Midsummer wanes

Midsummer:

the once-a-year flown in from Maine lobster sale at our local market. 

can anything be cooler to a toddler than grandpa's truck? 

belated birthday gifts! the best!

Road trip to Oregon! So close to arriving!

the oregon coast. so very different than the san juan islands. 

We went to Neskowin to my Aunt and Uncle's house to celebrate my Granny Helen Coffey's 90th birthday with the 4th of july festivities. She is a lifelong amazingly accomplished quilter and we had a show of just a fraction of the hundreds of quilts she has made in her lifetime. 

truly an amazing woman. 

and then, in true Helen fashion, she gave them all away. 

we had a great time with family

bocce ball on the beach! 

sponsored by Base Camp, my cousin's brewery. 

then we drove back home to Lopez, accompanied by family to continue vacationing. My Aunt Jean joined us from Minnesota so we had to show her a good Lopez time! 

paddleboarding

hunting sea glass

kayaking (note my sleeping offspring)

croquet. only play if you are prepared to have the snot beaten out of you. they are cutthroat from a childhood of constant croquet.  

good times with Grandpoppa Jack.

lots of coffee and sunshine and chatting and walking and laundry and good food. over too soon!
the only reason I could bear to face the departure day was:

Sea and Sky came home! 

Meet Sea Flower Mermaid In The Deep and Sky Flower Mermaid In The Deep

houses to attract the fairies 

settling in just fine 

there's been some childcare happening. 

nothing entertains a crowd like a lawnmower 

and some lazy afternoons at the beach

contemplating cherries and life 

but not long after one crowd left, another arrived! Sky made a new friend, 

and we re-connected with old friends. 

after they left, there was fruit to can! (peach and nectarine and vanilla bean compote)

playdates to be had (and some unfortunate self-inflicted haircuts were given)

salmon to be preserved

boats to explore

and volcanos...
We're gearing up for more dear friends coming to visit and making preparations to host my sister Caroline's wedding here in our yard on sept 19th! School work is ramping up for Dave and summer is winding down for us. Julia's first school supplies have been purchased. Life will soon change!