Summer has a rhythm all it’s own. Schedules relax, days are long, and we have the chance to be bored.
It’s delightful.
We’re spending our summer sharing our favorite things. (Check out this chocolate edition!)
Here are 10 of my favorite things about summer.
Birthdays
We have 9 family birthdays in 6 weeks. It’s crazy and tiring and expensive. But I love it because we get to celebrate together!
Relaxed Schedules
I have a love/hate relationship with these. I’m trying to learn to be okay with flexibility. It isn’t my strong suit but I’m learning and loving how it feels. (This excellent book gave me a push in the right direction!)
Connecting with People
Time with my people is always my favorite. I don’t need fancy plans, just to be together. And summer gives us more time for together!
No School
No school helps me feel like my kids can be kids. There are pluses and minuses to all education systems. We have our kids in public school right now and sometimes I miss the opportunities for them to explore and play. Summer isn’t pressure. But I have to be sure to foster that. And learn to do so throughout the year.
Books
Any season is good for reading, but summer begs permission for lighter stories to get lost in. Anne Bogel writes about the magic of remembering a story based on where you were when you read it. This favorite book was devoured late into the night by a propane lantern as my family slept on our farmstay vacation. It was bliss.
Favorite Things: Summer Edition — 10 things that make summer magical. Share on XFood
We grill year round, even when it’s snowing here in Connecticut. But something about summer begs for simpler meals. Throw something on the grill, make a quick salad and a loaf of great bread. Then go out for ice cream. Perfect.
Shade
I know, I know. It’s all about the summer sun. But just like I prefer the beach off season, I prefer shade in the summer to sitting in the sun. Nothing beats laying on a blanket in the shade on a warm day.
Flowers
The peonies are just at their peak right now and my favorite hydrangeas are on deck. But even just looking at the greens throughout summer as they deepen is lovely. There’s a lot to be said about embracing all the colors of all the seasons.
Rest
Summer is like a hibernation you get to be awake for. If we want to sleep in or spend the day in our pj’s we can. We can be lazy and enjoy every minute of it!
The Little Things
Cold watermelon, towels hanging on the deck, late bonfires, ice cream for dinner, a great movie watched far too late. All these add up to make a beautiful summer.
Check out these great sites I’m linking up with: Literacy Musing Mondays, Purposeful Faith, Tea & Word Tuesday, Abounding Grace, Tell His Story, Porch Stories, Let’s Have Coffee, Worth Beyond Rubies, Moments of Hope, Tune in Thursday, Dance with Jesus, Fresh Market Friday, Faith ‘n Friends, Blogger Voices Network, Grace & Truth, Heart Encouragement
Yes to all this, and especially the little things. Summer is so short here in New England. We have to celebrate every minute of it.
100% true! I am grateful that it hasn’t been super hot (yet!)
All these do add up to a beautiful summer. We grill year-round here in Tennessee too. But summer takes grilling to the next level. We throw something on the grill at least 1-2 times a week or more!
It’s the best way to cook. Less clean up!
We have a lot in common, Rebecca! I love shade rather than full on sun. I’m a huge fan of hydrangeas–especially blue ones. Might be my favorite flower of all! Love your list and emphasis on carving out special moments in the summer! I’m pinning and tweeting!
Always nice to connect with a kindred spirit! Thanks for the sharing love!
I love it all! When I was younger I had a difficult time appreciating summer. My heart equated the season with slow, but life seemed to require so much summer busy… With time, and age, I’ve been able to reshape that a lot!
Lovely post!
Thanks Misty. It’s great when we can shape things as we grow.
I am with you all the way.. I try to schedule as little as possible and just try to enjoy the day and each other. Play games, make popsicles, hit the beach..
http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
Sounds delightful!
Nine birthdays…wow, that’s a lot of celebrating! This is a great list of summer faves. Thanks for linking up with Hello Monday! Tanya – The Other Side of the Road
It sure is a lot of celebrating! (Confession: I’m kind of glad when it’s done!)
Oh, yes! I love your favorite things, summertime. Summer is my favorite season, and I love all the things you mention. The flowers, the socializing, the relaxed feel of living. So many blessings!
Yes! So much fun!
I love this Rebecca! Tweeted and pinned. Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Thanks for sharing!
We also live in Ct and we grill year round too! We have a lovely deck that we can pull our grill under and snowstorm or not we’re all set to grill.
Another nutmegger! LOL Lovely to have you here 🙂
This just shows again that some of our grandest blessings are the simpler benefits that can be so easily take for granted. Thanks for sharing, Rebecca. Many blessings to you!
The simple things do add up the most, don’t they?!
I wish i was experiencing a relaxed schedule. Ugh. laurensparks.net
Oh, friend! Praying for peace in your season today!
Rebecca, this post made me happy! And, brought back a lot of memories when our grands were young and spent time with us in the mountains every single summer. Hammocks, popsicles, water shoes for the creek, wild flowers picked and put in a mason jar, lightning bugs, shooting stars, reading kudzu, and the list can go on and on. I used to do a favorite things post and haven’t in ages. I believe it’s time!
Rebecca, I love your list and want to come visit!! 🙂 Summer is particularly refreshing for me because I’m a Type B person living as a Type A. Summer gives me the opportunity to breathe a little more easily.
Thanks for these great suggestions!
Your neighbor at Grace and Truth,
Tammy
Isn’t the chance to breathe wonderful?!
Did you see that my husband “painted” my hydrangeas white while painting the front of the house? (on instagram) They still bloomed – blue and now, white. PS I love the cleanness of your site – did you do the design?
LOL! That’s so funny. We had a similar incident with some plants 🙂
You have a lot of birthdays to celebrate in such a short span of time! That does sound fun. And relaxed schedules are the best (even though I do love my schedules, ha). I probably need to read Jennifer’s book. Summer is my favorite season.
It is crazy with all the birthdays! I’m honestly a bit relieved we’re done until February!
So many fun things to love about summer, Becky! You inspired me to get busy on my own list (and upcoming post!!)
Yay! I can’t wait to read it!
I love being by the water in the summer.
Isn’t it the best?
Aww… summer! Spitting cherry sits off the deck and laying in the hammock with a. good book! I enjoyed reading your list!
A book and a hammock sounds heavenly!
Ok, your description of the grilling and ice cream after just transported me into a summer state of mind! I also marvel that you say “grill” like we do in California. When I lived in the SE, it was always called a “cook-out.”
Thanks for getting me in the summer spirit!
It’s so funny to me how people use different words for the same thing. I’ve lived in New England my whole life so I don’t know any different! Happy Grilling 😉