Summer

For one reason or another we haven't been anywhere this summer. Not one place. Zilch. Nada. Nyet. Nein. Non. Not one.

Mentioning this to DH last week I made the comment that this will be the first year ever we have never hit the beach. Two pairs of puppy eyes bore into his soul.

Later, when they were out of ear shot,
"We have a new car now - we could take them tomorrow",
"OK, let me check the forecast and buy all known snack food known to humankind and possibly some new tupperware",
"Wai...",
"Shush".
(I'll leave you to decide who was who.)

Needless to say the forecast was good, tupperware was bought and we hit the beach for possibly the only time this year. First and last in one go - but oh my - how we appreciated it. The boys spent hours swimming in the sea, playing at the fair and a short ferry ride - we squeezed every last drop out of that day.

Sometimes knowing time is short means we get the very most out of life. We see the transience of it and suck the marrow out and do more living in one day than in months.

I am glad this wasn't the year we never made it to the beach. It was a good summer. The whole day of it.

Life's a Beach

We've learned that when summer pays you a brief visit, you make hay while the sun shines! And whilst all the farmers that we could see as far as the horizon were doing just that with their none-stop mighty harvesters trying to beat the forecasted rain, we did the same (so to speak) by hitting the beach to enjoy it whilst it lasted.

We played in the sand, in the sea, we knitted, crocheted, chatted and made new friends, then we hit the funfair to add another couple inches to those smiles. Because we could. Masha'allah.

Driving home in the heat, the sun dipping into lazy haze, we arrived home happy and satisfied. The boys played out with the other kids 'til bath time, and genuine sighs of contentment were heard as they sat in bed nattering until they fell asleep.

It feels good to be the parent who says, 'yes' sometimes. Alhamdulillah. Truly.

Back to the beach

Can you believe that this is the week we were going to add an extra batch to our stores by going apple picking?? Can you believe that we have squash and pumpkins and fresh corn in mind when we goto the local farm now?

I mean, not that I'm complaining - but LOOK at it. They said a heatwave? We got a heatwave. And it's set to continue well into next week insha'allah. Which might mean our normal autumn activities of corn picking and leaf gathering might make way for beach sitting and pool side sun bathing.

And that's alright by me.


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Squeezing Out Summer

For one reason or another, this year has really been messed up emotionally for us, and this in turn has had an effect on the rhythm of our year.

In most years summer is a time of ease and relaxation; a time to exhale and kick back and soak it all up before the weather changes, life gets a bit harder when winter looms. This year I feel as though I've been catching my breathe and being stressed out and worried and anxious and sad a long time.

As such I've got to this point in the year where I feel ready for summer, and.... it's effectively over! Gah! Playing catch up and squeezing out the last drops of summer, feeling the ease and enjoying the sun. And appreciating a roasting day at the shore, against all advice of the weather forecasts!

I'm not done with summer yet!


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