The concept of appreciating each season for what it is, living in that moment, enjoying each season's bounty and being in tune with the planet's natural cycles is certainly not new. It's the way we were meant to live. Or should be.
But in this age of easy accessibility - where we can enjoy tropical fruit in the dead of winter, and arctic, air conditioned temperatures in the midst of summer - it's pretty easy to lose touch with the seasons. And probably moreso for those of us whose work always seems to be a season ahead; spring and summer are spent thinking about autumn, autumn is spent thinking about winter, and so on.
So yeah....where the work is concerned, I'm immersed in Halloween and will soon start thinking about Christmas. But where life if concerned, I'm trying to keep it all about summer now....
Harvesting lavender from the front walkway and hanging it to dry...
Cooking with fresh basil from the herb garden...
Sitting outside at night enjoying the pond's waterfall and frog songs....
Then there are summer concerts! I just love listening to great music under the stars (looking forward to Susan Werner and Richard Shindell on the 26th)...
And while we're on the topic of music, it too changes with the seasons. I know I'm seriously dating myself with some of the selections, but if look to the right and scroll down a bit, you'll find a playlist with some favorite summer tunes. ;)
The upcoming fourth of July weekend will be spent painting, of course, but I hope to take a break for a cookout at some point. To be honest, I'm not big on the flagwaving thing (nothing against it, and am probably prouder than I've been in a long while, but just tend to think more globally), and have come to dislike fireworks for the way they strike terror in the fur-kids...but I'm ALWAYS up for a summer gathering with friends. :)
Summer is also the season of productivity, of taking advantage of longer days and more natural light, which means painting, painting and more painting! This is the latest work in progress - a wooden ornament chest for storing Halloween treasures.
I'll post photos when it's finished. In the meantime, I wish you all the blessings of summer, and a happy, safe and *CreAtIvE* holiday weekend!
♥ Carolee
Great post, Carolee! You've touched on things that are very important to me too. Have you ever read Barbara Kingsolvers book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle? If not, it's an excellent read about how her family decided to eat and live seasonally for a year.
ReplyDeleteThanks. :) I actually have the book in my ever growing "to be read" stack. I've read just about everything else she's written - must get to this one!
ReplyDelete~ Carolee
I just bought that book for my children who moved to Kentucky. My daughter asked for it. They have gone completely green, which is wonderful but scary to me. I don't think I could do it. Your lavender is lovely. I can't seem to get it to grow for me, but I have rosemary four feet tall. For some reason it loves my soil.
ReplyDeleteHi Carolee,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and commenting about my Journal. Your blog is so FUN!! You are one talented Lady!
Happy 4th!
Artful Blessings,
Kathryn
Hello Carolee,
ReplyDeleteI am with you, live in the season! some years ago, seasons had seemed to slip by me, but as I have grown older I have learned to live in the beauty of each season.
lovely post:)
~Diane
Very nice sentiment to live by, I agree. Your koi pond is gorgeous, and try rubbing a whole roasting chicken with some dried lavender this Fall...it is yummy!
ReplyDeleteI want to come sit by your pond at night Carolee! So if you hear someone out there....you'll know who it is. ;o)
ReplyDelete