Whoa, Summer

Whoa, summer. 

You are slipping by us faster each day.

I've begun feeling that tug inwards - crochet projects, evenings inside earlier, cool mornings in bed longer, bigger dinners, candlelight...

Yet summer still calls for us.

The beach hasn't been visited nearly enough. The playground is still taking up so much of Tessa's thoughts. Meals outside are still a must.

Slowly though, I notice just hints of summer's end and I'm not yet ready to give in.

It is a goldfinch who has been enjoying our volunteer sunflower. Each morning you can see him out there enjoying his snack before the sparrows flock in.

We've been adding "art installations" to our garden which may sound quite fancy for many folks but for us, that means beach driftwood we love nailed to the back of the garage and collected feathers hung in windows. Tessa, though, has taken quite an interest and built us this fabulous art piece from what she had on hand.

Our summer's prize - started from seed, the Tie Dye Pink Berkeley tomato rocks! Plus the name is pretty rad, too.

 We headed to our secret spot last week to watch the shooting stars. This was our first time as a family of three and it was like a totally new experience from when we'd go up there, just Scott and I. It ended up being too cloudy but it was fun to pack up the car in the twilight and sneak off to try and watch the stars.

These gym rings have been such a gift for Tessa. She is out there on them any free time she has.

She is incredible on them! Look at her strength!

Ally, at her usual post, is growing in her summer haircut. Now we don't chuckle when she's not looking.

Maggie is still garden explorer.

That just never gets old.

And our garden. Oh, our garden.

I cannot explain how much joy this transformation has given me.