last days of summer

We had some special time in Asbury Park this month. It was a lovely way to finish out the last days of summer. (Whoever knocks new jersey, hasn't spent enough time exploring the beautiful areas.) Shane and I did a bunch of sun salutations on the board walk. Many evening walks on the board walk and just simply watching the waves. I worked during the week, but it still felt like a vacation.

change

Instead of being sad, I am trying to channel my gratitude for the last few years, being only 20 miles (yet sometimes 2 hours!) away from Kevin and Holly and then Orion. It has been a good run.

I recently found a card with a picture of orange colored leaves. It says

{A cloaked woman came to me one misty evening and whispered behind me "the only thing you can count on in this world is change." I stood there all night and watched the autumn fog lift.}

I bought the card, thinking I would send it to Kevin. But then, I realized I needed it!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: {this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.}

rest of Aug and beginning 'new year'

The Fall semester started this past week. We tend to say "happy new year" to each other at this time in early september. August turned out to be a wonderful month. Mike and I took a week off, stay/borrow-family-beach houses - cation, Cape Cod and Mystic. I got some good ocean starting time in. Declan turned three and I got to see all of the other nephews and my niece a bit this month. So many of them now!

I always say it and will say it again, I love fall, and this time of new semesters and new weather. My grandma always says "the sun is like diamonds on the water at this time of year." I already made apple crisp and planted a mum! AND I am officially a student again...

this moment

Inspired by the lovely SouleMama: {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Happy Almost Weekend!

august began

It was a busy week, this first week of August. I went to Baltimore for work for most of the week. Before Baltimore, we saw some Picasso with mike's dad in the city. After baltimore, I weekended at the beach with shane, watching the waves for hours. Then to brooklyn, for brunch - holly, kevin, jessie, and liam - and watching the baby for hours.

I think homemade sauce from the garden II will happen this week.

summer drinks

I could go on and on about the summer vegetables in my life these days, but there have been some tasty beverages too! Jessie and I visited the pop-up matcha tea house in Soho last week. Despite the air quality alert and the 97 plus degree weather in NYC, we ordered hot matcha and enjoyed every sip. I treated myself to an appropriate matcha bowl since it just seems to make the experience even more enjoyable. Jessie treated me to the fancy, ceremony grade matcha, which does a good job at kicking cancer butt. So more matcha in my beverage diet lately!

Here is my new bowl.

Then, Kevin and I experimented with iced shaken matcha!



I have made many batches of sun tea lately. Darjeeling and any herbs ready from the garden. This time, lemon basil and ginger mint.