Yesterday morning when my alarm went off, I groggily sat up and poked my nose through my bedroom curtains. I immediately jumped out of bed upon seeing the sunshine. Yahoo! Molly's morning walks are always more enjoyable for me when I'm not pushing my way through fog and rain. I was ready in no time, hooked Molly to her leash, opened the front door, and BAM! The cold hit me like a slap in the face. Without hesitation, I closed the door, walked into the living room, opened my computer, and checked the weather. Two degrees...seriously?? May 2nd, and we were two degrees away from the freezing point. While I know this is somewhat normal for our part of the world, I was still disappointed. I reluctantly grabbed my mittens from the front hall closet, and trudged out the door. While the sunshine was still gorgeous, the fact that my ears were cold when I got home reminded me that our weather can be such a let down sometimes. I spent the rest of the day in a classroom full of adolescent, hormonal 12- and 13-year olds, taking a moment every now and then to glance out at my old friend Mr. Sun, and wonder if he had brought a little more warmth to the afternoon than he had to the morning. At 3:25, after the bell had rung and all the kids were gone, I stepped outside into...heavenly, room-temperature sunshine! Sixteen degrees, to be exact. GLORIOUS! I immediately took my jacket off, and drove home with the windows down and the music blaring. I chair-danced and sang the entire time, drumming my hands on the steering wheel, not caring if people saw me. It was far too nice to waste this drive.
Getting this little taste of summer got me thinking about what I would actually like to do with my summer. While I am still looking for some sort of employment (kind of scary, actually), I haven't really thought about what to do with my leisure time. So, I made a list, and of course am going to share it with you. Some of the things are very typical, and go on my summer to-do list every year, but they just have to be done! Ashley and Clinton are, of course, included in all of these endeavors. Let's begin:
Bonfires- Clinton and I have a chimnea which we acquired from my parents last summer. I think we had two fires. I love a good outdoor fire, and this summer, I am not wasting any opportunity to have one (check back with me in four months)
Plant a garden- this is actually something I am going to start this week/weekend (depending on my work schedule). We finally have our own property now, and I would really like to give it some personality with pretty flowers, shrubs, and herbs. Actually, it appears I have today off, so I think I will go buy a shoe organizer and start my hanging herb garden (see Monday Pick-Me-Up). Pictures to follow!
Sustain my garden- This will be the challenging part...
Camp more than once- When Clinton and I first started dating, it was May, and we had a whole summer of romantic dates and weekends to kick start our relationship. I remember how much we went camping, and how much fun we had hiking, having fires, cooking food over said fires, and freaking ourselves out every single time we heard a noise. I don't know what it is, but there is just something about sleeping outdoors that I love.
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| Nice gear, eh? |
Swim more- every year I talk about how I am going to swim all the time, and rarely do it. I do find our beach water pretty gross, but when I actually do swim, I am always glad I did. I love the beach, but because I get cold easily, I often stay on shore and read or sleep. I really love that (duh!), but it can become boring very fast. This summer, I am going to swim every chance I get. Whether it be for a quick dip after work, or a whole day at the beach (again, check back in four months).
Explore- this will be our first full summer with a dog. Sure, Molly came along in August, but to be honest, she was kind of boring as a puppy. She wouldn't go for walks, and all she did was eat, sleep, and mark her territory all over our house. Now, she loves going on long walks (especially in the woods), and I love taking her to places we have never been. We have discovered some great trails and paths in the last few months, and have also seen more nature than Molly can really handle (Molly: "OMG a butterfly! OMG a squirrel! OMG a fox! OMG a bird! OMG another bird! OMG a moth! OMG a blowing leaf!"). This summer, I want to take her everywhere and find a whole new set of places to walk and hike.
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| Molly in Nature |
Eat clean- I am what I like to call a 'weather eater'. The season really helps to determine what I feel like eating. In winter, I like warm, hearty meals like stews and casseroles. In summer, I find I crave greens and fresh fruit, and would take fish on the barbecue over steak. When it rains, I always want chamomile tea instead of coffee, and soup instead of salad. I won't have to work very hard to accomplish this one, as I actually like healthy food in the summer, but it's still something I am looking forward to.
Wear dresses- I love sundresses and flowy skirts, and the season is so short that I feel like I never get to wear them. I am not a dressy kind of person, and feel best in a nice pair of jeans, so I always save them for special occasions, like weddings or parties. This summer, I am going to wear them just because. They sit in my closet all year, begging to be worn- I might as well get some use out of them!
Keep my toenails painted- this sounds so superficial and stupid, but I always let my feet go, and then I spend time trying to cover them up rather than embracing sandal weather. I am keeping it fresh this year so I don't have to waste time thinking about how battered my toes look!
Sleep less- when I sleep too much, I feel grumpy and worn out all day. For summer, I am going to resist the urge to lay on the couch until noon on Saturdays, with a couple exceptions: a) it's raining. In this case, I will stay on the couch. b) It's a grand slam tennis tournament. Sorry, but my couch is where I'll be during the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Nothing will change my mind regarding these two things. Nothing.
Roadtrip with girlfriends- last summer, five of my nearest and dearest girlfriends and I went to PEI to see Joel Plaskett at an outdoor venue. It was amazing. Great entertainment, and many, many laughs. I know that as we get older, we become committed to things like jobs, husbands, kids, etc. These, of course, are so important, which is why it is so easy to let our friendships wait in the wings. But friendships are important too...I would be devastated without my closest pals, and can't imagine life without them. Taking two days to do an overnighter somewhere with my ladies is definitely a worthwhile way to spend summer time!
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| Girl's Trip 2010 |
So these are my summer musts, and I think I am pretty satisfied with this list. I feel like my goals are reasonable and able to be accomplished. At the end of summer, I will do a follow up blog and let you know how I made out. My prediction: I don't keep my toenails painted...
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