Marigolds

I have been severely absent these past few months, haven't I?  Busy at the pool, running after the 18 month old who thinks she can swim and trying to keep the four year old from hoarding all the dive rings.  In between all that, I was able to get away by myself, for the first time in almost four years.  More on that later, but these pictures make me feel happy, so I thought I'd share them first.  Marigolds, growing at the base of the coastal mountains near San Luis Obispo, CA.  

And, the colors make me think of FALL, which is only days away in my book.  No worries, my pumpkins are already out.