Summer Roundup

With today marking the last day of summer, it's time to leave the bright blue skies and searing heat behind us and reach forward into the fall. Long time no see, everyone! My summer months were filled with a flurry of activity that I thought would be interesting to look back on as we bid goodbye to the heat and welcome the chill of autumn.

I rounded off May by making a trip out to see the Monet exhibit that was shown at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. The gallery was packed to the brim with paintings as well as with people, and we were greeted with a larger than life two-part Luncheon on the Grass (not pictured here). I feel like that really set the tone for the entire exhibit, powering home the point of seeing the work of Claude Monet right before your very eyes. 

Rather than giving a whole spiel about the exhibit, the work, or my thoughts, I'd rather just showcase some of my favorite artworks that were displayed.

The Wooden Bridge (1872), Oil on canvas

La Porte d'Amont, Étretat (ca. 188-1869), Oil on canvas

Towing of a Boat at Honfleur (1864), Oil on canvas

The Port of Zaandam (1871), Oil on canvas

Hyde Park (1871), Oil on canvas

Grainstacks at Chailly at Sunrise (1865), Oil on canvas

Green Park (1871), Oil on canvas

The Seine at Bougival (1869), Oil on canvas

In June I joined a few friends in picking apricots. The tree was absolutely filled with them and by the time we were done, tired and laden with more apricots than we knew how to handle, it looked as if we hadn't even started. Well, there's always next year!

With several gallon bags of apricots at my disposal, I did the only thing I could think of - I made jam. Lots of jam. Despite having made it several months ago, I'm still making my way through the jars we filled (and loving every minute of it). This was my first time making jam and there was something kind of magical feeling about contributing to the process. Picking the fruit, boiling the jars, cutting everything up, stirring, watching, waiting, and - finally - filling the jars. I didn't grow the apricots myself but making the jam sure made me want to!

I've never been much of a jam person, myself, but this jam may have just changed my mind; the apricots were already sweet and flavorful but this batch of jam was something else! I still have two more jars of it left and I can't wait to crack them open.

Come July, I was ready for a trip to the beach. The coastal temperature was a much needed respite from the 100°+ heat and the ocean is always a welcome comfort.

I don't have much to say about this trip. I love the beach. The ocean in general will always be one of my favorite places to visit but Morro Bay and the surrounding areas definitely hold a special place in my heart. As cliche as it may sound, my heart is always at peace there.

As August arrived, the sun began setting earlier. Sunsets, while beautiful, aren't often the scene behind my lens. But when the sky erupts in fire, the light screaming beyond the clouds, you can bet that I'll be there.

By mid month, I was eagerly awaiting the return of my sister back to the states. Cue a trip to the airport and the beautiful hotel we stayed at!

September crept in quietly. The air is colder now, the light streaming in through the windows redder as I walk down the hall after dinner. I'm ready for fall.

And as comforting as the weather and atmosphere of the month is, I can't leave out these two! I got the chance to dog-sit for a friend and spent a quiet evening with these sweet dogs. ♡

To round it all off, recently we've started our own windowsill garden. On the 19th (left) we added the second stalk and in two days (above) it had already sprouted this much! I look forward to watching their growth.
 

All in all, it was a very busy summer for me. Autumn is perhaps my favorite time of the year, though, and I'm ready for the changing leaves and not drowning in the sweltering heat. I have many plans to fill out the rest of the year and I'm excited for the time that I'll now have to spend on them - and it helps that Halloween is just around the corner as well!