Ten Reasons to Love Summer

(***At the end of this post is an update on my dad.***)

Although the calendar says we have another couple of weeks until the official start to summer, in my neck of the woods, we are already on summer break with temperatures hitting 90, so it’s summer here! It’s always fun to enter a new season and gear up for a change in weather, schedules, and activities. Summer passes so quickly each year, I always try to soak it up and enjoy all the special things that are unique to this season. So, in no particular order, here are my ten favorite things about summer!

1- The Great Outdoors

Taking walks, being at the barn, swimming with friends, and hosting water days with the cousins are some of our favorite daytime activities. And I LOVE have longer daylight for getting back outside after supper to enjoy star gazing, catching lightning bugs, playing badminton, making smores, and just hanging out around the firepit!

2- Summer Showers

No worries when the weather changes our outdoor plans because my family and I love a good rainy day spent inside with books, movies, baking, crafting, and maybe even a nap. Around here, dark clouds seem to roll in out of nowhere, kicking up some wild, booming thunderstorms, which are occasionally followed by a rainbow.

3- Fresh Produce

Seasonal fruits and veggies have my heart and my taste buds. I’m sure this goes for where you live as well, but one of the things I love about my community, is how we share whatever we have access to. Swapping the cucumbers you grew for some tomatoes your neighbor grew is the best setup! I have a neighbor that shares blueberries and blackberries from her mother’s garden, another neighbor who shares tomatoes from his, a friend who gives me all the squash and beans I can eat, and the list goes on and on. I’m especially excited over a new farmer’s market our little town now has, and I know they’ll be getting plenty of my business this summer!

4- Backyard Grilling and Dining Alfresco

The grill, the firepit, and the picnic table see a lot of action during the summer months! Whether it’s lunch enjoyed in the sun, a savory meal off the grill, or a simple hotdog supper cooked and eaten at the firepit, I look for as many opportunities as I can think of to bring the meals outdoors.

5- Patriotic Vibes

There is just something so Americana about summer! As a history appreciator and lover of our great country, it delights me to have three patriotic holidays to span our summer–Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. The 4th of July, in particular, seems to really pull neighbors out to share in fireworks, popsicles, and ice cream in celebration of our nation. There is a strong sense of community in my neighborhood during these summer months for which I’m very thankful.

6- Fun Excursions

As homeschoolers, we plan most of our vacations for during the school year when the rates, crowds, and temperatures are lower rather than during summer months. We lay a little low during summer except for day trips to places closer by like Birmingham, Atlanta, and Auburn. We also enjoy some field trips, visits to my sister’s home in Huntsville, driving over to our Peach Park for fresh peaches and ice cream, and just walking around our downtown for some Frios popsicles. My favorite for the last few years has been the blackberry ginger lemonade! So refreshing on our hottest days!

7- Flowers and Herbs

Once upon a time I kept many, many more flower beds and even a small garden of fruits, veggies, and herbs. Those days are gone, but only for now, I hope, until my back and my dog decide to behave nicely again. In the meantime, I’m still maintaining a few flower beds and a scaled down potted herb garden. My daughter and I look forward to summer flowers every year for making arrangements for our dinner table, and for gifting to others. Who doesn’t love a cute jar of fresh flowers, right?

8- Summer Scents

The heat and humidity in Alabama can take you from freshly showered to sweaty and sticky within just minutes of walking out the door. I’ve found that mildly scented body washes and body sprays with notes of summery flowers or fruits help me feel fresher all day long. For room scents, I mostly diffuse citrus and lavender oils (not pictured). I typically burn candles more during the fall and winter months, but I do occasionally find a summer candle I like, such as this raspberry tangerine I had last year. A very happy aroma!

9- Projects

Each summer it’s a must that I catch up on some deeper cleaning and organizing of closets, kitchen, and homeschool materials. I also have to give my attic a cleaning out. Those might not be the most enjoyable things to work on, but it feels so good to have the time to finally get them done and I’m thankful to have the time. There are fun projects too like painting rooms and furniture, and crafting for the kids. My girls are almost always knitting or painting through movies or rainy days, and my son jumps on whatever craft project his Clubhouse magazine features in each issue. He also enjoys working on “man jobs” with Dad!

10- Slower Mornings

Ahhh, this one feels so good. Since my husband still has his regular work schedule during summer and still has to get up early, I go ahead and get up with him at 5:00 and keep my usual morning routine. What makes summertime special though, is that my kids sleep later making mornings slow and quiet for me to spend more time in each of my “7 Things” (My cat appreciates my slower mornings too). I love walking through the neighborhood on early summer mornings with the new sun and all the sprinklers running. And having more time to go deeper in my Bible study is my favorite! If I come across something in my Bible reading that I want to explore a little more, I have time to do it! I also use the mornings to get in a little blogging time, something that’s much harder to work into my routine during the school year. So, with more blogging time, I’ll be posting a lot more over the next couple of months.

Here’s to summer and enjoying all the things that make it special! What are your favorites?

***Update on my dad***

I want to sincerely thank each of you who prayed for my dad and his heart surgery a couple of weeks ago! Dad had a triple bypass, a heart ablation, and a pacemaker installation. Everything went well with the exception of some issues with his pacemaker. One wire on his pacemaker detached the day after they installed it, so back to the OR he went! The staff at UAB was wonderful, and, bonus, the room Dad was in was one he once inspected while on an architectural team that worked on this very hospital. Put an architect in a room that he knows meets code and you have a happy patient!

Dad was doing pretty well recovering at home until a few days ago when issues with his heart rate, blood pressure, and possible malfunctions with his pacemaker became issues. So this week they’ve done more testing, blood work, and EKG to pinpoint the problem. Continued prayers are appreciated. Thank you so much!