“One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.” -John 13:23 BSB
After the Christmas magic fades, we are left with our true selves. Our true lives. We can wonder, when all the glitter, and carols, and excitement have gone, and it’s time to get back to the routine of life, who we really are and what our life is really about. Where are we headed? Why do we do what we do? What can we change to make things better? The thought of once again picking up our responsibilities can seem overwhelming. We might even feel depressed. But when we are at the place of feeling disillusioned with everything the world has to offer, this can be our best place to be, because this is when we turn to Jesus. This is when we recall that only He can satisfy. The disciple John called himself “the disciple that Jesus loved,” or in some translations, “the one whom Jesus loved.” What if we thought of ourselves that way, too? What if we signed our cards and emails, “The woman that Jesus loves”? That is something we probably wouldn’t do! But we could sign our journal entries this way, and we could think of ourselves this way, too! Whatever else we are unsure of in life, this we can know–“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
“Dear Lord, I’m so thankful that at the end of all my struggles, whys, and what ifs, Your love is always there. Amen.”
Enjoy this Pride & Prejudice ambience as you ponder these words . . .
Everywhere, there were walls. Day by day, they’d grown up around us till every house and shop and school and road had its own borders, its own barriers. Keeping things out, keeping them in. Walls, running all over this frozen land. Walls made of snow. Not that the barriers were intentional, when we all went out with our shovels, blowers, and plows. But the walls came anyway, as we made a path from door to car, from car to sidewalk, from sidewalk to road. But at our house, we also had a path. A path between our neighbours’ house and our own.
Not that we’d used it often, that imaginary gateway, that break in the wall. No, not in such a winter when the snowfall set records and people had to shovel their roofs so they wouldn’t collapse under the weight, and icicles hung like thick stalactites from gutters, and the painful wind and cold brought tears to your eyes and chapped hands and cheeks and lips. No, not in such a winter.
But then there came a day, one soft and snowy Sunday, when we did. Church had been canceled after an ice storm left thousands without power. So we were home, the day before us a little lonely and uncertain and unfilled. But then there came a knock.
I shuffled to the mud room in my slippers, found the tall frame of our neighbour filling the glass door. Expecting him to ask John’s help with the snow or maybe something to do with frozen pipes, I reached for the handle, hoping all was well.
“We’re not going anywhere today, and neither are you,” he said. “We’ve got a ham in the oven and we’re hoping you’ll come over and help us eat it.”
Well, such an invitation! Such a welcome invitation on such a silent, snowy day.
And so we put on our boots, didn’t bother with coats, and filled the silence with our chatter as we walked that path, that break in the wall of snow, and into our neighbours’ large kitchen.
We stayed for hours. And I couldn’t tell you what it meant to sit round their table, surrounded by photos of their grandchildren and a collection of Eiffel Towers. But it was more than the ham and potatoes and veg that we ate while we talked and laughed. More than the tea and cookies and jello that came next. More than the stories from days past, told with such animation that we laughed over till our sides hurt. More than our neighbours themselves, who had begun as kind strangers and turned into friends.
It was the sum of it all that filled us that day, warmed us from the inside out, made us feel that winter was the most wonderful of seasons because it had brought us together–could bring us close to other family and friends–before spring came and the world opened up and let us sprawl out, warm in the sun but far from each other.
March is nearly upon us, but the temperatures are still frigid, and until the warmth comes to melt the mountains of snow and banish the walls, we will have winter. And for as long as it lasts, for all those long Saturday afternoons and black winter nights, I’ll be searching for ways to warm our home, to warm the hearts of our friends. With big pots of chili, and spontaneous tea parties with plates of shortbread taken from the rations John’s parents bring.
And that is the best way to not just survive winter, but love it.
It is said that good fences make good neighbours, and I agree. Good fences, good walls, they make good neighbours–but only when there is a gate.
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And there is quite a different sort of conversation around a fire than there is in the shadow of a beech tree…. [F]our dry logs have in them all the circumstance necessary to a conversation of four or five hours, with chestnuts on the plate and a jug of wine between the legs. Yes, let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.
~Pietro Aretino, translated from Italian
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Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant down to the root that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. She calls her family together within her inmost home to prepare them for being scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.
~Hugh Macmillan, “Rejuvenescence,” The Ministry of Nature, 1871
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Avonlea xo
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Homemaking Inspiration from Literature
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You can find it in the tone of your very own voice.
And as much as we’d like to erase it,
make it disappear with our magic mummy wands,
one day our children will find out about ugly.
