There was heat, there was sun, and there was smoke. Life is never perfect, but this summer sure was fine. Our favorite moments:
reads: Sherman Alexie's beautiful You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, David Sedaris's hilarious Theft By Finding, Dave Eggers' road trip adventure Heroes of the Frontier and for a little debauchery, Running With the Devil -- the story behind the making of Van Halen.
the great outdoors: backpacking in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and camping at Copper Lake -- challenging? yes. worth it? absolutely.
island escape: Whidbey! U-pick farms (Featherstone Farm in Clinton), the coolest old school arcade (The Machine Shop), catching "pinks" at Bush Point, driftwood forts and dogs at Double Bluff, the Eagles garage sale, the beautiful new Flying Bear Farm outpost and catching a Sounders game with nachos at Cozy's Roadhouse, supreme.
cocktail: the celery gimlet from the charming Virginia Bunker of Future Nostalgia
tunes: Waxahatchee's Out in the Storm, dreamy.
favorite tent/hiking/bonfire question: "three bands playing your ultimate party -- who are they and what do they open and close with?"
unplugged fun: farkle, ukulele jams, bicycle Sundays, blueberry crisps and slime galore
goodbye summer 2017 ... fall fun ahead!