Goodbye, Summer.

despedida

     totsiens

           وداعا

                näkemiin

                       au revoir

                            再見

                                  Lebewohl

                                        paalam

                                              ลาก่อน

                                                     zbohom

                                                           αντίο

                                                               kwaheri

                                                                     नमस्ते

                                                                          farvel

                                                                                خداحافظی

                                                                                     goodbye

Today is the real last day of summer. True, Autumn Equinox is a while away still, but today is the last day of freedom, the last day of real sunshine.

Tomorrow, I start school again. Tomorrow is September. Tomorrow the leaves began to dance and show their redorangeyellowbrown underskirts as they do high kicks. Tomorrow the wind comes whirling down from the North, bringing frosted windows and small tornadoes on the sidewalk.

But today... today is summer.

Today, the sun shines and it's a mite too warm out. Today, the leaves are green and fully alive. Today, I am woken by ten noisy chickens demanding insects while my mother gardens.

Today is August and summer is ripe in the air.

This post is a tribute to summertime. Most photos are from my family's three-day mini-vacation we got back from yesterday afternoon, bobbing around on our sailboat, but a few are from earlier in the summer.

You'll notice that I've added overlays onto some photos... what do you think of them? I love them (I think it gives a nice vintage touch), myself, but I always want feedback. I only had a few patterns I used this round, but I have many more for the future.

Beautiful rocks are pounded by the surf at Damriscove Island.

The birds there just love having their pictures taken... {this is my favorite pic of the batch!}

...but you have to be careful of thistles!

Swarms of butterflies swirl around the island.

I love the detail on this one! (A close second favorite to the bird.)

Smooth rocks create a very Zen beach.

This stream from the summer's earlier mountain hike is also quite calming.

I have no idea what this seagull was doing, but I just had to hop in the dinghy and get some pics!

There's nothing like an island sunset.

A vintage-y favorite from earlier in the year.

Mmm, beets. (Another early-summer photo)

Damriscove grasshoppers are quite adorable. *Rawr.*

Sorta reminds me of this frog back in July. (There is a lovely background made from it, yours free.)

An eerie memory of the island's past.

Finally, I think this photo just about sums up summer.

خداحافظی ، تابستان.

{goodbye, summer.}