Or maybe it’s ugly that will find out about them.
My fingers are blue with the telling of it.
All that rolling eggs round till they come up like the sky.
And we said it was like the stone rolling,
opening up that cave-tomb
two millennia ago.
And we speak of the first Good Friday,
and how strange that we call it all good,
when there came then the ugliest ugly
that ever was
or ever will be.
From the kitchen window I watch them,
red-breasted robins against the flat, dry brown.
And I know it means winter was beaten,
and I smile at the green that will come.
A great kafuffle and we’re out there,
tramping the brown with our boots.
And I stop them once or twice just to point out
where a bulb or a bud has poked through.
And I’m breathing in the sweet smell of new life,
and I’m thanking Him there’s such a thing as grace.
Because today there was plenty of ugly
In my heart, in my voice, in my face.
You don’t have to look far to find ugly.
Ugly always finds some way in.
And how could I even bear it?
Go on pretending that everything’s great
If it wasn’t.
Really wasn’t.
If I couldn’t look them in the eye and tell them
That ugly won’t win.
No, ugly won’t win, precious children.
Because His grave didn’t hold death in.
And the last time we lock eyes
won’t really be the last.
Oh, my sweet ones,
He has conquered death and sin.
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
– Revelation 21:5
Avonlea x
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When Covid restrictions hit two years ago, we, like most of the world, found ourselves cut off from the people and activities that were the framework of our lives. The large church we attended closed. For quite some time. Even though we’d volunteered and attended faithfully for eight long years, the size of the church and several other factors made it almost impossible to make deep friendships with people in our area. More than ever, we ached to share life with friends. So we started attending a small church. Before we knew it, we were “doing life” with two other families. Sarah and her husband, who live locally, and Ann and her husband, who were here for missionary aviation training. Here are two more reasons why we fell in love with our tiny church (link for part one below) . . .
1. Gaining wisdom – Many big churches tackle the need for community by creating small groups, or churches within the church. These small groups are meant to meet together regularly to study the Bible and encourage one another. Sometimes this results in real spiritual growth and lifelong friendships. But other times these groups become transient. People move, change churches, or don’t want to lead any more, and the budding friendships, along with the spiritual growth, can fade away. Another challenge is that Bible studies and small groups are often organized by ages and stages of life. All the newlyweds are put together, all the young families, all the college kids, and all the retired people. While we may have more in common with others in our same stage of life, we end up missing out on the blessing of a real church family. College kids don’t get the benefit of homecooked meals and a stable place to take refuge on the weekends. Older adults are left feeling like they’re in the way and not needed any more. Children lose the joy of adopted grandmas and grandpas. And younger couples lose the gift of being discipled by those who have already passed through many mountains and valleys of life . . . Not only did we find we were “doing life” with Sarah, Ann, and their families, we were also blessed to be surrounded with others both older and younger than ourselves. The woman who came from England some 50 years ago to work for the summer, and married a local farmer. The single dad with two kids. The grandma who drives a school bus and teaches Sunday school. The high school graduate. The WWII vet. The guy who comes on a motorcycle. These sound like stereotypes, but each one has a name, and each has gifted us with generous pieces of themselves, and a share in the wisdom and richness of their lives.
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
– 1 Thessalonians 2:8
One of our favorite Seniors & one of our favorite Juniors
2. Missionaries – People who serve God in foreign parts don’t come home for long, and when they do, getting to know them personally and hearing firsthand about their work can be hard, especially in a large church. Missionaries, like those on stage in the worship band, can become “other,” people who are extraordinary and different from ourselves. But all that can be different in a tiny church. Being part of our church family provided us and our children the opportunity to bond with Ann, her husband Ernst, and their children. We were wading rivers, walking trails, soaking each other in splash pads (even the grown ups!). We were roasting hot dogs, sipping coffee, dishing out ice cream. And as friendships formed, so did the realization that their year was almost up, and we would soon have to say goodbye. With growing achiness in our hearts, we felt how attached to them we had become, and how at home they had come to feel with us. Yet through the pain, we realized the immense blessing of seeing up-close-and-personal that Ann and Ernst were special. Not because they were super-humans, but because when God called, they had responded, “Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8). The impact of this living example of obedience to God has been incredible, both for our children’s hearts and our own.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
– 1 Chronicles 16:24
Charlie getting a lesson from Ernst on one of the helicopters used to reach remote and mountainous areas
A year after arriving at our tiny church we said goodbye to our friends, as they prepared to enter the next stage of their missionary journey. I was so glad Sarah’s family is still local, and God has answered our prayers and brought other families to our church. I’ve been reminded that we talk about hearts for good reason. It’s the muscle that pumps life-giving blood through our bodies. It’s also the source of our joys and sorrows–and sometimes, blood-clot like, is the place those joys and sorrows get stuck. I’m feeling that today. Feeling that immense grace, but with a good measure of achy-heartedness, lodged like a lump in my chest. That happens, sometimes, when friends are loved and lost. But isn’t that what life is? To love. To find our true purpose. To lose–but only for a short while! Because in Christ, this is not the end. Never goodbye, only “See you later.”
