I had a moment of panic the other day when I realized that the lilacs had already gone by (they were super early this year--normally they peak at Memorial Day, and then rot in a week of rain; this year they were done by the middle of May!). Then it occurred to me that the Summer Solstice is coming up, and you know what that means, don't you? The days will start getting shorter again!! I always feel like summer slips by me like a river, and I just stand in its flow, trying to scoop up at handfuls of water that trickle out of my grasp. To make matters worse, I now only have two free days a week on which to appreciate and enjoy summer (where ever since M was small I had four).
I'm determined to make the best of it, though. Monday night, since I heated up leftover macaroni and cheese for dinner, we had a bit of extra time, so we had an impromptu picnic on the deck.
I want to have a lot more picnics this summer. Here's the short list of what else I want to get done this season:
Go to the beach (a lot!)
Stay home (and not tell anyone we're here)
Make cardboard looms and weave with the boys
Read in my hammock
Go camping at least one more time
Outfit a picnic basket
Make a picnic blanket (I'm halfway there)
Establish a dinner schedule and routine
Establish a food shopping schedule
Eat only local foods in July and August
Make jam (good jam, for once)
Go berry picking
Make a summer blouse
Finish my Inside Out journal
Make parachute guys with clothespins and napkins with the boys
Exercise every day
Eat no refined sugar (I started this last Tuesday and plan to go until my birthday--August 20, FYI)
Make a meringue with whipped cream, chocolate and berries for my birthday (maybe a bit of sugar)
Get some hikes in for Capital Walks (long-term goal: finish all the hikes in the area and write a book, already)
What are your summer plans?
I want to go to the beach lots, too.
ReplyDeleteI want to do some writing.
I want to do some house-organizing.
I want to go to the State Democratic Convention which is in my city this year.
Cousin Camp.
that's a fantastic list, andrea! i am with you on jamming and berry-picking! i'm also hoping to get a more structured food plan - only if it alleviates stress though, and doesn't add to it. will you be jamming with honey? i've had good luck doing it!
ReplyDeleteI used to teach (which I seem to find a way to work into every comment on your blog...) and back then - and before kids - summer always felt like this big, beautiful entity to look forward to. But now that I'm at home with two little kids all day summer doesn't feel like an opportunity so much anymore. So I am grateful to you for this list and the unintentional nudge to me to celebrate things like local fruit and impromptu picnics. Now if it would just stop raining every day!
ReplyDeleteLSM--Sounds like fun (and very civically responsible--is civically a word?)
ReplyDeleteKendra--I think I'm going to go full-sugar old-school. I've been experimenting with low sugar (and honey-sugar) methods and they come out kind of brown and bland, but I'd love to see your recipes!
Kristen--We're getting the rain here to, ugh! When it stops, get out there and enjoy (and if it doesn't, put on raincoats and get out there and enjoy!) And think of us poor saps in our cubicles while you're catching frogs and raindrops.
OMG - you're scaring me. Summer solstice and shorter days. Wow. I feel like summer is just cranking out here at 6512 feet.
ReplyDeletei am intrigued by your list, particularly the no refined sugar and eating only local in July and August. I look forward to updates!
Oh I love your list. I am not sure why, but I love reading and making lists like this every season. I can't wait to read about all of the cool to'do's you check off :)
ReplyDeleteGood list. I need to get back to reducing my sugar too. I'm with you on the traditional jam though--it's just so easy and successful! So we'll probably do that once again this year.
ReplyDelete