Goodbye Summer, Maine, & John's Birthday! ♥

Hello Friends! ♥

Guess what? I lit my first Fall candle of the season yesterday morning.  Yankee Candle Spiced Pumpkin, which I got on sale at the Yankee Candle outlet in Kittery, ME this past weekend. The smell is still wafting through the house today. It's the scent of the season and tells everyone that enters, it's fall! It's my all-time favorite.  As you well know, there are a lot of pumpkin scented candles out there, but none compared to this one.  It's the best.  

We have been blessed with cooler temps this week (some might say even "chilly" in the mornings) and it's blissful. I can feel the shift happening.  We have arrived.  Finally :) 

But before I go on about THAT I wanted to share a few pictures from our weekend in Ogunquit, ME.  It's quite beautiful there, with its quaint shops, restaurants, and overall Hallmark FEEL if you know what I mean.  The beach and ocean view are stunning. 

 I did not go to the beach, but I did spend my fair share of time sitting on a balcony looking at it and taking it all in. It was very relaxing and I did enjoy being away for a few days.  I could feel the stress leaving my body and peace filling my lungs in the form of sea air. It's funny how the ocean can do that.  

How could I stop taking in this view ♥ 

 

We went with Rob's family (our annual summer trip) so there was 12 of us total.  We separated at times to do our own things but always met up for meals and games at night. Some went to the beach, some the pool, some shopping, and some of us read books while listening to the waves, only getting up to eat. 

It was super fun.  

One highlight was stopping on the way up at Nubble Lighthouse in York, ME for lunch.  We had beautiful weather!

Here is John and his two cousins, Anthony and Julia! 

I had the same delicious lobster roll I had last year (when in Rome..:).  

It's the best I've ever had.  So fresh! 

On Saturday we celebrated John's 18th birthday!  

My father-in-law picked up a tiramisu cake at a local bakery and we surprised John at the hotel.  He loved it!  

I can't believe this boy is 18!!!! ♥

I wish you knew John.  Some of you might.  He's a special kid.  Smart, funny, caring, and kind.  I'm so proud of him. 

Did I say kid? I guess I should say adult now. Wow! 

To be honest, all weekend I was fighting myself not to worry about my Dad at home.  He's been feeling great lately and assured me he'd be fine.  I left him fully stocked with meals and all the essentials he'd need.  He joked me with me I was only going for 2 days, not 2 months, so RELAX!  I called every day and he was as he said - totally fine.  Whew! 

Before heading home we stopped by a candy store (of my dreams!) that sells this yummy black liquorish bridge mix that I remember from last year.  Are you a fan of black liquorish? People either love it or hate it. 

Personally, I love it!  I have to keep the bowl out of my sight, or I will in fact, eat it all.  

We arrived home on Sunday afternoon.  I caught up with my Dad, unpacked, did laundry, sat on my bed and took a rest until dinner.  Why is riding in a car doing nothing so tiring?  Anyway, I'm glad to be home. And now the time has come.  I always use John's birthday as my time meter.  Once we've properly celebrated his summer birthday, I can turn the page to Fall. I'm so excited for the season to change.  I feel myself coming back to life once the air changes.  I love to decorate and craft and especially bake and cook in the fall.  All the things that bring me joy.  

John is in Boston today with some of his friends, still living his summer dreams. He still has a few weeks until his classes start so he's hanging on to summer, not letting one second of it slip through his fingers. A lot of his friends are heading off to college, so this week will be a long week of goodbyes.  

 I know summer's not over just yet, but it is for me! ♥

Have a great day friends!  I'm making chicken pot pie for dinner. 

 This girl isn't messing around! LOL 

Saturday morning ramblings ♥

Happy Saturday morning friends and happy weekend! ♥

I blinked and it's August. Lovely, beautiful August.  The one month that stands between me and pumpkin everything! We're getting there! I'm very relieved that some of you feel the same way I do about the heat and I'm not just being a crazy person.  Thank you for your reassurance. You are my people and I love you : ) 

Since I last posted we've had a bit of a reprieve from the heat which has been glorious.  I was able to turn off the a/c for a few days, open the windows, and it's been lovely. But alas, it's coming to an end.  The heat is returning as it always does in August, but thankfully we are in the homestretch now.  I'm only weeks away from the start of the "ber" months and that's what will get me through.  September here I come! 