Ann, Sarah, Avonlea
Avonlea x
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The great boot exchange, I call it. Snow boots hauled up, rain boots hauled down from their upstairs closet winter home. April now, and I’ll expect a spate of showers before the sultry of summer comes to stay.
The rain boots tumble from my arms. Frogs, and monkeys, and the green Hunters I like so much. Chatter, and light in my lads’ eyes as they recall past springs and puddles splashed.
Then I send them out with boots and brushes to wash away the winter mud, for boots must be stored away clean.
I peek from the dining room window and watch them sitting on the steps, lips pressed in earnest as their little hands scrub.
Then I’m caught up for a while, sizing up which rain boots now fit who, and which can be given away—just another part of motherhood one wouldn’t think to list, though it takes an afternoon twice every year.
But I leave my work now, and step out. So new the spring, the grass yet a patch of green and straw.
Birdsong. Warmth. Flat blue beyond the branches bare.
I gasp. I’m gasping. And I cannot gulp enough of this sweet, this air.
And I watch my lads for a moment, as they laugh and run.
My curly top squats beneath our big old tree, and I’m called to see the wild violets growing there.
A moment more, then in again to think of dinner. And as my hands chop carrots into little discs, I think of this day. And I think of motherhood, and the labor of making a home. I think of how it’s disregarded. Seen as unfulfilling and of little worth. But I know otherwise.
And I sigh contentment for all I am and all I have. For the pleasure in this exchanging of boots. In this marking of the seasons, and remembering of dear times past.
I am building their memories, building their lives.
May my lads always find pleasure in order and in a job well done. May they find joy in little things. May they have thankful hearts. And may they one day go into the world with the strength that only a mother’s love can bring.
Avonlea x
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Going from a big church to a small one is akin to moving from bustling New York City to the village of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. Or so it seemed to me. After moving from Scotland, we spent our first 8 years in America at a mega-church. We loved the cookies and the coffee with flavored creamer pods. The choo-choo train in the nursery. The worship band. And how easily we could apply the teaching to our lives. But after 8 years of striving to find a steady small group, and volunteering weekly in Sunday School, we still hadn’t found our people. We made friends, but American life is busy, and distance made actually seeing those friends a problem. We longed for nearby friends. You know,kindred spirits. Friends you call last minute to join you for a walk in the woods, or a cup of tea on the porch. Friends who know you . . . and love you anyway.
Then Covid came, and our church closed. For quite some time. More than ever, we ached to share life with friends. So we started attending a small church. And fell in love. Here’s why . . .
1. Friendship – Some churches have the population of a small country. You could go months without speaking to anyone. Spend years giving a cheery smile and answering “Great! You?” when asked how you’re doing, even if you’re dying inside. At least that’s how it was for us. In some ways, it’s easier. But if you long for a place where you’re noticed, wanted, known, try a tiny church . . . Shortly after starting at our little church, we met two families who wonderfully, surprisingly, almost instantly, became an intimate part of our lives. Sarah and her husband and children, who live locally. And Ann and her husband and children, who were here for a year of aviation training before heading for the mission field. At first it was the children running circles together and playing tag in the church lawn, while the adults made small talk. But small talk at church quickly turned to invitations to Sunday lunch, then time together during the week.
“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
– I Corinthians 12:26
2.Breaking Bread – In case you’re wondering, Church Picnics, Ice Cream Socials, and Pot Lucks are still going strong in many small churches. And yes, you might find meatloaf, casseroles, and Jello salad, if you’re lucky. But invitations for Sunday lunch or Saturday cook-outs are also not extinct. And we know eating together is about a lot more than putting food in our mouths. It’s about sharing our joys and burdens. Lightening each other’s loads with a listening ear and a hug . . . We “broke bread” with our new friends in the church hall, drinking hot cocoa after a drive to see the frozen waves of Lake Michigan. At picnic tables, before a hike in the woods to see the first green haze of spring. Under the stars, roasting s’mores and watching fireworks. On the porch, sipping coffee and talking about marriage, our children, the tough lessons God was teaching us. True friendships were built, and trust too, over refills of coffee and wiping our children’s sticky popsicle hands. With trust came the ability to speak honestly, bare our souls, and lift each other up. Life is so much sweeter when you don’t eat–or hurt, or laugh–alone.
“breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.”
– Acts 2:46
3. Finding Your Place – Big churches run on an army of volunteers, and we were blessed by the loving hands that served in our big church. But in a large congregation it can be intimidating to offer your services as a musician, Sunday School teacher, or small group leader, especially if you don’t consider yourself a semi-professional, or at least really cool. With our busy lives, having all the slots filled might feel like a good thing. But it also deprives us and our children the opportunity to serve . . . We soon found how useful we could all be at our little church, and what a blessing it was to serve alongside others. At Christmas we drove to the homes of those who couldn’t get out, singing carols and leaving cookies. In the spring my oldest sons and I cleaned the church windows while the two little boys helped the pastor heap mulch around newly planted petunias. On hot summer days, we hung out together at church with Sarah, Ann, and the pastor’s wife, crunching celery sticks and creating a Wild West town for Vacation Bible School. I started buying flavored creamer for Sunday morning coffee, and Sarah brought red and pink zinnias from her garden to brighten the women’s Sunday School. My oldest started to play cello for “special music.” The younger ones sang on stage and made cards to give out. And yes, the church needed cleaning, bulletins needed handed out, and people needed shown to their seats. No one did everything, but everyone did something. Our children learned that they, too, are a valuable part of the church family, and have something worth contributing to bless others. It’s so precious to know you belong.
“Spur one another on to love and good works.“
–Hebrews 10:24
If you find yourself in-between churches, or feeling alone, get connected to a truth-teaching local church. Yes, you could slip in and out without speaking to anyone–but this might be a challenge! Always choose to take this as friendly curiosity and a desire to welcome you in. For you are wanted, you are valued, you are needed. If you’re already part of a small church, make sure you warmly welcome newcomers in the warmest kind of way. Jesus would want you to.
Avonlea x
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If you caught my post Bring Your Book to Life, featuring ambience videos for 12 classic novels, you’ll know how magical they are! Not only are ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) or ambience videos themselves scientifically proven to aid relaxation, they’re also the perfect way to recreate the atmosphere of your favorite read! Reading one of these 6 classics this holiday season, either to yourself or as a read-aloud? Try playing the corresponding ambience videos on your TV or laptop while you read to bring them to life!
1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Many of us are familiar with the opening line, “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” but this story of the March family, set during the American Civil War, has more than one Christmas scene to warm your heart this season.
2. Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy – Chapter one of this 19th century romance novel brings us to “a cold and starry Christmas-eve,” while chapter two gives details of the Christmas decorations in Dick Dewy’s thatched cottage. The perfect happy-end book for Christmas!
3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis – I probably don’t have to explain the Narnian’s fear that their land would be forever under the spell of the White Witch, who made it “always winter, but never Christmas.” Thankfully, that wasn’t the end! Experience the land of Narnia with this video while you step into this wonderful book.
4. Little House on the Prairie/A Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder – I know of few more heartwarming or dramatic Christmas scenes than when Mr. Edwards wades through a stream in a blizzard, carrying his clothes on this head, to deliver Christmas gifts to the Ingalls family. “Think of having a cup and a cake and a stick of candy and a penny.” Oh, for simpler times! This video will take you right to that scene!
5. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – This very manageable-sized story never ceases to make me smile. Instead of watching the transformation of the miserable, miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge, why not read about it yourself, accompanied by this Victorian London Ambience video? And don’t say, Bah! Humbug!
6. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery – You might not consider this a Christmas book, but it has plenty of winter cheer and Christmas scenes to make it perfect for this time of year. Anne did say, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are white frosts.” (AOGG, ch.18). And don’t forget the Christmas ball! Find “scope for your imagination” with the Anne Christmas ambience link below.
For Anne-inspired ambience for Christmas reading, click here !
Avonlea x
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Happy Little Sigh
Finding beauty in the everyday ❤
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To open a book is to step into another world. We book lovers know that! Oh, but what if there was a way to make that journey more real, more immersive? To engage all your senses, making it almost possible to believe you’re really with Anne Shirley that first night at Green Gables? Or really on a dark London street watching Sherlock Holmes solve a crime?
