There’s something about summertime, don’t you think? Even though I am an empty nester without a school schedule to mark the beginning of summer, and a change to my schedule, there’s just something about this time of year that makes me want to stop, slow down a little and try to stretch and savor this short little season. I actually wrote this post almost two weeks ago and am now sitting outside listening to the tree frogs and watching the lightening bugs while I edit and get ready to finally post. It has officially become summer and I am finally feeling it. I made a real summer time meal of marinated chicken breasts, a cold cucumber, tomato and red onion salad soaking in a fresh vinegar dressing and fresh corn boiled and sauteed on the skillet. Afterwards, I walked the dogs as it was finally cool enough to get out without suffocating. It was glorious.

Since the beginning of June, and the weather here in Atlanta was beginning to get warm, I was feeling like summer was finally here. Since I am a list person, and I always love to make a list of things to do at the start of each new season, that’s what I did this morning. I made my Summertime List.

My Summertime List is different from the Fall and Winter list. I always include a project or two that I want to get done, some type of DIY thing I’ve been stewing on, only one “bear” thing ( some type of chore I’ve been putting off) and then fun things that make it feel like summer. One summer it was to begin golf lessons. Last year I made a huge batch of Dixie Relish. I also bought a paddleboard I had been wanting so I could get out on the water more often. And I always have a batch of reading I want to do.

This isn’t a list to stress over and pile more things to a busy day. I’ve also been known to put things like “eat a tomato sandwich”, sit in the sun and be bored, watch fireflies and take after dinner walks on the list.

I got so excited this morning writing some of these things down. It makes me want to slow down. It makes me want to act like my schedule can change somewhat, even though I do not have school age children at home. It makes me remember some of the easy, simple things that make summer my favorite time of the year.

Another thing I try to do now, especially with a full work schedule, is to be intentional about my time and do things that make it FEEL like summer.

While I would love to disappear to the lake for the entire summer or take two weeks off at the beach, that is not realistic. So, doing some of the small, intentional things that I can add to each day, before and after work, and fit in more long weekends and outdoor time, are all part of my plan for the next three months.

I’ve posted about own way of getting that summer feel by instigating my own “Summer Hours” on Instagram. Here it is.

I share this because it has really helped me reframe how I think about summer and my time. I don’t feel as if I am “missing out”. While I may see photos of friends on extended beach trips or beautiful vacations in Italy, or out West, and I love that for them and know how fabulous that could be, this is where I am this summer and I want to feel it. My biggest fear is for the leaves begin to turn in the Fall and I feel like I have missed out on this special, short season,

What about you? How do you feel about summer and what do you do to make it FEEL like your summer?