It's also John's birthday month.  He'll be 18 on the 16th and I can hardly believe it. 18?!?! 

We have a little trip booked for the weekend of his birthday to Ogunquit, ME.  We went last year and really loved it (I wrote about it here).  We booked the same place for this year.  I've been waiting all summer to get a lobster roll (my mouth is literally watering...:). They are the best in Maine! Thankfully my Dad has been feeling WELL (knock-wood!) and so I feel better about leaving for a few days.  It's been a difficult summer for me in that way because I want to be here with him all the time.  I'm probably driving him mad but it's just the way I am.  Now that he's feeling better, he'll probably enjoy the house to himself for a few days.  At least that's what I'm telling myself so I don't feel guilty.  I really want John to enjoy his birthday weekend.  

So as I type this it's currently very early Saturday morning.  The house is quiet as a mouse.  I woke up early, poured a cup of coffee (that Rob already made for me before he went to work), and brought it back to bed.  I grabbed my laptop so I could read some blogs, and I plan on sitting here comfortably for a few good moments before facing the day.  It's been a long week, and I do enjoy a slow Saturday morning. 

  *she happily sighs*  

I fell asleep last night thinking about my morning coffee.  Do you do that? At 10:00 last night I was looking forward to it so much and this morning it didn't disappoint me.  Ah, the simple pleasures of life.  I do love them.  

I must have had some weird dreams last night because I woke up with random thoughts in my head.  Sometimes I dream about school or places I've worked when I was younger.  I never seem to dream about the future or crazy scenarios; it's always my past.  People I've known and places I've been.  I see my mom all the time, which is nice.  I read that means she's visiting me.  She's always happy and healthy.  Thankfully.  What do you dream about? 

This week I've been on an 80's sitcom kick.  One thing about me is I love an 80's sitcom.  And the only thing I love more than an 80's sitcom is an 80's sitcom theme song!  Why don't shows have fun theme songs anymore?  Tell me you don't know the words to "The Facts of Life"??  I know you...you're singing it right now! : ) TV from the 80's and even some of the 70's were the BEST. It was my childhood. Every night was different line up of shows.  And we couldn't miss them because there was no way to rewatch or tape them.  Seems unimaginable!  Thanks to Tubi and Pluto I'm rewatching some of my favorite shows in all their corny hokey glory.  And don't forget the "very special episodes!".  Those were the best ones.  Someone's locked in a fridge or lost in the woods.  Will they every be saved?? Oh no, it's "to be continued" so we have to wait until next week to find out. UGH! John will never know the horror of seeing "to be continued" on the tv screen! 

Fridays and Saturdays were reserved for Dallas and Love Boat, but the rest of the week it was Family Ties, Who's the Boss, and Newhart. Three's Company, Lavern & Shirley, and Alice.  I also loved Mr. Belvidere, Webster, Kate & Allie, Silver Spoons, and Cheers.  Too many to name.  Last night we watched two episodes of Taxi and laughed our heads off.  TV was much simpler back then.  

And I loved it. Still do ♥

I just realized during my ramblings my coffee is getting cold so that's my sign to get out of bed and pour a hot cup.  I might do a fancy foam on this one.  Because it's Saturday and maybe I deserve it.  I wish I was doing something fabulous today like going to an antique store or out for a fancy lunch.  Sadly, the answer is no. Today I have to call the cable company for something which I'm not looking forward to because every time I call them, I'm on the phone for an eternity.  But I've put it off for too long.  Today is dooms day.  There's also laundry, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathrooms.  It's real life folks.  Real life is happening here.  However, I will take some time to read my book and maybe bake something yummy, so there will be some smiles in my day after all.  

Thanks for having coffee with me this morning.  Have a lovely weekend my friends! ♥

I'm glad you're here.  Bye!! xoxo

PS - for those wondering, YES that was the SEINFELD cafe!! It's real and John had lunch there during his NY trip.  He said there was lots of memorabilia inside and it was definitely a highlight of his trip! (yup, we're huge Seinfeld fans over here too!!) 

*actual photo of me...ok maybe not!*