Summer has a certain allure, a heady magic, a gleaming grandeur and tantalizing beauty to it which can neither be ignored nor forgotten. Though some like it more than others, few amongst us can wholeheartedly say that they despise the third season the year entirely, for amid the points that may wear down our nerves, there is bound to be at least a few simple pleasures, sunshine illuminated joys and beloved memories that we wouldn't trade for the all world.
Perhaps because it's when my birthday falls, when I was proposed to by my husband, because I cherished the two month break from school as a child (like most of us did!), or due to the fact that a part of me truly adores feeling the permeating heat of June, July, and August sink down to the core of my soul. Whatever the reason, I have a deeply rooted passion for summer and often (both during and at other times of the year) find myself reflecting on some of my favourite elements of this marvelous season.
Twenty-five is but a drop in the bucket when it comes to the countless number of things, experiences, moments, and pleasures of this hot, lengthy, wonderful season, but it provides ample space for a diverse roundup of reasons why I cannot help but wear my heart on my sundress sleeve when it comes to this glorious time of the year.
1. The scent of air-dried laundry flapping gently in the breeze.
2. Brightly hued pedicures poking out of vintage peep-toe shoes and sandals.
3. The serenely melodic chirp of crickets wafting across the evening air.
4. How every day seems to hold the possibility of turning into an unforgettable adventure.
5.
Picking cherries fresh off the tree and devouring them by the sweet, gorgeous burgundy juice stained handful.
6. Wearing all of your favourite vintage warm weather fashions.
7. The endlessly sublime wonder that is a gorgeously warm summer breeze.
8. Pulling up and settling in for an awesome night spent at a
drive-in movie theater.
9. Building towering sandcastles (and making sand angels).
10. Outdoor marshmallow roasts, and by natural extension, the unending fabulousness that is s'mores!
11. Falling asleep in a hammock.
12. Messy, refreshing, completely fun water balloon fights!
13. Wrapping yourself up in a thick, fluffy terrycloth towel after a great swim.
14. How more people than usual seem to be a good mood - and how easy it becomes to make new friends under the amicable light of the summer sun.
15. Open air concerts enjoyed while laying on cozy blankets.
16. Making entire meals out of ice cream, gelato, sorbet, Italian ice, or any other frozen, sublimely sweet treat that your heart desires.
17. Having a blast with your favourite pool and beach toys.
18. Nights so warm you can still wear bare sleeves at 12am.
19. Wild summer thunder and lightning storms that waltz feverously across the horizon.
20. Hitting as many yard sales and outdoor flea markets as possible!
21. Quenching the incomparable thirst that summer brings with an icy, delicious
classic summer drink.
22. Curling up under a shady tree with a book you've been yearning to read for ages.
23. Any kind of getaway with the word "trip" in it (road trip, camping trip, etc).
24. Playing the terrific Italian classic that is bocce ball.
25. Knowing that, even here in (most parts of) Canada, it's very unlikely to snow anytime soon!
{Beautiful 1930s and 40s actress Ellen Drew sitting on a diving board with a very cute summertime classics, and #17 on our list today, an inflatable pool toy in the shape of a horse. Image via carbonated on Flickr.}
♥ ♥ ♥
It was so hard not to keep going for another twenty-five or fifty more, but we'll cap the list here for now...after all, there's always next summer during which to celebrate even more reasons why this season shimmers, shines, and endears itself to our hearts.
I hope that many of these entries are amongst your personal favourites as well, and would love to hear about some of the other things that top your list when it comes to why you adore the roasty-toasty days of the good ol' summertime.
