At the Corner of Summer and Relaxation

After some early flirtation with drought, our New Jersey summer has settled into a sunny, humid heat with just enough thunderstorms to keep things lush and green.  This is the view of my backyard that I love the most.  It’s the first thing I see when I come downstairs in the morning.  As darkness settles in each evening, there are lightening bugs twinkling in this lushness, a vision that never wears out its welcome.  This view is the vision I carry in my head when I’ve grown weary of Winter’s cold and I need to warm my soul.

The summer of 2016 seems to be rushing past me.  It’s hard for me to believe that August is just around the corner.  I remind myself that there are still six weeks until the arrival of students in the hallways at school.  That’s plenty of time find an extra hour on the front porch with a good book, watch a ballgame with JT, enjoy a leisurely summer supper with my family, eat a bowl of homemade ice cream, take time for an adventure with T, and otherwise soak up all the glory of summer.

Summer Tradition

Last summer, I took to making time each day to sit on my flower-filled front porch and enjoy time outdoors with a book or magazine.  This practice got me outdoors, which I love, and gave me space and time to relax, which is what makes summer lovely.  I made a series of Instagram pictures to mark the hours spent in this fashion, a practice I am continuing this year.  But there’s no reason Instagram should have all the fun.

Today dawned bright and lovely, a morning with sunshine and temperatures in the mid 60s.  Sitting outside with my coffee and book while surrounded by flowers and the morning bird chorus, I was reminded again of the power of nature and the time to enjoy it all.  Here’s to summer, y’all!  

Coloring Books

Last Fall, T and I were at Barnes and Noble when she showed me some grown up coloring books.  She knew what she was doing; I was intrigued at once.  She gave me two books and some colored pencils for my birthday in November.  For most of that month, I colored when I had a spare moment and I enjoyed every element of it.  Come Christmas, each of us received more coloring books and now we are sold on the activity, carefully sharpening our pencils or selecting the right marker and coloring when we have the time and inclination.  

It’s relaxing and just as enjoyable as it was when I was a kid, though these days I do a much better job staying within the lines.

Some of the illustrations are detailed and beautiful to look at so before color is added, there is the pleasure of leafing through lovely illustrations, looking for just the right page to fill with color.

When I was a child, I had lots of rules about my coloring.  I was often disappointed in the things I colored because I sought a perfection that I was unable to achieve.  As a grown up, I feel free to try unusual color combinations; to leave things unfinished; to select a new page even when the current one hasn't been completed.  I feel free to be imperfect.  That’s a good lesson for me to embrace.

Coloring really is relaxing.  It’s also fun.  It provides time to let my mind wander and be free.  

Today is a rainy Sunday, just perfect for cats to sit on the warm radiators under the windows, brew up a nice pot of tea, and sharpen the pencils for some time with my coloring books.