end of summer ...

Ohhh September is so close I can smell it - actually that's probably because I bought the Fall scents from Yankee Candle and have been burning Apple Pumpkin every day. Either way - I'm excited!! The days ahead will be filled with jeans and boots and sweaters and chilly air and bright blue skies and colorful leaves and the smell of wood burning stoves and back yard fires ... ahhhh. And treks to the playground will be comfortable and more enjoyable as we say adios to the bugs, the sweat and the boiling hot slides! And our menu is about to expand into the comfort food genre with favorites like turkey chili, lasagna and kale soup! Mmmmm.

I'm not saying goodbye to summer just yet, however, there will still be a few good weekends for all to savor. I've missed my beach days for certain - it's just not the same with a toddler in tow. 

Here are a few "summery" pictures from the last few weeks. I am semi-disgusted that I have used different filters, fonts and frames on these but I'm sure you'll get over it more quickly than I will... 

 {sitting pretty on a stone bench at Brenton Point, Newport}

 {enjoying Aunt Carrie's clamcakes, clam strips and red chowda 

like a true native Rhode Islander}

 {um, yes, that is me doing a cartwheel as Scarlett watches with glee}

{a delicious summer din-din: turkey burger, tomato-cucumber salad and sweet corn}

 

{piggy back ride!}

 

 {the most colorful pinwheely perfection}

{I had one for breakfast and lunch one day and it was a glorious treat}

I am very happy living in New England where we get to experience all of the seasons. Just as we are getting sick of shoveling snow and wearing coats, Spring comes to the rescue with those first few days of 'crack your windows weather.' And when we are finally ready to hang up our flip flops we can pull out last year's boots for a beautiful Autumn season. We get the best of all four. Summer was sweet but bring on the FALL!!!!

white blanket

More images of yet another glorious snowfall ...

the mob goes wild wild wild...

Hmm is it going to snow or something? 

Let's just say that New Englanders definitely fit the stereotype when it comes to preparing for a snow day. I just made a quick trip to Dave's Marketplace to pick up a requested cake for the Gregger and DAMN was I greeted with a mob. When I pulled into the lot I instantly remembered that we are getting snow tomorrow. Although, the forecasted snow could fall anytime during the next four days and crowds would still flock. Talk about people panicking. I don't understand it, honestly. I mean, are ALL of these shoppers out of food? Do they consume an entire carriage's worth of food each day? Will that man eat all eleven packages of Perdue chicken thighs tomorrow? Man alive.

I was blown away when I found a fantastic parking space. It took me less than thirty seconds to find the necessary cake and I headed to the check-out lines. I don't shop around for a decent line, I get in one and wait there. Simple. My best guess would be that there were six to eight people in each line and all registers were open, which I've never seen before. I had a chatterbox in front of me but she was very nice, lives in Tiverton and her husband is on a grilled cheese kick. He has been adding tomato so I let her know that spinach is my favorite grilled cheese accessory. She replied that bacon is hers. All in all my experience was good, I didn't have to throw down. I may have angered a few cart-pushers while I weaved in and out of traffic with ease - no cart to slow me down. Even the cashier was friendly and wished me a happy snow day. 

My advice to anyone in the Northeast Region today - have patience in the stores, go only if you NEED something and maybe wear sneakers and bring some Powerade. 

Happy SNOWFALL !! Be safe!