Capturing the Best of Summer


Every day has been a rainy day this week.  The local streams have overflowed and caused all kinds of trouble for residents.  I will complain about the big hill I live on and have to walk up at the end of a walk but being on a big hill has its benefits.  As I sit in my kitchen typing, once again the clouds of doom are out and it feels like another stormy day.

Along with the storms, I have a dog that is now afraid of thunder and sits on my lap until the thunder is gone.  My dog groomer/trainer/the lady I babysit for says it's because he is old and his eyesight is not as good and that makes him unsure of where the noise is coming from. 


My babysitting schedule might be changing this fall.  Instead of two mornings a week, I will be doing one full day a week.  I'm excited about this change because when I work two mornings a week, nothing gets done in the afternoons, I'm exhausted.  One full day with a possible nap time (for her not me) would be appealing and free up another day.  


Holly has been watching Frodo from afar twice this week.  In the above photo, Frodo was up earlier than usual because of the thundering and Holly was trying to decide what to make of his freedom.

This morning, Frodo was NOT under the ottoman but Holly acted like he was and was inching closer and closer to his space, with bravery and a little fear mixed in.

After I stated that the chasing has vanished, someone has decided to start it up again.  Holly is a smart cat and is gone before Frodo has enough traction to get going. 




This week has been great, I've been home every day after the gym and some routine doctor visits.  I've been knitting and reading in the afternoons.  I missed that so much while I was in back recovery mode.  Knitting is my therapy.  I experience calmness and peace whenever I am engaged. 

There are only four more weeks left of my summer break and I feel like I didn't truly use my time wisely.  Where did the time go?  What do I have to show for it?  What would I like to accomplish before the new school year, new babysitting year starts?


As you know, I love a well-honed list of tasks but then being spontaneous has some whimsical benefits.  I try to keep my mornings on a schedule of sorts - I go to the gym, then run any errands for that day and try my best to be home for lunch.   

My afternoons are free and untethered.  I usually knit or read or both.  I take my camera for a walk about and capture the best of summer.  So far, I'm not wishing the summer away yet.  I made myself a promise to enjoy each season fully.  Summer is my least favorite yet I'm able to appreciate the gifts from Mother Nature.


One goal that I accomplished is my scaling back of social media.  My favorite way to consume the internet is reading blogs.  Not many people are blogging like they used to, they've switched to Instagram.  I'm on Instagram, but the algorithms they've implemented aren't to my liking.
I miss the old chronological way.  When I am on social media, I put myself on a time limit.

If you are blogging make sure your blog is linked to your profile when you comment so I can see it and visit.  If you are not blogging, you should, it's fun! 

I remember starting out and wishing for someone, anyone to read and comment on my blog.  Gah.  The insecurities that go with putting yourself out in the world. 


How are you capturing the best of summer?




Comments

  1. I am really not thinking about August's arrival next week. Here is to long and lazy days in August!

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  2. My summer was eaten by a new puppy! His schedule is my schedule (for now). I look forward to the day MY days can mimic the way your days play out. I get the gym, but then things fall apart. Thank you for blogging, Karen. I think you have taken full advantage of summer. I love seeing when you travel, when you're at home and/or in your garden. Keep it up! Happy weekend.

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  3. So far, the best of summer for me has been tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans from the garden. I would be happy to eat tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches every day of the year, but they are best savored in summer!

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  4. The past two months have been completely eaten up by summer community theater, so I'm looking forward to having most of a month to enjoy my quiet town before all the students come back (our town populations DOUBLES when the students arrive!). We finally have a bit of a cool front here--I might be able to enjoy knitting on my front step again for a few days!

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  5. Love what you dog groomer said, it really should be scary not knowing from where the sound is coming.

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  6. Oh my gosh ..... so much rain. We too live pretty high up. But, the wetlands behind us is positively soggy!

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  7. Some beautiful and some cute photos in this post - I love them all (Holly on the bookcase is great...and sneaking up to the ottoman - lol). I think your summer has been pretty full - you've gotten away a few times and you've been busy with dog and cat things. Your new Fall schedule sounds nice. And here's to a fun August for you.

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  8. Oh, I love summer! This one is turning out to be a strange one though. We spent June on Curaçao and then came back to Holland, expecting cold an rainy days. But it's been dry and sunny all month! Right now it's too hot (95 degrees). Same temperature as on Curaçao, but on the island there's always a cooling breeze and here it's just hot and smoggy...
    I feel the same way about instagram and blogging. It's such a shame that so many of my old blogging friends switched to Instagram. I'm glad you're still blogging ;-)

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  9. We could use your rain!! We got tons of it a month ago, and now nothing. Oh well, the grass will survive.

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  10. I have a funny story to put on my blog this afternoon. Instagram is easy and fun...but blogging is so much better.

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  11. Love your knitting, so glad you are getting time to knit and read. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  12. Your photos, as usual, are great. Holly makes me smile - she has quite the personality. I am not on Instagram, ignore Pinterest, and spend minimal time on Facebook. Ravelry is another story. I like the blogs. They feel more like a conversation. That summer top looks so pretty. I look at the patterns for summer tops/sweaters often but have never made one.

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  13. So glad you are having time to read and knit and time for yourself. Sadly it has been a Spring/Summer of hospital appointments and rehabilitation. I am not complaining. We are now hopeful that the new drug regime is working and all is well. We get the final test results from bloods and the heart monitor on Tuesday, we are praying that further surgery will not be necessary. We have a lot to look forward to...family visits next month, so we are very excited.

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  14. Your summer looks like a very enjoyable one, apart from the rain that is, thank goodness for your hill! Poor Frodo and the storms, it must be so unsettling for him and you. Wishing you a wonderful August filled with all the things you love xx

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  15. Your post is thought provoking. Since Zach arrived home summer has been a whirlwind. I NEED to sit and knit again. Cousins are coming up today which is so nice but means no knitting......I need to knit! Goals: stay positive and happy that zach is home job searching in the USA. VIsit Allison and enjoy the vacation. Mexico in March was too much for me. I want to keep my weight at my mainenance. I've gained 4 pounds from lazy eating. I MUST stop this.

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  16. I know you will enjoy having one whole day for babysitting as opposed to half days. I've been assessing also what my summer days have produced. So far, it has mostly amounted to taking care of hubby with all of the eye drops...it is a good thing. :)

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  17. lol, I just started blogging this year. Late to the party.
    http://helenmatheyhornbooks.com/

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  18. Poor Frodo! I'll take your thunderstorms any day. We've been living with mid-80's. Your Tegna (?) is coming along wonderfully. What a pretty color.

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  19. Well, I am afraid that I am not making too much of my summer... Trying to get myself back on track in a good routine, but thusfar there doesn't seem too much progress. Maybe because there is no pressure to do so ? But then again, why should you always use your time wisely ? Aren't summers also to linger, lay back and just do nothing ?

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