(photo taken by me, at Misquamicut State Beach, Rhode Island)
Dear, dear summer, why must you go? I am not ready! I need another trip to the beach, more melty ice cream cones, a long bike ride in the dappled shade, garden tomatoes, damp bathing suits drying in the sun, new sandals and a fresh pedicure…
Earlier this summer I was lucky enough to get away with some girlfriends to another friend’s lovely cottage tucked away behind two other cottages on a tiny side street in a little neighborhood in Newport, RI.
At two blocks in from the harbor we were just a block from the main road’s restaurants, shops and boutiques, but once we turned onto the alley and were ensconced in our little patio we were worlds away from the noise of the street and tourists.
The cottage was beautiful but comfortable, with cozy rooms tucked under eaves and stairs, a huge sunroom, and original art on every wall.
We lazed on the beach and walked the Cliff Walk and lounged in Adirondack chairs. Ate fish and chips on the edge of the harbor. Bought and sold extravagant yachts and stately mansions and charming cottages with our imaginary riches.
We drank a lot of wine and dark ‘n’ stormies. We slept in and ate late breakfasts and lingered long over coffee.
We did a lot of window shopping, and bought delicious fudge. We found the most amazing little natural food store.
There was a lot of walking, and talking, and not talking. Ridiculous laughing. A little crying. More wine.
We decided we all need more friends with cottages to loan.
{Misquamicut Seagull No. 4, originally uploaded by robinsegg0523}
Oh Summer, why must you be over? You came so late this year, and went by too quickly. I feel I had only a few weeks to enjoy your sunny skies, your pleasant breezes, your sweltering days that make me appreciate your cool nights all the more…
This Saturday The BF and I enjoyed what is likely the last* “beach day” of the summer. Under blue skies and with a soundtrack of crashing waves, we sunned ourselves, read magazines, swam in the ocean, sat under an umbrella and enjoyed lunch and cold beers with an old friend of mine. I grew up on Long Island Sound, but there is nothing like a real ocean beach, with big waves and soft sand, a thousand colorful umbrellas scattered like Easter eggs on the shore. Yes, I have a bathing suit full of sand and seaweed, I got stung by a jellyfish and there is a line at the bathhouse, but I like to walk to the water’s edge and look out at the sea and appreciate that I am standing on the edge of a continent.
For more on what I love about summer click here.
*the last for us that is, ‘cause we don’t play no hooky once school starts.
According to my calendar (which is French), today is "Pfingst-Montag" (which is German), or Whit-Monday, 'a great festival day of the year with the Germans of the Old World and the New. They celebrate it if they are "city pent," by excursions into the country; if they dwell in the country, they still have their festive out door recreations".'
So basically it is a day off from work, to celebrate being outside.
I'm telling you, those Europeans are so much smarter than us when it comes to time off.....
Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling.
~ Walt Whitman
Gracious Gourmet owner Nancy Wekselbaum and her husband Natan base their gourmet business out of nearby Bridgewater, CT, so they stopped by the festival to pick up some chardonnay and see how sales were going. They are not only gracious, but charming as well. Their toy poodle, Chutney, is cuter (and mellower) than the Mango Pineapple Chutney in the line.
While my "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" tomato plant puts forth one lonely little fruit, my gerberas are doing nicely thank you. They smile at me every morning when I water everything in my little balcony garden.
Summer is dining at an outdoor cafe... the smell of wet dirt from last night's rain as the morning sun heats up... nasturtiums on salad... waiting in line for a coke float at the burger stand... cold white wine and sweet citronella candles on a blanket at a nighttime concert in the park.
Summer is fresh herbs growing in pots on the porch... tomatoes from the garden seasoned only with the warmth of the sun... homemade ice cream... swimming lessons... iced coffee... the squish of bare feet on wet sand at low tide.
Summer is the refreshing cool of air conditioning on a hot humid day... kids running through sprinklers... admiring your new sandals and a fresh pedicure... the sound of the crowd at a little league game... eating popsicles before they melt... playing hooky from work to enjoy a less-crowded beach on a weekday.
Summer is reading "chick lit" in the shade... getting out of the car to watch sailboats pass while the drawbridge is raised... fresh peaches... children's tiny bathing suits drying on the clothesline... driving with the sunroof open, the AC on and the radio loud.
Summer is here, finally.
Julia at Red Otter Shop inspired this post with her query for what defines summer (illustrated with pies not made by human hands). Thanks Julia!
And, as this is my 50th post, I would like to thank you for being here: those who comment, those who link to me, and those who just stop by to read. I'm so glad you all enjoy my random musings enough to keep coming back. When I started this little experiment to see if there was an audience for my ramblings, I never guessed that I would have made so many new friends and been so inspired.
A big thanks to Patricia at PVE Design, who was the first person to ever comment (on my third post). I have no idea how she ever found me but I am grateful for her early encouragement. A special thanks to those bloggers whose own posts are so interesting to others that their readers click through their blogroll and show up here. I get TONS of traffic from Julia at Hooked on Houses, A-M from The House that A-M Built, Rebekah at Little ByRD, Robin at A Little Bird Told Me, Laura at Fifi Flowers and Diana at Please Sir.
Wow, it's like an Oscar speech. Cue the music and cut to commercial.
