Ah September!

Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul....but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October. Peggy Toney Horton

I absolutely enjoy the summer...but I LOVE when it turns towards fall! And for the record....there are many reasons I love September.....but October has always been my favorite.

Paul and I checked out a little cove today along the Portland waterfront. 

It was fun to see Mackworth Island there on the horizon....where I just was a few nights ago for the play.

It was low tide...so lots of things to find on the rocky beach.....I spy Paul busy looking.

And we had a nice view of Portland looking the other way. A pleasant little Labor Day field trip. 

I had my parasol in my hand the whole time.

I love this Pride Day purchase!

Just a few pieces left in my Vintage Sewing Box puzzle....and I just walked away.

I'll finish during breakfast tomorrow...and I have a couple of fall ones waiting in the wings. 

Ah....September!

Game Changer

Late yesterday afternoon Becky and I headed to Ocean Park for a low tide beach walk with Jane. 

The sun was starting to set and the temperature and dew points were just perfect. 

Walking with the sun low in the western sky then enjoying the view and waves into the dusky hours was a game changer. I think this is my new favorite time of day to be at the beach.

 

Then we parked ourselves in the chairs until dusk watching the people...dogs...and waves.

Dusk as always been my favorite.

And the sunset behind us was wonderful.

Ocean Park recently had Illumination Night...so Jane and Andy still had their mermaid up. 

They always have a fabulous light display for the community event.

Then THIS happened today! Becky helped me empty out the hall closet and sort...pitch...and reorganize. That's true friendship! 

    An organized closet is a game changer!!!   

Sand Art

This may be one of my favorite found objects in a while. Well done Paul!

My tiny shoe collection is growing and I featured most of them in this post last year: 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2023/05/hardly-ever-happens.html

I took advantage of the cooler weather and did a beach walk with Jane early this morning in Ocean Park....AKA Jane's Beach.

The partly cloudy sky was amazing.....and as always....my favorite part of the short walk to the beach from Jane's house is this path through the dune grass. You can't see the water at first...but you know you're heading someplace special.  

Then there is it....the ocean sparking in the morning sun.

It's always interesting to see how the water sculpts the beach....

creating sandbars....

....and making interesting patterns. 

And there was a whole row of these funky hearts.

I love Mother Nature's sand art!

It's always good to have a little sand art between your toes once in a while.

Thanks Jane!

Beach and Bottles

I visited Jane today and helped her with a few projects....
and we took a little walk on the beach and around her neighborhood.

And whenever I go to Jane's house....
I fall in love again with her bottle collection in her windows.

Although I really love that wonky purple one above...

I also love the textured clear one in the middle. It's covered in little daisies!      

Out And About

Come along for my Beach walk!

I was out and about almost all day. It began with a visit with Margie....a beach walk with Jane in the middle....and a small neighborhood gathering at the end.  

I'm tired...but it's a good kind of tired.  

The sky was a beautiful blue...and the clouds were fluffy and fun.  

A perfect day for nice long walk on the beach.

And there are always flowers at Jane's house to enjoy.

It was a good day out and about.

Beach Day

I spent a few hours  at "Jane's Beach" this afternoon.

We walked several miles.....

...and had a good visit under the umbrella.

And there's always blooms at Jane's.

Inside....

...and out.

This morning I had a good visit with Margie.....and as usual there as a finished puzzle on her board.  Opps....I forgot to take a photo before I took it apart. She had fun with this one....it was a quickie and I look forward to doing it.

I couldn't resist this one....which she finished a week or so ago featuring 

the crazy notion of banned books.  "Every story deserves to be read."

The Beach

We've been pretty good about getting out for walks every day....including along  beach.  It's a little bit precarious to get down to it...but Patsy and Brian will improve that over the years.  

This shows you how far down we were....and just for the record....there was an easier way down. 

It's a typical Maine rocky beach with lots of jigs and jags.

The winters are pretty harsh....so a tree has to be really tough to make it down here by the water....this one is growing right out of the rock.

My fabulous found object!

There is a little landing place on a ledge part way down the path with a firepit....such a fun place to sit and enjoy in all the seasons.

And the view is fantastic!

I brought my new wooden puzzle from Amy along....and we dumped it out on one end of the table on Sunday morning.  At this point it seemed pretty daunting.

But we fell in love with it....and because it had the rows of colors it was the perfect group puzzle. We could all work on a section...and we would shift around when we needed a change.

And by Monday evening we had joined all the layers together 

and were in the home stretch.

I purposely saved this bird for last.

What an absolute delight Amy!  Thank you!

Here's another hand project I've been working on....covering this little lamp shade. (Linda....do you recognize it?) 

I've been hand stitching on the lining...and I just finished it late this afternoon....just a little more trimming to do. The polka dot fabric will go on top.  I'll keep you posted.

We head home tomorrow.....this has been a fabulous getaway!

I feel so blessed.