As the days turn cooler and shorter, I am sad to see the summer months come to a close. For us in the Northwest, summer’s unofficial end is Labor Weekend. When I was a kid, school start always followed this holiday weekend. I can remember being sent to bed early on this Monday night to get “a goodnight’s” sleep for the first day of school. It never worked: who can sleep when the house is still a buzz with a few lingering relatives, laughter, loud older brothers and butterflies from wondering about my teacher, classmates and seat assignments?

It’s been a good summer. With the promise of several days above 70 degrees, evenings in the high 60’s and day after day of sunshine (well at least a few consecutive days of no rain) I have a standing rule of staying local for the month of August. Better to plan a trip in rainy January when the skies are not the bluest blue you have ever seen.

 

Last year at this time was post-wedding planning and summer months had been spent a with a long list of to dos so the girl could say I do. It was such a fun, exciting time and I loved almost every minute of it. However, what a joy to have this summer full of no plans and be able to say yes when invited out on a boat on Lake Washington, take a walk with girlfriends, pick blackberries and tour the Grand Coulee dam. We ate outside in a beautiful garden, took in a Mariners game, marched to the Sounders match and rocked out to Gun’s and Roses: all at outside venues with coats tucked, unused under the seats. Seattle is truly the best when the thermometer reaches toward the 80’s.

 

Side note: I grew up in the era of the King Dome where sports were played indoors and even if it was a warm summer night, the roof was permanently closed. I wonder if this is why I never much cared for hanging out at M’s games. It is so much better being outside with a sunny sky, a cold beer, a 9-inning hometown win.

 

Another highlight was a ride on the Monorail, a relic from the 1962 World’s Fair, to Seattle Center to check out the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. Have you been to this gallery? It is stunning and unique. The perennial outdoor garden is worth the trip alone. It is one of the most stunning gardens I have ever seen, full of hundreds of flowers, many which were new to me.

Oh, I almost forgot: I also took the time to hang out with the birds on my patio.

Ah, summer. See you next year.