Today, 1 October, has been a day of contrasts…Spring season can bring thunderstorms and yes, they were dramatic in some areas nearby and then our State’s Premier resigned over potential misbehaviour in her role…and right in the midst of it all, Covid numbers of people getting vaccinated has improved so much we “can look forward to more freedoms” from 11 October.
I loved your summing up, the pretty hibiscus caught my eye as did that dessert with your sister. Thank you too Natalie for #WeekendCoffeeShare and I may or may not be back from time to time as you know. Today though I am proud to share the 74th and final story from a Woman of Courage. Take care, Denyse
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Hi Denyse, Good for you to host the 30 day photo challenge. I know I would feel burnt out if I blogged 30 consecutive days, even with just one word one image. I read about NSW Premier’s resignation. I hope you get to enjoy more freedom from Oct 11 on with no setback. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. You’re welcome to join any week in the future and no obligation to join every week. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Great to have you link up for #lifethisweek. Next week, the optional prompt is Water. See you at Denyse Whelan Blogs then too I hope. Denyse.
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Coincidentally, I’ll be on prompt 🙂 See you then.
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Hi Natalie – thanks for another great party. I’ve linked up my latest round up post of the last three months and left my comments turned on for a change of pace. Lovely to see what you’ve been up to over the last few weeks and especially enjoyed those last two sculptures – I could see how the words reflected onto the pavement on the last one – very clever.
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Hi Leanne, I’m glad you’ve left the comments turned on. I hope you keep them on. The Humanity art installation looks great at night with the words reflected on the pavement. Thank you for sharing your updates and podcast.
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The nice thing about looking back like this is counting your blessings, Natalie, and you’re very good at that. You deserved that happy month. Hope October is equally good 🤗💕
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Thank you, Jo. October is off to a great start. I’m counting my blessings for sure. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Sounds like you’ve had a good month 🙂 I look forward to seeing more about your Niagara trip – I was totally awed by those falls!
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Hi Sarah, Niagara Falls are incredible and amazing no matter how many times I’ve seen them. My sister and I had a superb trip. I’ll share my photos once I sort them out. Have a great weekend!
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It sounds like you had a great month, Natalie. I’m happy to hear your friend has recovered and you were able to chat on her milestone birthday. I love that your neighbor’s face lights up when you visit her! My mother’s face does the same. It’s a great feeling. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos. September was a good month for me, but it went way too fast! Enjoy the weekend. 🙂
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Hi Jill, I’m happy for my friend who has recovered, too. She’s been through a lot. My neighbour is a good role model for active living. We have another walk coming up. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Glad you had a good September! And I am drooling over that maple tart! The highlights of my month were, 1) Husband’s and my 30th anniversary, and 2) a break from the heat. I love fall!
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Happy 30th anniversary, Janet! I love Fall, too. The weather has been pleasant since September 1. October is usually beautiful here with the leaves changing colours. Have a great weekend!
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September gone in a blur for me. A highlight would be setting the boy up for success at university, him dealing with catching COVID in the first week…moving on and sorting himself out. It’s been good to hear his tales. Love seeing your blue skies and a different part of the world. Thanks
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I hope your son recovered well from COVID. He seems to handle his first year at the uni and away from home very well. The weather has been pleasant here. Tomorrow the daytime high temperature is 25C (77F) with humidity. I’ll try to capture more snapshots of the blue skies.
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Thanks Natalie, spoke to soon last night, a phone call and a wobble..think it’s hitting home the change to adulthood. I look forward to the pictures 😊
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A change to adulthood is a big deal. It’s great that you’re available to listen and provide support.
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Hi, Natalie – I agree that family and friend time is simply the best. Wishing you an equally awesome October!
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Thank you, Donna. I’m glad how everything came together for me to have these special social events in September. Have a wonderful October!
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September is my favorite month and it sounds like it could be yours also. I love that the weather is usually still pretty nice but the tourists have gone home and the kids are in school. I’m looking forward to hearing about your trip to Niagara Falls!
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Hi Janis, I think September here has the best weather to be out and about. I love the lack of crowds, too. My sister and I had a superb time in Niagara Falls. I’ll do a post about it soon.
