Book of Days

New month, new Convivio Book of Days calendar. It’s September, the month that brings autumn by the almanac to the Northern Hemisphere. And I’ll let you in on a secret: Autumn is our favorite time of year here at Convivio Bookworks. Which is a little strange considering autumn is such a subtle thing in Lake Worth. But when we have the chance, we like to steal away to more northern climes and get a glimpse of golden foliage and apple orchards. Seth and I have been known to drive north with an empty pick up truck and come home with that same truck laden with apples and pumpkins, especially if they are heritage varieties like Rouge vif d’Etampes, the red Cinderella pumpkin from France, or Jarrahdale, the green pumpkin from Australia, or beige Long Island Cheese pumpkins. (If you know anyone locally selling these types of pumpkins this year, let me know. I’ll be their best customer.)

Pumpkin patches speak to me of possibilities. I can remember weeding the big pumpkin patch at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community when I was interning there, sitting there in the dirt amongst bold green leaves and yellow flowers and ripening pumpkins, and sensing there was a story to tell that emanated from that pumpkin patch. In a way, it was that idea that evolved into the Convivio Book of Days. The first calendar appeared in October 2003; naturally, it featured pumpkins. And the first Book of Days Blog chapter appeared ten years later, just last October. It, too, featured pumpkins. That first chapter was probably seen by a half dozen people, all, no doubt, related to Seth or me.

So here is September and I know the pumpkins are ripening on the vine. My vision for September was a local one this year: sea oats on the Lake Worth dunes, the plants closest to the edge of this vast continent, and at this time of year, they remind me of grain ripening in the fields. And so here is your September Book of Days calendar, a printable PDF document:

http://www.conviviobookworks.com/Images/September2014.pdf

September is a time of growing introspection: as we begin to gather in the harvest, so we begin to gather in our thoughts, our perspectives, returning focus once more to home and hearth. If you see those pumpkins I like so much, do let me know. I’ve been called “Pumpkinhead” plenty of times in my life, and I don’t mind at all. Happy September.

Image: Sea Oats at Lake Worth Beach.