What Happened to Summer?

Well, here it is- Labor Day weekend and we are facing the remnants of a Hurricane and the traditional, if not calendar, end-of-summer.  I am personally wondering where it went.  It seems like just yesterday I was waiting for my daughter to come home from college with plans to have deck parties and a big vacation and now, I am trying to figure out how it is September already!

So in order to distract myself from the wind and rain outside my window and to feel better about the demise of summer, I looked back over the pictures I took over the past couple of months to prove to myself that I actually did have a nice summer.  And you know what? It may not have been what I originally planned and I certainly worked more than any college professor on summer break should have had to do, but I did have a nice summer.

Pretty Pink Zinnia

I spent a lot of time outdoors enjoying my deck and my flowers.

Vinca

Gardenia, Of Course! 

 I walked a lot of miles with my dog, spending time in the beautiful sunshine that I will miss when February gets here.  I enjoyed the neighbors' flowers too. 

My cousin's Hibiscus- 

-that grew from these pods

A vibrant Lily from a neighbor's yard

Celebrated some milestones and some good news.

My "Baby" is truly an adult now! 

#Blessed

I went to the beach, enjoyed more sunshine, some marine life and precious time with my family.

Sunrise over the beach- my favorite time of day!

Note to self: spend more time here

Giant Kite Flying Competition 

Shark at the N.C. Aquarium- Roanoke Island

Amazing Octopus at the Aquarium

I spent some time on my paddleboard.  With some other family members.

My favorite water sport

Note to Self, Part 2: Spend more time here also

My Swimming Companion

Had some great seafood!

Oysters Orville from The Black Pelican, OBX

I even caught a Pokemon or two! 

Pikachu popped up while I worked one afternoon. 

And then I had to go back to the office.

Sunrise over the library at school-
Not quite as exciting as sunrise over the beach, but beautiful none-the-less

Was I ready for the semester to begin? No, not really, but I really do enjoy teaching.  And I am fortunate enough to live in an area where the sun will still shine warmly for another couple of months.  After this weekend, most of the tourists will have gone home and we can enjoy the beach, museums, and other local attractions without the major crowds, with less traffic on the way.  With my job, I usually have the time to enjoy all that this area has to offer. And hey, what's not to love about fall? 

I will be sharing my "fall favorites" in my next post.  In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy the last few days of summer and have a lot to look forward to this fall! 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

~Cynthia