I'm coming off of a marvelous weekend todayone that was part refreshing and relaxingand still filled with unbroken hours in the gardenspent cutting back summer's growth.With still enough unhurried timeto shop with my youngest for clothes for collegewhich starts for him today.
I woke up this morning to a chill in the airand out of no where the fog pulled in from the oceana perfect gentle reminderto not only savor and enjoy these last weeks of summer ...
but even morethe suddenness of the change in weathera reminder to meto seek gratitude for all the beauty in a dayand gratitude for the health of myself and my familyfor I have realized all to often of latethat too,
can change on a dimethrough no fault of our own.
This knowledge has me continually motivated to seek out the beauty in the every dayand
especially the weekend.
So for Friday's date night a picnic was packed and down to Crystal Cove beach we drove.
In a presently ongoing quest in trying to simplify my lifeto be able to enjoy it moreI decided I wanted to know I could still have a luxurious date nightwithout feeling I had to be held hostage in having to spend for it.
For me a luxury date consists of a stunning vistahealthy beautiful foodwineand the man I love.
We had the most marvelous mealcourtesy of trips to the farmer's marketand the creative efforts of my darling daughter!
I told her I would pay for all the ingredientsand
she could make a picnic for herself and her loveas well as her dad and I.
She prepared the most perfect picnicand we all had our own romantic dates!
Ellis packed everything for the picnic in
mason jarsform the appetizers to the main courseand even desert!
The desert was a memory in itself!A healthy version of cheesecake made with greek yogurtand baked right in the jarsand
topped with fresh berries!
I must admitdriving down to the beach I was missing just going 'out'but it ended up to be the most magical and romantic night ...
The sheer vastness …
of the oceanand the sky being continually painted with the setting sun …
was so soul restoring
it had all the effort to get to the moments
so worth it all.
A moment filled with wonder and beauty
a moment
to be reminded
not only of the true beauty in the world
but
a reassurance
in the power above.
My heart is full of gratitude this week
for the reminder.As always my friends
I wish you love and joy
as you style your life