August Already?! (Plus: My Shop is Open!) 🏪

I cannot believe it's August already. My houseguests have come and gone, my writing is behind schedule, and I'm frantically trying to catch up while still squeezing every last drop of juice out of summer.

I have to admit—I hate that the days are getting shorter! I hate that my son is going back to school NEXT WEEK (next week!?), and I hate that stores are already overflowing with Halloween  merchandise so long before Labor Day. I just wish we could slow down for a minute and really take the time to enjoy the season we're in, instead of racing out to stockpile pumpkin spice pasta and jack-o'-lantern wreaths in this perfect breezy, sunny, dreamy 80 degree weather. Why the rush?

Summer is my absolute favorite season here at the beach house. I love the morning fog that gives me permission to start slow, and I love the way the ocean, the sky, and the bougainvillea on the slope pops into  super saturated technicolors when the marine layer clears around noon. It's like the scene where Dorothy arrives in Oz... every day and it never gets old. 

 I love taking walks and bike rides at dusk, watching the slow fade of sky to shades of purple, pink and orange. It's the best time for spotting dolphins swimming lazily up the shoreline and catching the scent of s'mores roasting over someone's beach bonfire. 

I love outdoor movie nights cuddled under blankets by the firepit. And then there's all the other little things that summer brings; baskets of sandy shoes by the front door, gelato runs, and packing picnics for free concerts in the park.

So I am not rushing out to Costco to stock up on plastic skeletons right now.  Nope! I refuse. 

Speaking of concerts and bike rides... I'm happy to report that I'm feeling much more confident on my new e-trike! Yesterday we even rode our trikes to a fabulous retro "yacht rock" concert near Salt Creek Beach. It was wonderful not having to fight for parking. We just rolled right up to the venue, parked our rides in the bike corral and grabbed the picnic basket. This local concert series is quite popular and I'm beginning to see why. It's a perfect way to soak up and savor every last bit the summer season.

Biking to the concert!