Summer Essentials (according to me)

I woke early, drank my coffee on the porch, and watched the sun begin to glide over the trees. I ate a handful of blueberries and wrote nonsense in my journal. Nonsense with a common theme—summer essentials. Things essential to my summer, either by necessity or joy.

Today is the first day of summer, y’all. So it’s the perfect time to discuss.

Whatyouwannabet many of our summer necessities overlap?

At the top of my list, I wrote a few days at the Lake. Arkansas is blessed with stunning lakes. I claim Lake Norfork, and it claims me. I’ve been coming here since I was a baby.

Something I realized while sitting on the porch and drinking my coffee and writing nonsense…When I’m able to enjoy a few days of lake time, all my other summer essentials magically fall into place.

Funny how that happens.

☀
cheery sunrise
a comfy porch chair
a view of the lake, a river, or woods
two fawns frolicking toward the water’s edge
a thick patch of daisies growing by the screen door
sunglasses that don’t mysteriously go missing
a little sand between the toes
lots of laughter
fish jumping and rippling the water
brown-eyed susans growing wild
bare feet on a creaky dock
mostly sunny skies with lazy white clouds
the distant whir of a boat motor
a cold drink and a bag of ice
a book to get lost inside
a symphony of birdsong
sweet watermelon & cherries & u-pick-em blueberries
favorite old hat to shade the hot afternoon
sunscreen that smells like summer
a nap in the breeze
a picnic table, a grill, a bag of charcoal
hot dogs and marshmallows to roast on sticks
a flyswatter
strawberry ice cream
cabbage butterflies
a curious turtle who greets us each day
watching the stars come alive over the lake
lightning bugs and tree frogs
an air-conditioned cabin
soundless sleep
repeat
?

 

This is my life right now, and I’m grateful for it. The truth about my summer essentials? In the scheme of things, my list doesn’t matter in the slightest. I almost deleted this entire post in favor of being silent for awhile.

But today is the first day of summer. A few heartwarming memories might add a teeny tiny smidgen of positivity to our world. I’m convinced we need it more than ever.

On this longest day of the year, how about we remember the wise words of Atticus Finch / Harper Lee. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. 

Perhaps a better list of summer essentials would include:

Happy summer friends,

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]What the world needs now: My Summer Essentials ~ #firstdayofsummer #SummerSolstice[/tweetthis]

Jackie Deshannon, What the World Needs Now is Love