I have a secret–it’s called Ambience Videos or ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, and is described as a feeling of well-being combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck. The appropriate reaction to a good book! *happy little sigh.*
What if there was a way to make that journey into a book even more real?
I’ve selected Ambience Videos to immerse you into 12 Classic novels. Simply tap below links to play on your laptop or cast to your TV to create the perfect mood for each book and delight your eyes and ears. Next, brew a cup of tea or coffee to delight your taste and smell (which drink or cup would suit each book?). Finally, get a cozy blanket and get ready to step into your book in a whole new way! OR simply use as a peaceful background during your morning quiet time or as you go about your day.
*Note – some videos include soothing music, while others have relaxing sounds such as rain, a crackling fireplace, or murmured voices. I included two videos for each novel, so choose the one that inspires you. Adjust the volume to add to your reading experience, not distract from it.
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – Who’s coming to visit? Could it be Bingley and Darcy? And what secrets are Bennet sisters Lizzie and Jane sharing as they get ready for the day?
Bennet Family Lounge (Pride and Prejudice) by Overarch
Sunny Morning Bedroom (18th Century Georgian/Colonial) by Ambience of Yesteryear
2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – Will you stay at Bilbo’s cozy hobbit hole, or venture into the Shire?
Hobbit Study Session by ASMR Weekly
6 Hours The Shire ASMR by ASMR
3. Middlemarch by George Elliot – Does Casaubon’s library inspire you, or does the dreariness of pouring over manuscripts alongside Dorothea make you long for a visit to her sister’s country estate?
Relaxing Library – Relaxing Rain, Thunder and Crackling Fireplace by Cozy Moments
English Estate Morning Tea by Scenic Inspirations
4. The CompleteFather Brown Mysteries by G.K. Chesterton – What mysteries will you solve alongside this eccentric sleuth as he pokes around his quaint English village (occasionally stopping for tea), or hops aboard a train in search of clues?
Edwardian Parlour with Tea & Fireplace by Ambience of Yesteryear
1940s Train Journey by Overarch
5. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery – Can you hear Anne (with an ‘e’) poor herself a cup of tea in her peaceful bedroom at Green Gables? She will need it, in preparation for her upcoming exam at Queen’s!
3D ASMR Anne of green gables| Anne’s Bedroom by ASMR Movely
3D ASMR Anne of Green Gables | Queen’s Entrance Exam by ASMR Movely
6. Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Would you prefer sipping tea in 221B Baker Street, or joining Sherlock on the streets of London as he masterfully works to solve the latest crime?
Ambience/ASMR: Sherlock Holmes Parlor, 221B Baker Street by Ambience of Yesteryear
Victorian London Thunderstorm by Autumn Cozy
7. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper – The peace of the wilderness is calling your name–or perhaps you fancy a venture into the Colonial town?
Smoky Mountains Morning by Travel Ambience
Colonial New York City Federal Hall by P&E Soundscapes
8. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens – Begin reading with a trip to the English wetlands, where Pip spent his youth, then move on to the bustling streets of London.
English Wetlands by Ambience World
19th Century London by Overarch
9.Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Rain lashes down outside the March home, but inside, Jo is busy scribbling away on her latest novel.
Thunderstorm in the Lake District by Outdoor Therapy
Thunderstorm and Rain by Dreamy Sound
10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – Jane doesn’t know what to expect as the carriage takes her through the night to Thornfield Hall, but it’s not long before she enjoys conversations with Mr. Rochester in his study.
Riding a Carriage by TERAVIBE
Rain and Thunderstorm Sounds by Guild of Ambience
11. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy – Would you prefer strolling the winding lanes of Casterbridge or sitting beside the fire, listening in as Michael Henchard tells his life’s tale?
Cozy Country Village by Dragonfly Mage
19th Century Cottage by Ambience of Yesteryear
12. White Fang by Jack London – Whether journeying through the wilderness with the dogsled team, or finding solace at Weeton Scott’s cabin, it’s sure to be an adventure!
Wolf Forest by Michael Ghelfi
Cozy Cabin Porch Ambience by The Alley of Ambience
*BONUS! Which book could be read using this 1930s library ambience? It’s one of my favorites.
Avonlea x
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Happy Little Sigh
Finding beauty in the everyday ❤
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The sight of school supplies at your local supermarket may leave you feeling like summer has slipped away, even if you don’t have children of your own. You probably have a list of things you wanted to accomplish and enjoy that now seem like they’ll have to wait till next year. But the official first day of Autumn isn’t till September 22, so don’t sigh in despair and order your first Pumpkin Spice Tea Latte or pack away your parasol just yet! Here are 12 whimsical ways to bring beauty to your last 48 days of summer . . .
