This year I’ve been trying to better appreciate my slower, gentler lifestyle. I want to notice and enjoy the simple things more.
And hot summer weather lends itself very well to a slower pace.
A hummingbird resting near the hot tub. Warm evenings outside. Music drifting through the park while families unfold lawn chairs and children run barefoot through the grass.
None of it is extravagant, but somehow those are the moments that stay with me the longest.
This summer, I’m trying to embrace slower living a little more intentionally.
The Hummingbird Moment
Yes. Yes, she is.
For over an hour this sweet girl sat quietly near the hot tub completely unbothered by us. Normally when I sit in the hot tub, I listen to podcasts or catch up on videos. But when I noticed this little lady, I had a gentle reminder to simply stop and enjoy where I was.
Ahhhh… joy.
Currently on order: a new solar birdbath to place beneath the trees for this mama and many more to come.
Summer Evenings Outdoors
Whether enjoying the hot tub or taking a few quiet minutes to read or solve puzzles on the patio, being outdoors is my number one summer pleasure.
Except the dang mosquitoes. Those rascals.
And somehow even the mosquitoes bring a tiny bit of joy.
In the evenings they attract bats and nighthawks flitting through the yard, and their swoops and dives are surprisingly fun to watch.
These evenings feel more restorative than a visit to a spa. I’m not trying to relax — I just am.
Concerts in the Park
Families with strollers and dogs, food trucks, folding chairs, beautiful sunsets, and live music are all things to love about our Music in May concerts in the park.
But what I love most is seeing friends and neighbors out and about again.
We can go all year without seeing some people, but somehow one evening in the park makes all that time disappear.
There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about watching children run barefoot through the grass while parents relax nearby and the rest of us listen to music we still remember from years ago.
Simple Living
It has been ages since I whipped up a batch of biscuits, but I took the time to do that this weekend.
Fresh biscuits from the oven with melted butter and strawberry jam?
Heaven.
Add about one hundred cups of tea and the perfect day is officially in the making.
Slow living doesn’t mean sitting around endlessly reading books and lighting candles (although there’s certainly nothing wrong with that). It simply means enjoying what you’re already doing.
And while I’m not usually huge on professional sports, I do love a good Arizona Rattlers indoor football game.
I spent a couple of hours Sunday watching their game and enjoying the energy of the crowd and the cheerleaders — all from my own living room.
Wrap Up
Wow. First I made up an Americana-themed bed, and now apparently I’m living an Americana-themed life.
But maybe that’s the beauty of summer:
local events, community, warm evenings, and simple fun.
As always, thank you for joining me this week.
May God richly bless you and yours.