Well, it’s the last day of lakes and forests, and the last evening of fireflies. Tomorrow we head back home, and then to work again.

As long as I’ve worked (and I started in high school), I’ve been guilty of not taking time off when I should, and of not staying away long enough when I finally did.

No more.

From here on, I will take the time I’m owed, the time that I and my family deserve. I will take time for myself and not feel guilty about it

I’m now officially too old to waste that time.

I will take the time and I will see and appreciate interesting things, even if they are sometimes small and often not far from home. My camera will record everything for me to remember, even if no one else ever sees it. I will be proud of my work. I will return to work with a renewed spirit.

More last days to come.

I went down to the shore to be alone for a while with the camera, the pier and the setting sun tonight. It gets dark so late here – sunset was well after 9:00pm – that I decided I had the time for a few shots.

The sky over the water was as gorgeous dressed in oranges and pinks as it is in its daytime blue and white. It made a perfect backdrop for the twin lighthouses. I’m hoping for good things from the 5D, but for now, here’s what the iPhone saw.

St. Joseph holds an annual Venetian Festival celebration this time of year. I’d never heard of one, but it’s a pretty big deal for a small town like this.

We visited yesterday for a short time. The live music and fireworks were set for later in the evening, so we checked out the craft fair and enjoyed the requisite greasy carnival food.

A side effect of the festivities is that a large chunk of town and most access to the beaches is blocked to casual traffic all weekend. The only way past the blockade is through the festval, so we made our way down to Silver Beach.

There were crowds, but nothing like what I’m used to. The skies were blue, fluffy clouds plentiful, and a sand castle-building competition was underway. It was a pleasant scene, and quite different from the So Cal version.

The sculpture is “Point” by Mike Helbing.

I’m spending mornings and evenings forest-walking. It’s easy to do when they’re everywhere.

I went out with the camera last evening in a gentle rain and explored a trail along the edge of a ravine. I was harangued by a territorial robin and startled (and was startled by) a pair of white-tailed does, watching them bound away into the deep foliage.

I returned this morning to enjoy the quiet and a few more photos in the change of light. I was greeted by raindrop-adorned spider webs and the sounds of woodpeckers in the canopy.

There are a lot of things I love about living and working in and around LA, but I do miss being closer to natural settings.