Julia Pagano Photography

Summer, lush green grasses and endless days, flowers and bumblebees and sand between your toes. It's over, even in our extended and twisted calendar. The world is full of reds and yellows already, apples and bright leaves on the grass, and we are working on Halloween costumes and anticipating lots of horror, short days, fresh Scottish winds and rains. My summer photo project is over too. Check #100momentsofsummer   to see it all. Summer meets Autumn, is being polite and says hello.  Autumn brings gifts, of crispy apples and orange pumpkins, red and yellow leaves, short days and long shadows, rains and bare trees... I love autumn, it brings special brand of tranquility to the world. You shed the leaves of past summer and see the world clearer. Harvesting the fruits of my summer photo project, time to start the next one. Or pack the camera, lenses, and take a break :-) The next photo project will run for the next 5 months, till spring. It will be about our life,...

We spent several gorgeous days in it during our holidays this summer. We did car rides, all sorts of playgrounds, climbing frames, snacks, benches, playhouses, balloons, ice-creams for adults and coffees for kids :)... In this order and reverse, and then again. It was fun. We met with cousins, which increased the fun. Undeniably when you put two and two kids together, the amount of fun does not get simply added, it gets multiplied by four at least. The most anticipated and desired attraction was tree climbing. While the older trio was up and high in the tree tops, Matteo was making his own discoveries, including the sliding rocking horse. Still he's got all the gear to use. And this is the last piece of our summer, which was still stuck in the memory card of the camera. Time to greet the autumn.

Birthday girl got gifts, flowers and cake. We did not smash it. It's not a ladylike behavior, decided our birthday girl. Stealing blueberries from the cake, on the contrary, is.

Breakfast. Pancakes. Coffee is already gone - without this drug no pancakes can be cooked. Instead plenty of good vibes for the day.

This is about our walks through Botanical Gardens of St Andrews. We've been here in April , to see the first spring flowers and the start of Gruffalo's trail. The trail is now completed, and the garden is in full bloom. We checked out the trail, heard some live music - there was a concert on the meadow, walked and ran around, and also took pictures, of flowers, and children. These walks were special, because all five of us were doing them. Sweet first steps, wobbly feet and spread arms, falling and standing up again. And we get to the flowers. And walk a bit more.

Last pieces of summer to go. It was rolling slowly under the hot summer sun, serene and calm, surrounded by green meadows and endless blue sky. The walk to the small river beach, refreshing coolness of water, the heat, the infecting lazy summer mood - it's all there.

Our baby has turned one! There is something about girls and their jewellery. Diamonds are the best friends, this we remember. In the absence of latter, also some nice bright wooden beads would do. They are friendlier on the tooth, of which we still have just two so far. Tutu - check. Lipstick - check. Jewellery - check. Got to go, smash the cake!

To make a perfect portrait, you need following for starters: a model and a frame. Some color also helps to achieve a nice result. Accessories are important too. You can be creative and use everything at hand. Make sure nothing gets wasted! Emotion and nice facial expression are also crucial. Ok, got it all together. Let's see what happens! Next we try to make a perfect pie. Oh my :-)

we stay home. We play, cook, do laundry, take naps, make mess, and take photos.

Rock climbing, treasure hunting, jumping, throwing pebbles in the water - the afternoon had it all and more. Chilly sea and round smooth pebbles met the feet. The tide came, and left again, gentle waves quietly lapping at the pebbles. The clouds gave way to sun. The beach, narrow because of high tide, was a magnet slowly revealing its attractions and treasures.

This week-end we were discussing, what to do with my summer project, #100momentsofsummer . Calendar was rolling to inevitable end of August, while many of our summer adventures remained unpublished. We also bought a sun dress, stumbling upon it accidentally. And we thought, it cannot be over, if we are not ready. If we still feel like summer, with all its flowers, berries, bugs, fresh Scottish winds and sand between your toes. So we went for a walk, and made a crown. We crowned a queen and a king. Thus, the Queen of Summer declares it is not over, who cares about calendar. It goes on, at least till September equinox. The Forest King in his turn orders to go on with ice-creams, sand castles, barbecues, bike rides and all the boyish summer joys and shenanigans.

What to say. They always fly around, these baby socks. Yet they can never be found when they are needed. They are played with, eaten, hidden... and sometimes worn too.

that happen in the kitchen. Cookies, cakes, fingers in the batter and chocolate. Everything gets tasted, and eventually eaten. Sometimes it includes the poor plate, or a bowl, or a random piece of table. Especially if you are the one stuck with baby biscuits and porridge, and no cake.   Ok, here comes the cake. It was mentioned here some days ago. And the cake maker. The cake maker was very good and patient with changing light and camera settings. The cake, chocolaty and fruity with nice sour note of raspberries, softness of ricotta and creamy chocolate ganache. And it is all gone :-) P.S. All the sweets mentioned in this post, have been successfully eaten. The bowl and the table are still there.

Meeting cousins often involves some drama. Over who shouts louder or jumps higher. Or goes first, or stops last, or decides what comes next, or argues with the decision. Lots of fun and lots of drama.

Beach is one of our regular destinations. St Andrews gives you a choice of windy West Sands with its wonderful panorama of the town, and endless sandy vista during low tide. Or smaller and somewhat cosier East Sands with its pier, cathedral and Coastal Path curving its way along the sea. 

Yesterday was big and special. The school has started. Matteo had his first school day. Then we made a cake, but this will be a different story. So, are we ready for school, did we like it? Here's one opinion:

An interesting playground equipment was discovered by our crew in Regent Park in London this summer. Everybody enjoyed a climb, everybody at their own pace, and height. And risk :-)