August.

In August, summer yawns. The leaves are tired — as freckled by the sun as my daughter’s nose and cheeks.

We ring summer out like a wet beach towel — squeezing as much from these final warm days as we can.

We spend a day beside the ocean as a family. Hours are spent building sandcastles and chasing seagulls up and down the shore.

Darren and I spend an afternoon exploring the Niantic boardwalk and Mystic seaport.

We share pastries and a coffee from Sift Bake Shop, and eat a whole Mystic Pizza together beside the water — so a pretty fabulous day overall 🙂

The garden and the fields are going to seed. The weeds and wildflowers are bursting with color, as ornate as any good and proper flower.

I drift off a bit sitting in the sun one day, and wake to a note from my son that says,

Don’t worry about us. Back in an hour. -Roman A.

I do worry. I look for them all around the house and yard and can’t find them anywhere, even when yelling their names. I eventually hear them calling back from the woods.

They have decided to go on an adventure, a walk-about if you will. Bags properly packed with snacks and stuffed toys, they are prepared to face anything and live life on their own.

I find them setting up camp, their only real concern — being eaten by coyotes. Fortunately, they have lightsabers. In time I am able to persuade them to return home and live a somewhat civilized life again.

We are back in school now. We always do our dead level best to make the first week of school chaos and anarchy — at least that is what you might believe if you were watching us from the outside.

This year, we pulled out all the stops with a bear photobombing our back-to-school pics, my car in the shop, and trips to both the doctor (for sickness) and urgent care (for injury) … just for good measure, just to keep things interesting. Who knows what we will come up with next year 🙂

Now I am off to wear sweaters and drink more coffee than water because it’s mildly cool outside and the leaves are blushing. I love this time of year 🖤