To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of fall. -Pachett

Yes, summer’s transition into autumn has arrived. I think Pachett’s quote defines our walk from August into September with perfection. I think it speaks of cherished memories and promises for tomorrow.
This weekend most people are enjoying the last long weekend of the summer before the kids are settled into schools, and sweatshirts come out of the closet.
Pumpkin spice is trickling into…everything.
In Arizona we will still be in flip flops. Then again, we are in flop flops all year long and you won’t find pumpkin spice in my house until October.
August?
For me the beginning of August was also the tail-end of a trip to New England. If you frequent my blog you already know it was two-fold. We planned a move for my parents and revisited summers of the past. A few days in Boston, walking though our nation’s history, is where we started.

The small coastal town of Scituate, Mass. was next, and a reminder of everything…family.

Traveling north to New Hampshire took us…home.

And isn’t home where traditions are not promised…but necessary? I have said it before, and will say it again: Any place that serves lobster rolls and ice cream, is fine dining.

A return to Arizona and we bid farewell to our boat, “The Knotty Impulse”. She was our home away from home for 20 years.
Bittersweet,and time. There is something new on the horizon.

August is also the month of four birthdays in our house.
Can you dig it? Our sweet, excavator-loving 3 year old sure did.

And finally, our road trips continue. Actually, they never end, do they? While we hike north all year, it will only be a have to, for another few weeks. Our turn to be outside is coming as we patiently wait for temps to drop in the Valley of the Sun.



Until then we will stay cool the best way we know how.

It’s funny, as I sum up this month and reflect upon everything we have had to let go of, let go, or leave behind.
Honestly, it has been a roller coaster of emotions, and yet, I know this is also a lesson necessary to gravitate towards. I realize letting go is often just a chance for life to give rise to something else.
Is it something bigger, or better? Maybe. Maybe not. What I do know is there is always a reason to look forward to what is next, and always, always something to be grateful for.
Pay attention.
EVERY SUMMER HAS A STORY, WHAT’S YOURS?
Wind Kisses, Donna
26 Days with All 5 Grandchildren
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I totally relate to this post. New Hampshire is also my home, but I haven’t been back since COVID started. It was nice to walk through your visit back east. My daughter was living in Arizona until last month and I have a lot of friends there, so I also miss the desert. One day I’ll get back there.
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Interesting. No matter where I love, NH will always be home in my heart. We do love our life in AZ very much. And as you might guess, we get lots of company.
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I love the intentionality and composition of your images; that they convey a feeling, or a memory, or an idea. Am particularly taken by the brightly coloured deck chairs amidst the green, your coffee mug on the fence post, with the little cottage in the background, the images from your hike. They all tell a story, and share something of you.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on transitions: the moves, the goodbyes, the hellos. Bittersweet. Moving.
P/S I did a little poking around, and realised that I had missed your June post in the round up for The Changing Seasons: June 2021. Did you do one for July as well, and I’ve also missed that? Soooooo sorry for the oversight!
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This WAS THE nicest thing to share with me. Thank you. All of this is very much who I am. My blog name relates in that I try to just share subliminal message that matter to me. Might not mean anything to anyone else..lol. Thank you again. And thanks for finding June. Could be I linked wrong. I had been gone a bit and getting my way around again. July was kind of a morph into August and was called Reflections. I so appreciate your kind note. Thank you again. This was a good idea for a prompt. I created a tab for it because I think it is also a history of the year to look back on. Donna
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Thanks for entertaining my obsessiveness – I just don’t want to leave anyone or their posts out.
I love The Changing Seasons because it is a record for me, too. And it an opportunity each month to recollect.
Appreciate the beauty and contemplation that you bring to this space!
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Thank you so much. I love that you and Brian bring to the blogging world. Thank you again.
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It is entirely my pleasure. This space & the community has been so dear to me; I am glad to have a part in keeping it going.
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I enjoyed the New England photos. I love lobstah! 🙂 It was exciting to get some more rain this week and somewhat lower temperatures. Pumpkin spice for me belongs in pumpkin pie. Other than that, I don’t care, so I’m underwhelmed by the proliferation of everything pumpkin spice. 🙂 What a Scrooge I am, eh? No Labor Day plans for us as my husband’s on call, which means we stay around home. I’m loving seeing night time temperatures in the 70’s. One of these days I’ll be able to open the windows. What a lovely day that will be!!
janet
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hahaha. Yes pumpkin spice …what? ah yes… I can hardly wait for the windows to open too. We are headed to the beach tomorrow for a week, that should be a refresher. PS. My recent post is a must do for you, if you haven’t. Just get tickets ahead. And on Sunday the 12 I will be at Tunnel to towers 5K. The whole weekend at Tempe Town lake is dedicated to 9/11. It is pretty moving.
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You had me at the chairs at the start Donna. The lighthouse followed by the mug and post – genius 👍😁 What does Moose Tracks Ice Cream taste like? I would be driving an excavator through that cake too 😂
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Moose Tracks is a good one if you life peanut butter cups.
Thank you. The cake was great fun for even the grown ups. And ya….the chairs were a lucky find. Donna
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No to the peanut flavour ice cream. Do the peanuts look like Moose droppings? 😂😂
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Well, let me put it this way, I have seen real moose droppings and don’t really like the thought that’s it’s a treat. Lol.
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😂
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We are still working on our Summer Story here at the lake.
Loved your pictures… all so beautiful!
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Thank you.
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A beautiful weave of summer memories and photos Donna. I love lobster rolls and ice cream, too. Such contrast of the two states (ocean in MA and desert in AZ). Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Thanks Natalie. Have a nice week. donna
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