When I was a little girl summer was my season to shine. This meant no school, warmer weather, picnics at the beach and more time at Grandma's house.
It was a happy season and many of our activities were more like a way of life. To me they gave meaning to the season and offered a purpose towards living a good life.
But I have to say, summer in the south looks very different from where I grew up, which means many of my favorite activities have gone into hibernation.
This year I decided to bring back everything I missed by making plans to slow down and establish an old-fashioned summer. Beginning with picnics because there is something grand about sharing a meal outdoors.
I love picnics, a basket full of goodies just makes my heart feel whole.
But I have to tell you, I am more of a sit at the table kind of picnic person and that probably has a lot to do with our environment. You just don't sit on the ground in Texas because something will eventually bite you.
So if you are in a similar predicament don't worry because you can build such a table using plans I shared with Grit Magazine.
My picnic table plans were published in their Sept./Oct. 2017 issue, Read Article Here. I built that project with my husband when we were living on our farm; at the time I was freelance writing.
This DIY table can also be found in my gardening book, Garden Up Green.
Having a nice place to sit outside is good for the soul and a neat way to enjoy your environment.
Three Old Fashioned Summer Ideas
My next three plans have already been incorporated and what a joy this has been because summer in Texas comes early. These ideas included an outdoor clothesline, sun brewed iced tea and picking strawberries.
Let's begin with the clothesline because there is something wonderful about drying clean clothes outside. They feel perfect, smell incredibly fresh and clothing lasts longer when air dried versus placing inside a heated metal dryer.
I have already implemented this and am loving the results. Every time I place a load outdoors I am reminded a simpler life really is better.
You can get a retractable clothesline here.
Sun Brewed Iced Tea
Iced Tea was never a big thing where I grew up. That changed when summer arrived and we made sun tea outdoors using a jar.
When I came down south I quickly discovered tea was a way of life regardless of the season.
I have made tea the southern way but I must say, sun brewed with a little honey is just how I roll. Now you might disagree but don't knock it until you've tried it.
I especially like teas with hibiscus and peach.
Picking Strawberries
Picking berries in general has always been a favorite activity. The strawberries from the garden have been slow to produce but boy have they been tasty.
I have a history with strawberries and they were plentiful where I grew up. I remember when I turned twelve, being just old enough to go field picking. That was such an adventure, an opportunity to make my own money and the only thing I disliked was having to get up early.
Strawberry season never lasted long and by the end of the season you didn't want to eat another berry until the following year.
This year I will be picking strawberries from our garden.
Making Old Fashioned Ice Cream
Making Old Fashioned Ice cream was something I did with cousins on July 4th.
Everybody had a chance to "crank the handle" and the result was always a wonderful batch of homemade strawberry ice cream. It was such a treat and I think it was because we all participated in the process.
Since then, we have made homemade ice cream multiple times and each batch could probably tell its own story. This year we are making homemade ice cream again, not because I long to go backwards but more to enjoy the process.
Perhaps I have encouraged you to schedule some fun activities for the summer that are less about convenience and more about slowing down. Take in the simpler life, share it with younger generations and best wishes for an Old-Fashioned Summer.
Encouraging Goodness,
Carole West
As an Amazon Associate, I do earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Post a Comment