The last weekend of the month is when I do my monthly review. A quick scan of my September calendar shows blocks of time for exploring outdoors, walk dates with friends, a trip to Los Angeles for family and my blogging and photography hobbies. Here’s what I enjoyed in September.
Exploring Outdoors
I continued my health routine of cycling, walking, strength exercises and yoga. We had a heat wave in the first week of September then the weather has been pleasant for the rest of the month. I enjoyed many bike rides on my own and nature walks with friends.
We chose trails that take us to a variety of habitats (wetland, meadow and forest). Wildflowers are in bloom and the leaves have started changing colours.
On one nature trail, it was so peaceful that all I heard was the trickling sound of water in a creek, birdsong and the sound of leaves rustling in a light breeze.
On another nature walk, we paused to watch a great egret catch a fish while swans, ducks, cormorants and turtles calmly swam around. We were delighted to see chipmunks, red cardinals and other birds.
Travel: Los Angeles
I took a trip to Los Angeles to see family. We got together to chat, eat, hang out, and just enjoy company. One of the family members is doing well after cancer surgery and treatment so we celebrated together. I am grateful for the quality time we shared.
On one gorgeous morning, we went to Manhattan Beach for an 8K walk and visited the small aquarium at the end of the pier. I love that Manhattan Beach is less crowded than Venice Beach and Santa Monica. We enjoyed watching surfers and volleyball players, as well as admiring the beautiful oceanfront homes and gardens full of pretty flowers and succulents.
Blogging
In addition to my August 2023 Highlights post, I wrote three posts and shared many pictures of my adventures in Iceland. I enjoyed reliving the wonderful experiences that I had while sorting through my photos. Here are the links for September’s posts in case you missed any and want to catch up:
- Iceland Adventure: Blue Lagoon and Reykjavik
- 14 Natural Marvels on Iceland’s South Coast
- Postcards from Iceland’s Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Photographing Public Art
As usual, I see and photograph public art when I am out and about. Here are two “Sankofa Building Project” murals by illustrator Troydell Wallace on display at the Brick Works in Toronto. For more information, visit astrosankofa.org.
Weekend Coffee Share
I’d love for you to share your September highlights and/ or photos of public art around the world in the Comments or InLinkz #136 below. I’m participating in the What’s Been on My Calendar and The Changing Seasons link-ups to see what others have been up to this month.
Happy October!
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Natalie the Explorer 
Natalie, I love how you find and photograph beauty everywhere. Thanks for hosting the weekend coffee share. I always look forward to what you have been up to.
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Suzanne, I do see beauty everywhere. It’s a blessing that I’m grateful for. Thank you for stopping by. I hope September has been good to you and your family.
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Your pictures are lovely, Natalie. My favorite is the lake framed by a tree. I love how bright all your flowers are. 🙂
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Thank you, Marsha. The wildflowers are less showy than other flowers around here but they are the bright spots on the ‘all green’ trails. The pink hibiscus flowers that I saw at Manhattan beach were gorgeous.
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That is a gorgeous picture. They are very showy!
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How nice that you got to catch up with family in LA!
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Sarah, It was wonderful to catch up with family in LA. My first time back to the West Coast since the pandemic started.
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Some great visits to The Great Outdoors here.
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Yes, September has been very good month to be outdoors. The weather forecast is calling for summer-like weather in the first week of October here so I look forward to making more visits to the Great Outdoors.
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Beautiful photos, Natalie. Happy October.
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Thank you, Dan. Happy October to you and yours!
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The images of Troydell Wallace’s artwork are amazing. I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying quality time with your family. Happy Friday.
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Thanks, Shari. I’m glad you liked Troydell Wallace’s artwork. I thought the purple and gold colour combo was so great.
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Yes, the purple and gold brought it to life.
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Really love the artwork at the end, but also lovely to read about your month and see your pictures.
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Thank you, Barbara. September has been great. The forecast for the first week of October is sunny and summer-like so I look forward to enjoying all of it.
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Those murals are fabulous! Great share. And you seem to be travelling a lot atm, or am I just paying more attention because of Iceland?
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Yes, I’m travelling a lot to the US for family this year. I’m glad you liked the murals.
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Hi, Natalie – Thank you for joining us for #WBOYC. I continue to be in awe at how smoothly you maintain family, friends, fitness, travel, exploring and so much more every single month. You are very inspirational!
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Thank you Donna for your kind words. It’s been wonderful for me to be with family in the US after more than two years not able to visit them due to pandemic-related travel restrictions.
