i really can’t recall when i felt summer arrive this year.  i’m someone who is cold most of the time, so what i call a hot summer day could be very different from what you call a hot summer day.  if you haven’t yet, i suggest that you reflect on your summer as i have below.  the stories and the remember when’s that you’ll want to share with others or hide away in your journal to be reminded of and laugh at later – those are worth remembering.  how small they may be.

i splashed my feet in any wadding pool i saw and then walked around barefoot until my feet were dry.

time spent with my family.  walking down the road, adventuring to stratford or just sitting and chatting around the dinner table, i love it’d all and i love them.  it’s this special love you grow to appreciate once you’ve been gone for so long.  the memories that fill that house hold a very special place in my heart.  i need to get my father around for long enough to get a new family photo.  he’s currently in Taiwan.

went car camping for my birthday – it’s not the remote outdoors that i love so much, but it sure gets close to it and gets me out of the city.  a fire on the beach with friends, listening to the waves crash in – it doesn’t get much better than that.  well, it does, if you add in the golden roasted marshmallows – delicious!

chilling and chatting at bars and coffeehouses.  with friends or with folks i’d never met before.  two bachelorettes under my belt this summer and three weddings whose dance floors i busted many a move on.  these feet can’t stop, won’t stop!

in fact, i photographed a wedding!  my beloved friend Jill married her man, Chris and the silly fabulous fools that they are entrusted me to photograph their special day.  i was and still am completely honoured.  i’ll be sharing more photos from their big day a little later on.

oh goodness did i laugh.  i laughed – a lot.  i’ve been blessed with some of the greatest friends anyone could ever hope for.  friends that love me for me.  friends that allow me to love them with all of myself.  old friends who will always be there, and new friends that feel old – it’s simply the best.  surround yourself with folks who challenge you, who inspire you, who push your buttons and can make you fold over in a giggling fit of laughter.  your life will be better because of it.

and of course – take a little time to relax.  to just, be still.
while a thunderstorm rolled in and came down over the city, i sat on the balcony in candlelight and painted.
another evening, in my rocking chair, i stared at the supermoon.  for a long time.
sure, i could hear cars driving by, people hollering and airplanes flying over head – but i could also hear crickets and the cool wind blowing in my hair.  it was peaceful.
while in new brunswick when the sky had gone dark, i looked up at the millions and trillions of stars above.  it’s something you don’t get to see when you live in a light polluted city like toronto.  i have no idea how long i stood there but my neck definitely hurt after.

so – what little things did you get up to this summer?
happy sunday – wherever you are!