summer's end

I know today is not really the last day of the summer, but it is in this house because tomorrow is back to school! The summer went by so quickly and although I look forward to welcoming my favorite season....there are some things about the warm weather I always miss. Being at the ocean is probably top of the list.
Artist Annie Wildey does the most incredible paintings of the sea. Having one of these hanging in the house year round would be the best part of our summers right there on the wall!

Images: markelfinearts and hamptonsarthub

On the water

Image courtesy of Goldstar

If I had a fairy godmother of sports equipment (and a fairy godmother of storage space I suppose), I would totally ask her for paddle boards or ocean kayaks for my family. I love both of those activities. They provide the perfect combination of exercise and exploration. We live close to a calm bay area of the ocean, so I can picture us using them all spring and summer.

If I had to pick one- it would be the paddle board. It is a full body work-out and is the coolest sensation of moving along the water.

Image courtesy of destinationdelmarva

If you live near the water, or vacation there, I recommend looking into trying some paddle boarding or kayaking. It is a great way to spend the day....

Wave

Just a quick post in the midst of my vacation hangover to sing the praises of a picture book I found at Buxton Village Books during our stay in Cape Hatteras last week. After years of bringing home cheesy OBX t-shirts and store-bought sea shells, I finally found a vacation memento that records exactly what our week at the beach was like--at least for our youngest child.

In Wave, Suzy Lee's gorgeous, soothing illustrations of a little girl (I imagine her as a 2 and a half year old, like my own daughter) meeting the ocean capture the relationship between child and sea so perfectly it puts a lump in my throat.

A lovely video at Chronicle Books animates every page of Wave, so you can witness its charm for yourself, but I can promise that the sweetness and wonder of Lee's illustrations can only truly be savored with the book in your lap.

Sea Glass

Image courtesy of littlebird2009 via flickr

There is something so simply beautiful about sea glass. Is it the marriage of a man-made thing to the natural world? Could it be the incredible array of color? Maybe it is the smooth perfection...no matter the reason, it is something I could look at it all day....

Image courtesy of candyonthebeach via flickr

Image courtesy of LightShapeColor via flickr

Image courtesy of italia2114 via deviantart

 

It seems I am not the only one who appreciates beach glass. In A Passion for Sea Glass, author Carol Lambert goes beyond the art of collection and discusses how artisans have incorporated these rainbow shards in their work. Amy Wilton's photography illustrates the beauty of the glass in every incarnation. 

My favorite pieces are those in the shades of seafoam green and the lightest blues. I realized recently that my house is missing a jar of beach glass and this summer I plan to change that.

Image courtesy of ihearthome via flickr