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I loove that Humanity work – we had a similar one for VIVID one year -0 100 ways to say I love you, I think it was called.
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The Humanity art installation looks great at night with the words reflected on the pavement. I remember seeing some of your beautiful VIVID photos.
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I love that Humanity art installation Natalie and always enjoy reading your posts looking at how your month went. You take lovely photos and explain things very clearly. Can’t wait to read about your trip to Niagara Falls 🙂
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Thank you, Debbie, for your kind comment about my photos and my explanations. A visit to Niagara Falls is a must if you ever visit Toronto. My sister and I had a superb trip. I’ll do a write-up about it soon 🙂
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I’m glad you had this wonderful social time (and the nice weather and the outings). Being with friends and family is so special these days, especially when good food, conversation, and even an excursion are part of it! That dessert at the pub looks delicious!
I’ve been thinking about you these last two days, Natalie, as I walked along the lakefront and through the high rise buildings in Chicago. It all reminds me a bit of Toronto. Although the skyline of your city seem from the islands can’t be reproduced here!
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Hi Liesbet, I was glad everything came together for my social outings in September, from beautiful weather to family and friends’ availability and we all had a great time. My sister and I had an amazing trip to Niagara Falls.
When I visited Chicago, I also walked along the lakefront and took the river architectural tour. I liked Millennium Park and the Bean. I was interested in F. L. Wright architecture. I hope you’re enjoying your new camper truck and having a great time in Chicago.
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I can’t wait for your post about Niagara Falls! When I was in 4th grade we read a story in English class about the Niagara Falls and that is a story that stuck in my head all these years. nothing special about it really, and I do not know why I remember it, but I do!
September was a beautiful month with plenty of colours all around. When I am inside my apartment the big panorama windows showcase around 20 yellow birch trees at the moment, and some aspen trees in a distance. I love it! Thank you for the beautiful art and the coffee!
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Hi Maria, Your panoramic views sound amazing. Our Fall foliage here has been delayed due to the warm weather in September. Most of the trees are still green. Today daytime high temperature is around 25C (77F). Niagara Falls are spectacular. I’ll sort my photos to share soon. Enjoy your weekend!
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That is really warm weather! You’ll have your fall colours when my trees have lost their leaves 🙂
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I guess so. Next week’s forecast shows above normal temperatures here.
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I’m looking forward to your photos of Niagara Falls. I thought the falls were pretty spectacular when I visited. I’m glad September was social for you – it seems like such a lovely month and the weather didn’t play spoilsport. Thanks for sharing all the beautiful pics of nature as well as the city. Hope October is a good month!
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Hi Sanch, October is off to a great start. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to Niagara Falls. I’m fortunate to live not too far from Niagara Falls and have gone there many times, usually to take family or friends who visit Toronto to see Niagara Falls. I love seeing the falls at different times of the year.
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Given my bout with covid in September, I would have easily chosen the September you had, but that’s not how life works and I still feel blessed with the month I had.
Thanks for sharing yours.
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Gary, I’m glad you’ve recovered from covid-19 and hope your October is off to a great start.
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September was a lovely month. I can’t wait to see what October brings. As always, thanks for hosting Natalie.
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Thank you for stopping by Shari. Have a wonderful weekend and fabulous October!
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It sounds (and looks) beautifully balanced – as months should be. Thanks for hosting each week, Natalie.
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Thank you, Jo, for linking up. October is off to a great start. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Great update Natalie. My hubby and I visited Niagra falls in 1994. I loved it. We are on vacation for the next week and as much as I wanted to do a post I decided I’d pass this week. I’ll have time next week to do one.
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Have a fantastic vacation, Kirstin. I look forward to your post next week when you return.
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You had a great September. Very nice.
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Thank you, Patrick. I hope you also had a great September.
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What a great way to remember your month. Sounds like you had some great outings.
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Thank you IM. October is off to a great start. Have a wonderful weekend!
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September for me is finally returning what seems normal. I went to a museum with my family for the first time since the start of the pandemic. I hope we keep going in that direction.
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That’s great to hear. I still do most of my activities outdoors even though museums, theatres, etc. have been opened here.
