end of summer [bel]grade

the end of summer isn't always dictated by the calender.


i think there's one weekend every year that gives you the sense the summer is comming to an end.  it's a little earlier in maine than it was in kansas but it usually happens in late august or early september.  this year that weekend fell during a trip to the belgrade lakes area.  we had some friends invite us up to spend the weekend with them and their family.  the weekend was chill, a little boating, a little swimming and a lot of good conversation.  it was a wonderful summer weekend but there was something in the air suggesting summer was nearly over.  it was nothing negative... just the feeling you get as you near the end of a great vacation or chapter in a book.  that chapter for me was a summer filled of exploring new places in maine, and learning to love this state more and more.

thats [amore]

after attending the st. peters italian bazaar festival last year, my wife and i fell in love and couldn't wait to attend again this year.  with the sense of community, the food, the games, the greased pole competition...and of course the cannoli's, what's not to love.  much like the year before we started at tomaso's canteen for a few drinks before going to the festival.  after a bit we ventured to the front of st. peters church where everything was going in full force, italian music was playing, kids were attempting to climb the greased pole and the cannoli booth was set up.  we walked around and took in the sights and even ran into a few people we knew.  this year however i was better prepared for my cannoli purchases.  after stuffing my face with two as soon as the were purchased, i was smart enough to bring extra cash to purchase several more to take home and enjoy later. 

they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and the annual st. peters italian bazaar festival has secured a direct route with those cannoli's.

 

 

[bristol]party

a friends 40th birthday party lead us to a new part of the state last month.  slightly short of a two hour drive we discovered the area known as seal cove next to the town of south bristol.  it was a wonderful little day trip and allowed us to have another great weekend enjoying the summer with friends near water.

catch me if you can [sir]

[sometimes] the best way to escape the stress of adulthood is by acting like a kid again.

[sometimes] it's fun to put on a costume and roam the streets like a bunch of gadabouts.

[sometimes] photographs aren't about art or rules, but rather capturing the moment and feeling at the time.

[always] you're friends are the best to do these things with.

enjoy a few pics from last weekends [crawl for cancer] depicting all the above statements perfectly. 

 

 

 

 

[signs] of summer

the other week found me taking a road trip to visit some friends at the lake of the ozarks. with the summer of 2011 producing a sweltering number of 100+ days, it didn't take much convincing for me to drive the 5 hours east. as enjoyable as a few days wading around in lake water is, the best part of the weekend was the company. time was spent catching up, and reminiscing with old friends, getting to know a few better, and making new ones. all of them wonderful people.

i had driven this road to the lake three years ago and had fallen in love with the little rural towns dotting its path. wanting to extend my weekend a bit longer, i took my time driving back home. stopping in any little town that looked interesting, i wondered the streets searching for old signs to photograph. just like my friends, some of the signs were familiar, a few i got to know better, and a few were completely new. all of them were wonderful