06 September 2011

A Gentle Way Of Life

Labor Day 2011.  It's the last day official "fun" day of summer.  Or so  I'm told.  I flately refuse to believe that because I'm a, summer never ends kind of gal, which is why I live in Southern California in the first place. 12 months a year you can't pry the flip flops off my feet.

Yesterday, tourists were still in town, lined up on the coastal highway in RV's, waiting in que at the restaurants, basking on the beaches, enjoying their last hurrah before hiballing it back to school, every day responsibilities, and Autumn in their own parts of the country. 

Wednesday the Del Mar Races will officially be over, so what reason to stay any longer?  Shhhhhhhhh.  I'll let you in a bitty seceret.  Now is the beginning of good times in our little beach town.  Now, there are no waits at restaurants.  Now, when it's a sunny, 75-degree day on the coast, it's unexpected elsewhere and nobody else knows, so you may end up having the entire beach to yourself! The streets are fluid, no crowds, no waits, no crankieness.  Our gentle way of life has returned.  There is a special beauty to the seasons other than summer at the beach.  Yesterday for instance, we had a rare rainy day.  Just a drizzle actually but refreshing and it made for one of the most miraculous sunsets I've ever seen.  
Can you believe that!  Ochre skies on crimson water.
It doesn't get any more resplendent than this.  Labor Day sky over the grand Pacific Ocean.
We had (I like to believe), brilliant conversation, cocktails, orduveres and lots of laughs with out neighbors while watching the sunset.
We spent part of our time outside on the patio, but the drizzle brought us inside for a while too.  Still, we didn't miss a minute as we waited for the green flash. And there it is...
Going
Going
Gone.

So if you really want to enjoy the beach, schedule a visit during Fall, Winter or Springtime.  It's especially gorgeous here then, and you won't have to deal with the crowds.  I'll have a parking spot for ya right out front.  But, shhhhh, don't tell 'em I sent you.


Tell me about your part of the country?  What do you love about Fall there?  I don't think I've ever traveled anywhere that Fall wasn't my favorite season!


Love you more than all the dazzeling sunsets we'll share from now until next summer.  If you lean right and drag your cursor up a bit you'll find my "Follow" button. Sign up there and you'll be able to see all kinds of sunsets when you return here because, I like to share.

End of Summer Blessings,

Tia

13 comments:

Unknown said...

It got COLD here overnight! Today, I am wearing (heaven forbid) SOCKS, SHOES, JEANS AND LONG SLEEVES!!!! Farewell to summer, hello to layers of clothes again. Another sign of the change of seasons: I weeded out my closet. Hurrah. I feel purged!!!!!

I will be back in summer/winter-in-the-Bahamas just after Christmas, so it is not soooo horrible. Like you, Tia, I am a summer person. Canada gives four seasons (most years) and I do appreciate them all, but Summer is definitely my fav.

Blessings as you enjoy your own town again sans touristas.
Rosemary

Blondie's Journal said...

Tia...this has to be the most spectacular sunset I have ever seen. Wow!! I can see why you live in So. California!! I have been to San Diego and I loved it...but other than Vegas, that's as far West as I've gotten!

I can feel fall in the air...I hate to see summer go, but I do love fall. Getting in the mood for it!!

Have a wonderful week!!

XO,
Janie

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

Beautiful Sunset...THANK YOU!

Nothing better than Fall.
Favorite season of them all.
Of course I love the northern or north eastern trees with the firey dark red maples and all the vibrant colors and smells. And crisp apples and warm cocoa w/peppermint schnapps ....ooooh the only thing wrong with fall is winter is close behind and it's longer than fall.

NanaDiana said...

Oh I have missed you and your posts and your crazy comments. Oh..wait..it is ME that makes the crazy comments, isn't it?

We went from hot sultry 90º days to 38º last night...What the? I do think God has a sense of humor and likes to use it on us Midwesterners (and I'm really an East Coast gal that's been transported but don't tell anyone). We are back to school with kiddos and today it is strangely quiet here after having SweetCheeks here for the weekend. I now know more about being kidnapped by an EVIL MOTHAH than I ever wanted to know~

Your sunsets are spectacular as always...and guess what..NO ONE is on our beaches right now either...well, NO SANE people are on our beaches right now that is! Have a great week! xo Diana

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Tia,
Oh your sunset pics are just amazing!!!
Makes me want to hop in a plane and visit right now!
In Wisconsin, my favorite part of fall is when the trees are turning gorgeous yellows and red's!
The weather here is perfect right now...mid-seventies and I wish I could just bottle it up and save it since winter won't be far behind.
Great Post!
Cindy

Laurie said...

Lovely sunset! Have you really seen the "green flash"? I have looked for it many times in Cali and in Hawaii, but no luck!

danneromero said...

beautiful....

i love to walk around laguna during the cooler months... actually, my daughter and i go there during any season, on occasion, to run along the coast...

i say any beach time is soothing time....
thanks for sharing .....

Seawashed said...

It really is amazing...I hear you I also like the off seasons of the coast. We go to the coast the most Autumn thru Spring rather than Summer. Autumn is my absolute favorite time to be on the coast.

Julie Harward said...

Thanks for sharing the gorgeous sunset with me...I enjoyed every moment of it all! :D

bichonpawz said...

I TOTALLY agree with you! Our cottage on the lake is just perfect AFTER Labor Day! September is hands down the most favorite month here. The tourists and "summer people" were all closing up...and the RV's were streaming out of the park...which happens to be at the end of our dead end road! We can walk IN the road now without traffic. It is heavenly!! What a perfectly gorgeous sunset. I really need to see that little corner of the world you live in. Went on a business trip one time to Manhattan Beach...but that was the extent of my CA travels!! Well...we did do a drive by of Redondo Beach...but yours looks nicer! Hugs to you my friend!!
Jeanne

Simple Home said...

What a beautiful sunset!!! We have some pretty ones up here in the desert too, but there's nothing like sunset at the beach :)
Blessings,
Marcia

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Oh, Tia.. I can only imagine what it must be like to look out over that VIEW!!.. what splendid colors in your sunsets!!...

What I love about fall here.... the smell of autumn leaves on the damp earth, woodsmoke from fireplace chimneys, hot apple cider, pick-your-own apple orchards, agricultural fairs, the cool night air fragrant with those leaves...

Jenny said...

Gorgeous sunset! Enjoy having it all to yourself now!