The end of summer may be on the horizon, but there’s still some time left to cram some sparkle into the last week of August. There are still opportunities to pick berries, squish sand between your toes and enjoy starlit nights outdoors.
As a child, golden rod flowers reminded me that my grasshopper and butterfly-catching days were coming to an end. They still prompt me to make the most of the summer’s last days.
Yesterday my grandson and I picked blackberries in patches overlooking the ocean in the morning. In the afternoon, we let the waves crash into us at the beach. After nightfall, we explored a woodland path with flashlights. It was both exhilarating and exhausting. The best summer days are like that.
It could have been better. I could have had the sense to not get my legs all scratched up by the blackberry brambles before I went into the stinging salt water. That’s minor. Scrapes, scratches and bug bites are all part of the outdoor summer experience. But it could have also been worse. Just before putting down my foot, I spotted a large, active wasps’ nest on the ground beneath an apple tree where we were attracted by some low hanging fruit.
Recently we tented in the yard, thrilled to witness the flight of bats from behind the screened door after sundown. We didn’t see any bats last night, though we did get to see a shooting star. The best summers are a series of moments such as these, strung together on a necklace that sparkles around our necks until the following June when we begin to gather gems for a new one.
Stalk butterflies, visit the beach or simply take in the wonders of the night sky, but do make the most of these last days of summer. Cramming has never been so enjoyable.
Text and photographs copyright Amy-Lynn Bell 2012
I love both the photos and your prose. And you bring back such sweet memories for me. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed them Oldsubird. Nobody should grow up without such sweet summer memories.
I am feeling the summer ending a little bit each day now. Thanks for the reminder to enjoy what days remain. The blackberries are ripening all over the place right now. Yum.
Dawn, I’ve noticed the chill in the morning air that wasn’t there last week. Aren’t those blackberries wonderful? I first picked them in British Columbia decades ago as an adult. Had never picked them as a child. They were great arranged fresh in tart shells covered with whipped cream. Now they seem tastiest fresh off the vine.
I love the day you spent with your grandson. How very, very rich. He will remember such days deep in his soul.
I hope so Cindy. It’s so easy for both children and adults to spend all their time indoors these days playing with technology. For parents who aren’t in the habit of going outdoors themselves, the indoors seem safer, though I’m sure there will be a price to be paid later for the lack of outdoor activity early in life.
Except that our water is sweet, not salt, summer here is a lot like summer where you are. Isn’t it beautiful?
Pamela, it is extremely beautiful. I think it’s awesome that our necks of the woods are so similar despite being so far apart.
Blackberries and squishy toes, nothing better!
Alice, as long as it’s not blackberries providing the squishy between the toes! Ah well… that wouldn’t be so bad either 🙂
So jealous of all your ‘cramming’! You’re blessed with grandson and ‘place’. Enjoy it all! Thanks for sharing some glimpses.
Eva, regardless of how old you are or who you’re with, it’s amazing how much you can cram into a day when you put your mind to it. My grandson suggested we add the wave crashing and the night walk to our cramming agenda. Six year olds aren’t short on ideas. His two year old brother would have been content to spend the whole time gobbling up blackberries!
I remember those days, back when I lived in a place that didn’t have only almost endless summer and a few weeks of winter. Labor Day marked the time to go back to school and prepare for beautiful Fall colors and dark Winter days. Great memories!
Ruth, as climates go, even for those who love the warmth of the sun, four seasons are a tough combination to beat. I’ve heard of people missing the freshness of the air here when they move south. The darkest thing about winter here is the soaring cost of heat and hydro thanks to Nova Scotia Power!
When we got up this morning it was still dark. It seems like only yesterday that it was full daylight by 6. Ah well. Off we went to watch the clouds over the Bay turn pink in the reflected sunrise. We’ll go for a night walk, too, for purely practical purposes. I cannot escape the suspicion that grandchildren are a good deal more fun than even very good dogs.
Gerry, those grandchildren do have their ‘moments’ too, in a manner that’s akin to dogs that may be inclined to chew up your favorite shoes, but they do tend to be good companions outdoors for the most part. I haven’t tried dragging them out onto the trail at dawn lately as they’d be eaten alive by the mosquitoes which are ridiculously bloodthirsty these days.
I want to cram every last bit of summer in. Thank you for reminding us once again the preciousness of nature. I like it that you slept out in a tent. My son absconded with my little tent years ago and I need another one. The old worn-out excuse is that the big tent (with mosquito holes) is too hard to set up. Happy end-o-summer!
Sounds like a wonderful day Amy-Lynn. Would love to have seen the bats. What a magical day for your grandson.
Our spring is just about to start on the 1st of September, and it is so strange to read of you in the northern hemisphere heading towards the end of summer… It sounds like you had a lovely time with your grandson though, and you’ve given us some good ideas for what we can do with *our* summer.
Boyfriend and I were at the beach today, and yes – there is a type of drowzy buzz going around the brush and milkweed that line the rocks. Wasps (run away! run away!) and skippers were everywhere, floating over the fading flowers.
Oh, the beautiful late Summer days you share with us ! Thank you for these moments that will be remembered in the cold Season. We are also enjoying warm days for harvesting the grapes, picking prunes and apples, late bromberries and many more gifts of Nature.
Yes, the crisp and warm photos say it all…must be one of those halcyon days!
I saw shooting stars 14 years ago..reminding me that there is a universe out there with its own timeless magic..
Any more you would like to share for my blog’s assignment this month? 🙂 Beautifully told in pictures and prose.