Carefree Summer Days

While sorting through our extensive photo collection, I took a few moments to reflect back on this one.

~ Newlywed

~ Summer Vacation

~ Soaking up the Sun while he was taking photos of butterflies on the rocks.  Unbeknownst to me he was also snapping my photo.

Looking at it now it epitomizes the days of being totally carefree in the summer sun.  How I wish I could still perch on a rock like that and get back up to standing.  Ha!  I also wish for that tiny waistline and the days when the sun was my friend and not something to be avoided.

The short shorts and suntans may have fallen by the wayside, but it doesn't mean that the carefree days have.  They've just taken on a different shape in these last thirty some years :).

For one thing, I am now the one chasing butterflies with my camera.  (usually in my trusty capris with plenty of sunscreen).

One thing that hasn't changed is my love of nail polish.

Summertime means choosing a pretty new shade for the fingers and toes.

This year I'm enjoying OPIs "Tutti Frutti Tonga".  A pretty, feminine shade that seems to go well with most of my summer clothes.

A little spruce up on the front porch provides a comfortable spot for enjoying many midlife pleasures.

~ Coffee in the early morning.

~ Wine in the early evening

or. . .

another place to work on the ever-growing books to be read pile.

Much like we look forward to Christmas for making special once-a-year cookies and recipes, I look forward to summertime for using fresh herbs in new ways.  In this case the chocolate mint was finely minced into a refreshing summer cookie.  An ideal accompaniment to an frosty glass of iced tea or cold milk.

Then when the peaches are at their peak,

it's time for fresh peach pie with a dollop of whipped cream.

In our hot, humid climate it's most desirable to water the container plants in the early morning or after the sun sets.

Sailing across the lake at sunset is perhaps the epitome of being carefree in the summer.

🌞

It may not be the official first day of summer, but it's June 1st and that's close enough for me.

Let the carefree days begin.

😎😎