Welcome, summer
So much to savor
The sun was hot, the shade welcome, the slight breeze a delight. I sat at the picnic table, my younger daughter, perched on the edge, and we shared a mango that is now part of my summer tradition.
And in the kitchen half a quart of strawberries to make into ice cream. Little bursts of flavor.
And in the garden the curls of garlic scapes waiting to turn into pesto.
It’s officially summer, though my kids aren’t quite done with school yet. They had a long weekend and are living big summer vibes already. Staying up late. Working out. Going thrifting together. Crafting projects. Baking projects (homemade bagels + Father’s Day pie). Reading. Abandoning books for friends.
I love see what they find to do when their day isn’t tied up in school and sports.
It’s summer and this weekend has been the ideal summer weather. Not too hot. Not too humid. Morning coffee on the porch weather, but grab along sleeve.
I just want to sit and read all day from the big stack of books1 from the library and my birthday. I want to fill in the summer reading daisy or bingo card today.
I want to turn those ruby jewels of berries into preserves for a day that is not summery at all, when the burst of red and sun will remind me what warm means, what grow means.
I want to plant the zinnias I got from the farmers market and the basil2 I got for signing up from summer reading. I want to weed deeply and make space. I want to just sit and smell the mint.
I want to go for a run or at least another walk, work out in the airnaseum at the gym as much as possible.
I want to go to new bookstores and libraries and museums. I have a plan to a library and museum next week. I have a passport to get stamped at bookstores in my area.
I want to eat all the meals on the porch or at the picnic table, and mostly we do. (Some day when the rain lashes onto the porch or at the end of August as school looms, we will excavate the dining room table from the mail and the papers and the projects and the seeds and the things that collected during the frenzy of May-June. )
I want to eat meals that start in the garden. Tonight’s dinner included snap peas, cilantro, tiny onions, garlic scapes, and mustard greens. Dessert includes rhubarb. More is coming.
I want to sit on the beach and listen to the waves crash and tumble rocks over each other. I want to walk by the ocean and let the salt air permeate me fully. I want to experience familiar beaches and explore new ones.
I want to summer deeply.
The mango juice dripped down my arms, snaking through and leaving little rivers in the dirt left over from gardening. I scraped the soft orange flesh from the rind with my teeth, slurping as much of that sweet juice as I can get.
This is how I want to experience summer. Slowing down. Savoring each bite. Sucking every last bit of flavor and joy. Sharing, yes, that too.
What are seeking or savoring this summer?
What’s on your summer reading list?
Top three on the list: The Correspondent, The Emilys, and The Typing Lady. Have you read any of these? Thoughts? No, don’t tell me yet. Wait til I finish reading.
Fun fact: My library has an herb library — a raised bed garden with herbs and nasturtiums that anybody can come pick from. It’s new this year and mostly doing well. I’ve been tending it the past couple of weeks and will turn over watering duties to someone else soon.
Love the phrase "I want to summer deeply." I hope you get to summer deeply! I will try as well!
You’ve caught the whole summer in your post! My NC summer has chiggers and heat, but I do have an old fashioned pool and retirement, so all good.