Farewell Summer

That nip in the air that spells autumn is here. It's amusing to live in a place with actual seasons . . . the change is distinct: leaves coloring, that cool undercurrent to the afternoon sunshine, the pungent smell of over-ripened grapes (everyone has a grape arbor here). So farewell, summer, we'll be thinking of you fondly as we approach notorious winter. (Romania borders the Ukraine, you know!)

Summer started off with graduation from pre-K!

Then we headed for so. Cal. and Nana's rock'n'roll birthday bash.

The girls love Nana's house!

RIP Jeremy. (That drive down from San Francisco was a little overzealous.)

When Audrey saw the water feature at Legoland, she simply disrobed. I was laughing too hard to even help the poor girl. I recovered, and put the bathing suit on her.

Dinner at Ojai's Deer Lodge. Cowboy hats required.

Sunday walks.

Taking in the 4th of July parade in Ojai (town of my nativity).

From so. Cal. it was on to Las Vegas via the marathon greyhound ride. Pool time at Gigi and PopPop's Casa Caliente (aptly named!).

Gigi spoiled us with the greatest show on earth.

Bunny watching with PopPop. (Hint: rabbit is that tiny speck on the upper right of the green.)

The Mandalay Bay pools are the best! (A tip from Chad: bring a few inflatables to sell--the hotel charges $16 for a small one. He sold three and made $35. That's my Schatzi.)


Mr. Jet Set, I mean, Daddy, squeezed in some time in Paris, London and Bucharest. We'll forgive him, after all, he brought us strawberry marshmallows from Laduree.














Reunited at Silver Lake.











A mother's pride and joy (both the baby and the pram, which is a vintage coach built Pedigree model, with 16" and 18" rims--perfect for lakeside strolling).







Back home, Audrey enjoys the red sauce at Ad Hoc in Napa.













Why not hike half dome a week before moving to Europe? Congratulations, Schatzi!











The new faux lawn we had installed 4 days before leaving for Bucharest. Forever green.