These days of wide-open calendars feel a bit strange. Without our usual structure, I'm somehow more scattered and hurried than when my schedule is jammed. I find myself rushing through work calls / emails / painting so I can get outside, only to find myself standing on the deck not sure what I actually want to do with all my free time.
There's this pressure I feel on myself in summer. Like I need to be making the most of every long day, especially as I fast forward to thinking that I only have six summers left with my daughter at home. I feel a wanting to pack in every minute, to build memories, bake cookies, take trips, make memories. Should we be hiking more? Hosting dinner parties? Teaching myself to needlepoint? Exploring our city? Learning AI?
Yet, I know, in my bones, that my favorite childhood summer moments are the ones unplanned. The days spent exploring our neighborhood by bike, no plan or agenda in mind. Wandering the woods, playing in the mud, dipping in a friends pool on the way home. The freedom that comes from a day, a week, a summer unplanned is unmatched. A mantra I need to remind myself of daily.
I think that's what I'm really after—not the perfect summer experience, but those ordinary moments that feel full. Full of life, full of joy, full of presence. The moments where time moves differently, and I'm not thinking about what comes next. Maybe the trick isn't filling every hour with summer magic, but leaving enough space for it to find me.
Here’s hoping some summer magic is finding you!
A few simple things I'm looking forward to in the month ahead.
Ina Garten’s summer pasta recipe. Ever since I finished reading Ina’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, I’ve been completely obsessed with all things Ina. This pasta is on a long list of her recipes I can’t wait to try!
Speaking of reading, I adored Ann Napotlitano’s Hello Beautiful and can’t wait to devour her older novel Dear Edward.
I’ve been working on a series of collages and square paintings to add to my print collection. I’m finding myself drawn to the repetition of the square, again and again. Simple. Contemplative. Orderly. The opposite of how the world feels right now.
A little mood board for simple summer dressing : sundresses and sandals on repeat.
Finally installing my favorite wallpaper of ours in our mudroom cubbies.
A puzzle always ready at the dining room table, likely that I’ll finish alone - but always inviting others to stop and play awhile.
I started this 30-day challenge earlier this month to help restart my meditation practice. It’s free, and at 5 minutes a day it’s a great way to connect and calm my brain.
Sleeping in. You know until 8:00 :)
xx.
The way the "standing on the deck wondering what to do" bit is also 100% me. We know we need time to do nothing, but we're also not great at it, and man is it hard to be bad at things 😆 Thankful for the reminder that it's okay to be figuring it out :) And, need that seashell puzzle in my life.