The Little Things No. 48

Dear friends,

What a summer it has been. I hope that you are making the most of the here and now. These beautiful warm summer days go by so quickly. It has been a while since my last “The Little Things” post and I wanted to share my August with you.

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about social media. It is changing so fast and the pace makes me feel like I am on another treadmill. I love social apps like Instagram because I can connect with loved ones, especially those far away. I also follow a lot of positive and creative and inspiring people. I do not get caught up in scrolling traps like some people I know and I follow great people, but it can still be draining on my energy. Especially as a photographer and creator. There is constant pressure to always be available and to always be producing. Creativity is not linear and it isn’t steady. It comes and goes in ebbs and flows and trying to push out more and more “content” removes me from my creativity and my authenticity. So I’m slowing it back down again and focusing more on my blog, where I can share my photography and my writing in ways that truly bring me joy and connection.

One of the things I love about my The Little Things series is that all of the photos are a behind the scenes of my days. A majority of the photos are from my phone’s camera roll, so they’re not the perfectly edited images that I would share on my typical blog posts and social apps. It is a little peek at real life.

I have been spending more time outside and less time on my phone. If you return to my blog, I want you to know how much I truly appreciate your ongoing support. We have carved out this little corner of the internet where we can appreciate the little things. What little things have you appreciated this month?

I’ll share a few of mine:

Sun filled mornings with our cat, Madeleine.

Summer concerts on the town green.

Classic books like July’s book of the month; The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe.

This lemonade pitcher:

This super delightful table setting for our book club meetups hosted by Emma.

Library books and book recommendations from friends.

Afternoon walks.

Bought a few summer dresses on clearance.

Had a me date at my favorite place, the Book Barn.

Stopped by one opf my “happy places.” Unfortunately Gumdrops and Lollipops is no longer a diner or candy store. They still serve lunch at their back window and ice cream, but that’s about it. I’m a little sad about it.

A lobster roll from Skipper’s in Niantic.

A lot of time spent editing photos! With great company of course.

Babysat my cousin’s bunny, Graham.

My garden didn’t do so well with the drought, but some tomatoes are ripening.

This Cinderella dress from Linennaive.

Spent two days on Block Island, one of my favorite New England summer destinations.

Got sea sick for the first time though. Not fun! It was quite a bumpy ride.

But I thankfully felt better by dinner time. Good thing too or I would have missed out on this yummy lobster bisque and scallops.

Attempted some watercolor on the beach.

Explored the Block Island library.

Matthew brought home these lovely flowers.

Looked at an office/studio space! It was not the right fit, but it was fun to look. I’m on a waiting list for a studio that would fit my needs and budget.

Time on the lake.

‘First time I’ve made it to the Bridgewater fair in ages. Met up with some cousins.

Jones Winery with a new friend.

We were invited out on a sail boat pic nic with our good friends Ben and Courtney. Such a fun day!

Bike rides at home.

Found some Gladys Tabor books at our local library.

Hogan’s Cider Mill.

Took our kayaks out with some good friends. I love being out on the water. This was the first time in a couple years that I have been able to use my blue Pelican kayak. We need a new kayak rack so we can take them out more often.

We have season passes to the Mystic Aquarium. the best part is that we each get to bring a guest for free. So we made a day trip with friends. This beluga was happy to see Matt.