Lately

 James got a new desk, appropriate for his new teaching role this year. He's excited about it, and I'm excited about all the storage space it has. 

A few rainy, cloudy fall days recently. I'm thankful for a cozy couch to read and do homework on. I usually drink my morning coffee here too. 

Spent some time in local bookstores for a class assignment this week. These books are on my reading list, and this latte was so creamy and rich. 

I took this first picture of James to post earlier this week, the second picture was how he really felt about the whole thing. I love this goofball. 

 The afternoon light in our apartment is magical, and I'm trying to soak it up. Already it is dark and brisk when we leave for work in the morning. 

 New haircut! New school clothes! 

 On Monday I did a coffee tasting at our store. Part of my job as coffee master is to host tastings like this and talk about the coffee with our customers. 

I walk by the library on my way home from work, and yesterday was the start of a $5 box of books sale. These are used books that get donated to the library and for one reason or another they don't use them. I filled this box and walked half a mile home with it in my arms. I want to start a "take a book, leave a book" box at work. This morning my arms and shoulders are killing me! Worth it? Yes. 

We're getting back in the swing of the school year. We are trying to focus on work and school, balance life together and with friends, and shift our priorities to the most important things. Some days our schedules are opposite--those days we rely on notes and phone calls to connect. Other days we get up together, have breakfast together, drive to work together, come home together, and spend the evening together--those days are fun. 

Whale of a Tale

 When James and I were asked if we wanted to go on an all day Sunday sail, we said yes without even thinking about it. We all woke up around 6am, and made our way down to Winthrop and set off in the early morning light (with a stop at Starbucks first of course). 

 The Boston Harbor is full of lobster pods, and fisherman like this man pull them up to find lobster inside.

We sailed for four hours out into the Atlantic, the first time I'd ever really seen it (even though we've been living here for more than two years). The Atlantic Ocean is blue, and cold. We fought through some pretty big waves and almost 20k wind to get out there. James steered most of the way and did an awesome job. 

 Stellwagon Bank National Marine Sanctuary was our destination, and once we were there we kept an eye out for puffs of water. 

 We first saw backs. 

 Then realized there were more than one. 

 Then tails.

A whale watching tour was out there with us. This whale was watching the boat, getting up close, and then diving under it. 

 Suddenly Sheila and I heard "PPFFFFFFTT!!!" about 20 feet from where we were sitting on the forward starboard side of the boat. So close we jumped and I couldn't focus my camera. This whale  dove under the boat and came up right next to us. 

 Breathing in. 

They were all around us. 

The thrill of the adventure was incredible. It took us about 5 hours to sail back in light winds, spinnaker sail up, but returning home exhausted was well worth the hour we spent with Humpback whales. We touched a bit of nature. We marveled at how gigantic and gentle these creatures are, and were startled by how close they were willing to play with us. They are graceful, unpredictable, impossibly enormous, and so alive. 

At the Finish

The summer is full. Full to the brim with conversations, day trips, train rides, good dinners, crisp evenings, fun with friends, sailing adventures, corn on the cob, movies, books read, craft projects, walks, time in New Hampshire, games, french presses of coffee, days in Boston, dinners with the Hudsons, sleeping in, baked goods, flowers, Portland Maine, late nights laughing, cooking together, jokes, and learning to love one another better. 

I think I'll miss Anwen most in the morning, I love when she wakes up and the new day of thoughts and conversation commences. We share coffee and laugh together. 

Learning to sail together has by far been the best part of the summer. We looked forward to Wednesday night every week, the quality family time was truly a gift. Tonight will be our last race all together, and I plan to soak it up.