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Hi Natalie, LA would be so different to Toronto and much busier. We had a cruise booked to Norway and Iceland for next year but unfortunately it has been cancelled. I’d love to visit Iceland. Thanks for joining us at #WBOYC as you always have such adventures to share with us. Have a great October x
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Hi Sue, LA and Toronto are different in many ways. It’s unfortunate that your cruise to Norway and Iceland was cancelled although a river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel sounds wonderful, too. Thank you for the WBOYC linkup. Happy October to you and Mike!
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I’m always impressed how you balance health and exercise with public art, gardens and all the other things that make up your life. Plus some family time … loks like it was a fab month.
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Thank you Jo. I give these Fs (Fitness, Family, Friends and Fun) high priority and that seems to be the formula for a fabulous month.
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What a wonderful month you’ve had. Fall has proceeded a little further here, the trees are glowing in bright orange and red.
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Thank you, Maria. Fall leaf colours are beautiful. We have summer-like weather in the forecast until at least mid-week next week so the trees may stay green longer than up north.
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I like the picture with the rail fence. I wish we had an ocean beach closer than 8 hours away. I like to visit the beach but don’t think I would like to live there especially with some of those storms that have come ashore recently.
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Yes, I enjoy visiting ocean beaches but not to live there. Most of the beachfront properties are super expensive and they require ongoing maintenance from salt, wind, and/ or extreme weather conditions.
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Glad you got plenty of outdoor time in. The photos look great, as do the descriptions of being out in nature. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip to LA and that your family out there is doing well. The public art is pretty cool. It looks like the two were done on big tarps which were then hung on brick wall. Sounds like a great September. I hope you have a great October 🙂
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Thank you, Trent. September has been great. The local weather forecast calls for summer-like temperatures in the next few days so I hope to do more cycling, hiking and watching Fall leaf colours. Hope you have a wonderful October.
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We will also see pretty warm temperatures in NH (I just returned) the next few days.
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Oh those nature walks sounds just wonderful! I am so glad you had such a great time visiting family in LA.
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Thank you, Joanne. I came home smiling after each of those nature walks. I hope to do more cycling and hiking in October.
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It looks like you’ve had a busy month! Wonderful photos! I especially love the street art by Troydell Wallace. 🙂
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Thank you, Nikki. I’m glad you liked my photos and Troydell’s artwork. I hope September has been good to you.
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Your photos make me smile and think and enjoy. I’m glad you do this series, even when your month is busy.
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Thank you Ally for your lovely comment. I enjoy doing a monthly review and continue feeling grateful for all the good happenings.
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September looks great! I’d love to visit LA.
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I visit LA to see family and friends and haven’t really explored LA. The beaches along the Pacific coast are beautiful.
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Hi Natalie, those wildflowers are lovely and your month sounds like a great mix of good things – family, travel and blogging. Wishing you well for October.
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Thank you Debbie. September was great in many ways. Happy October to you!
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What an amazing month that you had. Very cool. Thanks for sharing it. I bet the trip to L.A. was great.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Thank you, Patrick. I enjoyed time at beautiful Manhattan Beach. Have a great week!
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Another wonderful and varied month for you, Natalie! With stunning photos as always.
Our first week in Cusco, Peru, has been diverse and interesting as well, with wonderful architecture, running errands successfully, and meeting up with two sets of friends.
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Hi Liesbet, Thank you for the compliment about my photos. I’m glad you’re enjoying Cusco. It’s a nice town and a good base to explore nearby landmarks. Bonus to meet up with friends there. Safe travels!
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Hi, Natalie,
One of my sons lives in Hermosa Beach, and I’ve visited the aquarium on the Manhattan Pier many times. When visiting, my favorite activity is biking on the strand between Manhattan Pier and the Pier at Redondo Beach. The houses along the strand are amazing. I enjoyed your trip to Iceland and look forward to more adventures. Have a great week! Joe
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Hi Joe, If I visited LA longer, I’d definitely bike on the strand. I love the wide sandy beaches and those oceanfront homes and gardens. The views from the piers are beautiful. Have a wonderful week!
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I never got around to commenting on last weeks posts and figured I needed to play catch up. I hate posting and then not commenting. Uggh. We’ll see if I get around to posting this week. Your photos of nature are so pretty…I’m so thankful you’ve inpsired me to look for public art when I’m out and about.
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Thank you, Kirstin. I appreciate your linking up and commenting. I’m glad I’ve inspired you to look for public art when you’re out and about.
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I am glad your family recovered from surgery well. Yes, Manhattan Beach is less crowded than Venice and Santa Monica — I’d say the area is more residential. You arrived to LA at a good time because now it’s hot and dry all of the sudden.
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Wow! You have family all over! It is very precious to be able to spend time with them, particularly after a major illness. Always a sobering reminder that we can’t take our health for granted!
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I agree that we can’t take our health for granted. Thanks, Ju-Lyn, for stopping by.
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