weekend recap, august 19 edition

1. let's do this | 2. choppy seas | 3. wear a kid out | 4. photobomb by cal | 5. ferry to portsmouth | 6. norfolk at sunset | 7. still | 8. waiting on the ferry home | 9. norfolk at night  | 10. glorious figs, pretty packaging | 11. rocket man | 12. rainy nighttime garden | 13. neel's paddle | 14. rocket men | 15. sweet snuggly violet 

It's been the funniest summer. Rainy and cool for so many days. These past three or four haven't gotten out of the 70s, which have felt downright fall like. I don't think I'm complaining, but our beach days have been, well, unusual to say the least.  

My dad was here for most of the weekend, so we made the most of that for sure. After Neel and I had our assessment with our personal trainer (and yes, assessment sounds alarmingly like test), he headed to work and we headed to the beach.  

The beach was chilly, gray and choppy, but oh. It was delightful too. I will never tire of having the waves lap at my toes and watching the stormy surf. 

Dinner Friday night was at Still, which one of my favorite local restaurants. Sometimes you go to a restaurant and have a great meal, and sometimes you go and get a perfect combination of service and food and experience. This (with the exception of the table next to us who ordered nothing BUT drinks, and you can imagine how that went down), was one of those nights. Instead of dealing with the tricky tunnel traffic (living surrounded by water the way we do, it's hard to get anywhere without going over a bridge or through a tunnel), we opted to take a ferry from Norfolk to Portsmouth for the restaurant, and that was just the best decision. The quick ride over and back felt fun and special, and it's so lovely to see these two cities from the water. I can't believe we don't do it more.

The rest of our weekend was quiet (recovery?). Steady rain, sweet figs. Some movies and hello, who else is watching Newsroom? My dad brought up the first season, we watched the 1st two episodes and he cold-heartedly snatched them away again. Need to get my hands on the rest of season.  

Neel and Callum built a rocket on Saturday but that evening's launch was scrubbed due to rain. They both stared out the window like sad puppies all morning Sunday waiting for things to dry out, and late in the day we had three successful launches. After the first, a crowd of parents and kids who were playing soccer in the field where we went to launch came to watch the rest. Even the dads were mesmerized.  

Sometimes, most times, the simple things are best.  

five things, august 16

1. I think  we're having the most crazytown weather right now. Don't get me wrong, it's lovely. Highs of 79º in mid-August? it's not feeling back-to-school like, it's feeling-first-report-card-of-the-year like. Now, for sure it's lovely. It's such a lovely surprise to open the door to let the dogs out and feel that crisp tinge to the air, but it's just weird too. I live in the land of oppressive heat, hazy days and lowering skies. It's lovely, but it's also not supposed to feel quite like this.

2. I think  I'm a little nervous about our first meeting with the personal trainer today. Excited, for sure, but nervous too. I hear there's a test. I'll keep you posted. Maybe.

3. I think  we had a lovely time last night at the reception for the Educator's Show at MOCA last night. I have talked before about how much more meaningful this show was for me that the one I'd participated in before, and it was really lovely to be there with my family and to have my dad along too. We're really hoping that the food photography course will "make" this go around, and it's thrilling to see my photos hanging like fine art food photography in the halls of a respected gallery. It's giving me a push to create more and learn more and try to expand my skills even more. That's not a bad push to have, I guess, right?

4. I think  it's crazy how the start of school still feels like a new year to me, even now. Is it because I have a school-aged child myself? I don't know. I'm not quite ready for summer to end, but I definitely feel my mind shifting gears organizationally. Clearing cobwebs and making plans. Does September do that to you, too?

5. I think  we're having a great time with my dad this week. It's a wonderful way to wind up summer. Lots of running around and lots of celebrating and lots of good food. He's here through the first part of the weekend, so we'll keep it up a bit longer too. And if I've seemed scarce, that's why.