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I’m so happy you had such good times with friends and family. I had no idea asters are September’s birth flower. My birth date was supposed to have been at the end of September (it’s actually at the end of June since I was born prematurely). Would’ve sounded cool: Astrid’s birth flower as an aster.
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June is a beautiful month. I found out asters are September birth flowers thanks to my friend’s birthday.
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Thank you for the coffee Natalie! I loved looking back through Sept with you and all the beautiful photos, I just LOVE them. The aster’s pop, so pretty!! I’ll try and join in with a coffee share, I’m always so late but better late then never!! Have a wonderful week ahead! 💖🤠🥰
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Thank you, Diana. I look forward to your coffee share whenever you have time to post. Have a wonderful week!
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A lovely review of September, Natalie and that dessert with your sister, looks delicious. I always enjoy your photography and in particular the natural beauty where you live. Here’s to an enjoyable October for you. #lifethisweek
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Thank you, Sue, for stopping by. That dessert was really good. October is off to a great start. Here’s to a fabulous October for you.
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Natalie, what a lovely balance between family and friendships, getting out and about in nice weather. I love your photos and you do certainly give us lovely architecture and statues as well as nature.
Even though it’s autumn there I guess it’s similar to spring here. Not yet too hot or too cold and fairly pleasant.
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Deborah, September weather is usually pleasant here. The weather forecast predicts a mild October so I hope it will materialize.
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Some lovely photos here, Natalie, the purple flowers really stand out. I’m glad you could meet up with your friends. What’s the labyrinth walk? I really looks interesting.
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One of my friends was under stress so we walked the labyrinth to unwind a little plus it was something we used to play as kids. Labyrinth walks can be as simple as walk the path towards the centre then exit the same path in reverse. Some organizations use labyrinth walks are for peace, meditation, self-awareness, etc. If you google it, you’ll find many articles about it.
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Beautiful photo’s as usual Natalie. You have so many beautiful places over there! How nice of you to go walking with your 82 year old neighbour! You would be making her day! The temperature over there is around about how I like it. It’s starting to get hot over here again and I don’t like the heat. That is why I have a house with aircon and a pool! Yesterday was 36.6 degrees celcius (97.88 F) here and it’s not even summer yet! Hope you have a wonderful week!
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Thank you, Min, for your comment. September weather here was great for outdoor activities. I enjoyed walking with my neighbour. She’s a good role model for aging well. It’s good that you have AC and a pool to stay cool. We had very high heat and humidity in the last two weeks of August. It was a relief when the cooler and less humid weather arrived. Have a wonderful week!
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Looks like you had a wonderful September, Natalie, with lots of activities and amazing weather! Sorry for the late comment, we volunteered all weekend at a local harvest festival. I’m sure the weather is changing quickly like ours–75 (f) predicted for Tuesday then 59 for Wednesday! How nice to walk with your friend! My good friend just recently visited (as you saw in my post)…we walked weekly for an hour for two years! I miss our talks, it’s just not the same now that we are separated by 900 miles. I hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy the Autumn colors!
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Hi Terri, I hope you had a lot of fun at the harvest festival. Perhaps once you settle in your new home, you’ll be able to make new friends to walk with you. October is off to a mild start here. I played disc golf and went for a walk with a dear friend on Friday. I did another walk with my neighbour yesterday. Have a wonderful week!
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Sounds like a healthy, happy month with lots done with friends & family! So glad you are able to make the best of relaxed restrictions to enjoy time with others.
“Humanity” looks so interesting … from the buildings around it, it looks pretty sizeable. Does it have a light source inside? or is that natural light?
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Humanity art exhibit is about 8 feet tall. It has a light source inside. It looks nice at night with the illuminated words reflected onto the pavements.
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Wow! It’s even larger than I imagined! Thanks for the info Natalie!
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You’re welcome Ju-Lyn. There is a YouTube 59 second video if you’d like to see it illuminated at night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpX–mFFr8
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That is stunning! Thank you for the link. The aerial views are very revealing.
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You’re welcome, Ju-Lyn. You asked excellent questions that prompted me to share the link.
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