Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Summer or winter, rain or sweltering sun, I am in my family's forest every single day. Ceaselessly, this place is balm to my soul. But during the summer it becomes my favorite place on earth.

-RAY

[All photos taken by me.]

Thursday, July 25, 2013


"The grass whispered under his body. He put his arm down, feeling the sheath of fuzz on it, and, far away, below, his toes creaking in his shoes. The wind sighed over his shelled ears. The world slipped bright over the glassy round of his eyeballs like images sparked in a crystal sphere. Flowers were suns and fiery spots of sky strewn through the woodland. Birds flickered like skipped stones across the inverted pond of heaven. His breath raked over his teeth, going in ice, coming out fire. Insects shocked the air with electric clearness. Ten thousand individual hairs grew a millionth of an inch on his head. He heard the twin hearts beating in each ear, the third heart beating in his throat, the two hearts throbbing his wrists, the real heart pounding his chest. The million pores on his body opened. I am really alive! he thought. I never knew it before, or if I did I don't remember."
-Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury


-RAY 

[All photos taken by me.]

Saturday, July 20, 2013

 The constant, sweltering nights are cloyed with the deafening sound of cicadas, a sweet smell of the rich green flora, and a strong feeling that nothing in the world is quite as remarkable as summer.

-RAY

[All photos taken by me.]

Monday, July 15, 2013

sunday


"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
-Henry James

Sundays in the summer will never be beat. For as long as I can remember, Sunday has always been the day of the week in the summer when my family and I either chill out at home and read all day or call my cousins and meet up at the lake. Yesterday we all flocked to my grandma's lakehouse and it was really excellent. Being at that place with everyone I love does wonders to my temperament.

-RAY

[All photos taken by me]

Saturday, July 13, 2013

sunset

Last weekend from Friday to Monday I was at my Grandma's lakehouse and it was like this fantastic vacation that I never wanted to end. The lakehouse in the summertime is pure magic. The weekend was overcast and rainy but every night without fail this brilliant sunset would burst through the sky and all of us would pile on the boat and swim and talk and laugh till dusk. I loved the way the sun made everyone's faces glow and blush. Fourth of July weekend is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

-RAY

[All photos taken by me]

Thursday, July 4, 2013

summer vibes


 Today is Independence Day and my family and I watched the fireworks explode over the lake. It was totally magical. Also, this great 4th of July weekend is upon us and here's what I'm feeling: SUMMER VIBES. Lately summer's been feeling pretty dang gorgeous. All this week I've been thinking about Radio Days because it always reminds me of this time of year, which in turn made me listen to endless big band (think Harry James and Artie Shaw) while I typed on my beautiful Royal typewriter. I'm also remembering some things from a year ago that I created like this video I made with my mates, and also 4th of July weekend last year. As always my family, some friends and I are going to my Grandma's lakehouse until the start of next week. I can't wait to spend this weekend with my favorite people on earth.

[Third and fifth photos of surf shack in southwest Tasmania by James Bowden, all other photos via Tumblr]

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

summer bits


Some bits and pieces from June that I didn't share. Stuff like chilling out with my two killer cousins Zeke (see first photo) and Elijah for a few days in which we stayed up late, watched The Sandlot and read on the porch in the mornings. Other stuff like being outside till after the sun goes down enjoying the sheer bliss and freedom of the sunshine, the breeze and the green (see first and third photo). Not to mention chilling with my bro's outside because the weather is so dang perfect even when it's dark and the moon is full (see fifth photo). Also I've formed a habit of reading and writing on the weekends when I'm exceptionally full of ideas (see last photo).

I hope your summer has been really terrific. 

-RAY 

Monday, July 1, 2013

friday

What is it about going somewhere on a summer Friday night that feels oh so good? Last Friday my sister and I went to a friends house in the countryside and it felt like we were on holiday. It was so quiet and absolutely gorgeous it took my breath away. By the end of the night we all smelled like smoke, good food, and faintly, just faintly, of cigarettes and cigars. I can't get enough of nights like these when nothing else matters. Only in summer.

-RAY

[All photos taken by me]