1. Pick Wild Flowers – Warning! I stop for black-eyed Susans! And I know just which stretch of country road to find them. Picking wildflowers is one of my personal traditions to mark the season of summer. It brings the color of summer indoors, spreads a lovely smell, and adds a touch of wild, gentle beauty that store-bought flowers never have.
2. Make a Cobbler – The taste of summer! Blueberry and peach are my favorite, and all the better if you picked the fruit yourself. Pinterest will provide a quick, easy recipe that should only take 10 minutes to throw together. Then pair with ice cream and enjoy slowly–somewhere with a lovely view is best (maybe your deck, or round your table with friends?).
3. Read Under a Tree – What a wonderful new perspective we get, looking up at the underside of a tree! The branches stretching out, the light streaming through, turning the leaves to stained glass windows. It’s beautiful. To really soak up the last of summer, pull out an old quilt or blanket, spread it out, and open a book–pausing now and then to watch the leaves dance in the breeze.
4. Have an Adventure – How may times have you told yourself that someday you’ll stop at that little antique barn you always pass by? Or that one of these days you’ll go visit that friend who lives across the state? Or that you’d so love to have lunch with friends at that new café? This might be just the time to do something different, go somewhere new, or see an old friend and have your own wee adventure!
5. Get Your Feet Wet – What says summer like the smell of sea air, the feel of sand between your toes, or the sight of a river winding into green? Dive into summer (or dip your toes in!) by getting yourself out to the water! Splash others and laugh when they splash you back! You could even try reading with your feet dangling in the water.
6. Read on Your Porch – You’ve probably done something to make this space attractive, but have you actually taken time to enjoy the flowers you planted or the pretty cushions or candles you bought? Make yourself an iced coffee, sweet tea, or sparkling water, and soak up the heat with a good book–or paint, knit, or do whatever hands-on activity feeds your soul.
7. Visit a Local Historic Place – If you’re anything like me, nothing catches your eye like an old school house chocked with weeds, or a historic marker on the side of the road. So many times I’ve wished to peek in the windows of an old school house, town hall, or church, or thought about stopping to read the sign and find out what historic event took place there. Make an afternoon of driving nearby country roads and through local small towns, and take the time to stop and photograph any abandoned or old buildings you find, or simply look inside. Always more fun if you have a cold drink for the road!
8. Host a Dinner Party – Have fun creating a destination-themed summer soiree, such as A Trip to Tuscany, or a literary-inspired theme, such as Anne of Green Gables or Jane Austen (haven’t you always wanted to?!) or make it simple with burgers on the grill. Invite those friends you’ve been longing to catch up with, or someone you know needs a friend in their life. Don’t be afraid to invite people last minute. Eat lots, drink lots, laugh lots.
9. Play Pooh-Sticks – If you aren’t familiar with the game made famous by Winnie-the-Pooh, all you need is a bridge, some water, and sticks. Children optional. Everyone drops their stick from one side of the bridge at the same time, then rushes to the other side to see whose stick made it under first. They’re the winner! Repeat. The game is even better if you have to take a scenic walk to reach the bridge.
10. Watch the Fireflies – I missed these most miraculous creatures when we lived in Scotland. And I just learned on a trip south to Kentucky this summer that fireflies (or lightnin’ bugs) can have multiple different light pulses and colors, depending on the species. Some have a slow off-on fade, while others glitter with quick flashes like Christmas lights. Not sure how your lighting bugs glow? I suggest you take the time to step outside and find out for yourself.
11. Get a New Perspective – A new perspective doesn’t necessarily have to come from a swing, although if it’s been a while since you’ve seen the world upside-down and your feet against blue sky, you should definitely head to the park soon! Maybe your perspective is from the top of the mountain, the top of a sky scraper, or somewhere else with a beautiful view of the world. Wherever it is, make sure it helps you soak up summer!
12. Start a New Book – I know you have a stack of books to be read (don’t you?!). If you’ve been stuck on the same one for a while, put it aside and instead pick up the one you most want to read next. Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner is in my to-read pile, and I look forward to jumping in!
BONUS – Have a Summer Movie Night! – Invite your girlfriends (or ask another family with kids to join your crew!) for one last night of popcorn, chocolate, and Period Drama Fun before the school year kicks in and everyone gets busy. Need some suggestions? Check out this list I made of 30 Period Drama Favorites .
happy little sigh 