A Sweet Goodbye to Summer
An end-of-season reflection on joy, rituals, and lingering in the light.
This summer wasn’t about big trips or overstuffed schedules — it was about the little things that carried us through.
Lemon bars, patio evenings, late blooms, and learning how to savor the moment instead of rushing past it. Before September begins, I wanted to look back at what this season meant to me.
Simple Joys
If there was one theme this summer, it was citrus. These lemon bars became the star of the season — the recipe I made again and again, the one I was asked for the most, the one that somehow tasted like buttery sunshine every single time.
But it wasn’t just the sweets. There were 20 quiet minutes of arranging flowers that felt like pure escapism. A few evenings on the patio with neighbors, citronella candles glowing and laughter spilling out into the night. Tiny rituals that stitched the season together.
Lessons I’m Taking With Me
This summer reminded me:
That you can teach an old dog new tricks — I truly enjoyed this season for the first time in my adult life!
The importance of learning to be still and how embracing creativity can help me release control in other areas.
The importance of family and community, and how much it matters to continue traditions while making new ones.
The versatility of a good ol’ lemon 😉.
Looking Ahead
August may be ending, but the season itself isn’t over just yet — not here in SoCal, anyway. So I’ll linger a little longer in the sunshine, savoring citrus, rosé, blooms, and the sweetness that’s still left. Fall will come when it comes, and when the air finally shifts, I’ll be ready.
Until then, here’s to the last bite of summer. 🍋🥂
With Love,
Ambyr