The best parts of summer

Everyone has their own definition of Summer and what that means to their family. The activities and things you look forward to are part of what gives summer such anticipation and allure. We are a pretty simple family in terms of what we do, and what we can afford.  I was feeling nostalgic the other day and started coming up with a basket of things that makes summer..............well.....................summer, to us.

• camping at the lake with family. We tent but others in the family have 5th wheels.  campfires and fishing and all kinds of great fun
• woodcutting. This is my dad's favourite. It is probably hard wired into him from when he was a child and this was a necessity, not a choice. While we do not have a fireplace, my parents do. The wood goes for that, or for outdoor firepits. There is just something grounding about having a campfire.
• Baileys and.................. coffee...hot chocolate...ice . It's all good.

• Weekend fishing trip for the boys. They got two of those this summer. One included my 21 year old nephew. They love this and it wouldn't feel like a complete summer without it.
• Fish fry over the fire at midnight. delicious
• Picking raspberries and saskatoons! and eating them!!
• Lots and lots of walks. I have TIME and can go at different times of day and have time to explore longer routes. alone, preferably and NOT with an IPOD. I prefer to hear what is coming and enjoy the sounds of the world. I can listen to music anytime. My walks are meant for quiet. Recharging.
• Road trips. Up to the lake. to the city. to camp.
• Movies. I actually had time to go to movies in the city this summer. Three of them. That's more than I went to in the whole previous year LOL

• Time out at the pond at the farm. My dad built it. Bridge and pavillion and all. We used to stock it with trout but they kept dying so until we figure that out, no trout for us. But a garden and a fire pit and wonderful lovely nature.
• BBQing. Grilling, I guess some call it.  Food cooked outdoors. Steak, chops, burgers, veggies. It all tastes so wonderfully fresh and it tastes a bit like freedom (leisurely time)
• Fields of canola and wheat. It is great fun watching it grow and mature and change colour. The canola itself is so vibrant!!! This pic is one of my favourite spots near home.

The sound of loons. There is something magically, haunting about them and they are a big part of my summer sensory experience