I Like Thursday: The Best of August

I'm kind of liking this month-at-a-time review for I Like Thursday - I may stick with this format going forward.

I like that I made it to Family Weekend this year.  Heading to the Cape was an adventure.

I picked Mom up at the commuter train station in Waltham.  Rob was tracking my phone and was highly entertained by my wrong turns getting to the train station and then my inability to get back on 128.  All 'round Robin Hood's barn!

Speaking of Rob - I left him directions on the fridge for watering plants (which he did).  I also told him to yell at the animals (because they've been eating my garden!).  I suspect he ignored that bit of instruction and just watched them graze.

The humming birds were impressive for the week I was gone, though!  And check out the piebald deer that came to visit.

Mom and I stayed at a friends house for Friday night (thank you!), and were lucky enough to have the cottage available by noon on Saturday!

We were highly amused our outdoor shower included an outdoor toilet.  This wasn't an outhouse - outdoor plumbing at its best!  LOL

Visited Provincetown for the first time in a decade?  At least that long.  The first place we stopped at was Marine Specialties.  There's always something interesting in that place.  At first my nephew was ho-hum, but as we waded into the shop, he was mesmerized.  My mother and I checked out a good chunk of Commercial street while my sister and nephew lingered behind.

We had to climb the monument, of course!  Nice clear skies so we got a terrific view!

We had good weather for the family events (beach cookout and homemade ice cream!).  It was great to see the aunts and uncles and to get caught up with all my cousins and their kids.  Oh, yeah!  And to hand off my latest baby quilt that I finished just in time!

Another selfie of the four of us, but I love the expression on everyone's faces.  Probably my favorite photo of the month.  We had a really good week together.

And this was the sunset we were enjoying.  

My sister and I kayaked a few times during our stay.  We attempted the bay while it was still choppy and got dunked while attempting to launch.  We both had forgotten to put our phones into their protectors, and managed not to brick either phone.  Mine got thoroughly soaked in the salt water, so I suspect it's just a matter of time before it starts to fritz.  But it's working great for now!

My sister and I returned home to calmer waters.  My sister really liked the colors of the trees and the sky and snapped this photo of me.  I had enjoyed the challenge of kayaking in the bay, but Leverett Pond is a lot easier!   

I have not gotten out as much as I'd like this summer, due to the crazy weather.  Fingers crossed that I can squeeze in a few good paddles in September.

Game day!  That gave me the opportunity to try out a new recipe for Basque Cheesecake.  The following sentence won me over: "The chocolate Basque cheesecake bakes at 450 degrees F for 25 minutes which feels like an insane thing to do to a cheesecake, but trust the process."  So I trusted the process and it was delicious!  Super dense.  Everyone loved it.

My garden is completely overgrown.  I pulled a full wheelbarrow full of weeds out a week ago, and need at least that much pulled again.  Plus my irises are way overdue to be dug up and split.  I'm loving how the marigolds came in, though, and the zinnias are starting to produce. 

Ghost, the piebald deer, has appeared again (see link above for more photos of Ghost and Spotty), but Spotty has disappeared.  He's hard to photograph because we've only spotted him on the far side of the meadow.

I asked for (and received!) a four day work week starting this week.  Maybe that extra time will allow me to work on that garden?  Ha.  Maybe not.  I have way more things planned than I can possibly jam into an extra day off.  But it's absolutely a step in the right direction.

Lots of things to like and be grateful for in August!  September is shaping up to be a busy month, too.  I'm linking up with the I Like Thursday group.  Thanks for dropping in.