Hello, August.

I know everyone always says this, but I can't believe August is actually here. I spent so much of July wishing for its end so Mike and I could visit Georgia, then for August so we could move into our new apartment. After much anticipation, it's strange to look around and see those things in the past and in the present.

We got the keys to our new place on Tuesday and promptly started moving things in. Mike took advantage of his days off moving boxes over while I was at work. Today he's in Western Mass getting the rest of his stuff from storage and tomorrow is our last push and Ikea run. I can't believe it! I'm so excited to get started making curtains and getting settled.

Our trip to Georgia was relaxing and all too quick, as usual. There just isn't enough time to split between my grandparents' house and my sister's. We did some sightseeing in Senoia where they're filming The Walking Dead, ate lots of my mom's good cooking, and played Guess Who? countless times. I'm so happy these days, so filled with love and excitement for everyday.

Hello, August. Hello our first (and possibly last) trip to the beach. Welcome, first apartment and days of just us. Dinners on the back porch, bike rides to Walden Pond, feverish sewing and settling, early mornings, a new writing routine, a farm wedding, camping, and that urgent, tugging feeling that summer-is-almost-over-let's-do-all-we-can-to-slow-it-down.

And now--and instadump.

Bangor? I don't even know her!

That's right, Mike and I headed up to Bangor, Maine on an impromptu weekend trip. While Friday was spent working at various wifi-offering places waiting for the ever-elusive Verizon technician to show up (yes, again), I needed a good weekend away from a computer and a phone. Mike's dad was able to use some of his hotel points to get us a couple nights at a Marriott in Bangor, so we hopped in the car and headed out Saturday morning. We took the leisurely route to our destination, stopping in Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME before ending up in Bangor.

I forgot to pack any film, so the weekend was documented via point-and-shoot and Instagrams.

We were in the car by 9 am and hungry by 9:15, so we stopped off at a Dunkin Donuts for some everything bagels and a donut stick.
Next stop was Portsmouth, NH! We walked around downtown, stopping off at Stonewall Kitchen for second breakfast in the form of samples. We didn't buy anything, but I made serious eyes at the artichoke pesto.
In search of a candy store that Mike remembered from visits past, we found an off-the-path used bookstore with great breezes, a bird in the back, and beautiful used books. I had already bought an old paperback copy of Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, or I'd have indulged myself there. We paused at the Ceres Street Bakery for a Snickerdoodle and some water then, failing to find the candy shop, headed out. I was too slow to get the "Welcome to Maine" sign, so I snapped a picture right before the bridge ended.

Our final stop of the day, after checking into the hotel, was the State Fair! Complete with a lumber jack show, sea lion show, ferris wheel, haunted mansion, and fresh squeezed lemonade. We had a blast walking around and taking in the sights (the Bangor population is perfect for people-watching). We ate a proper dinner of french fries, lemonade, and soft serve ice cream before heading back to the hotel for a dip in the pool and hot tub. After a shower we passed out almost immediately, leaving the TV on.

The fair and more to come this week! How was your weekend?

We home.

Today I'm sleepy and thrust back into real life. Feeling a little down, the way you do after you've spent a weekend in an awesome city with some of your favorite people and are forced to go back to work. Pictures, updates, and reflections coming.