Summer Still Life

Hello friends! It's been a long journey since my last post in the middle of May when all the roses were blooming and the garden was so newly green. There was a grand and wonderful flush of visitors all throughout May as well, one after the other in streams. 

I was lucky enough to take a little summer jaunt of my own to get a dose of that summer vacation feeling that we all can't wait to taste of almost any year, but especially this one. It had been so long that I had been on the open road that I found it exhausting on my return, and had to rest up for a long while after my short whirlwind holiday. But it was so good to see the vast horizon and the patiently waiting landscape after so long. I hardly stopped to take a picture.

But now we are at the height of summer. And it is so hot here that I feel like I can't just keep saying it over and over again, but I can't seem to stop myself!

For now this withered beauty is all that remains of our profusion of roses from spring. A small parched memory that itself will soon be gone.

For now we have retreated to the still life of summertime. The house all shutterd and closed during the day like some Italian village house. I suddenly want to have those striped door curtains in front for a bit of old world romance. And there is a rather constant low hum and a strange quiet in the house all day. I know I am supposed to being doing something useful, but lately I just spend much of the day reading like the summer I was ten years old.

The intense heat will abate eventually, and the silence will soon be broken by young voices. I'll be back to changing beds, and getting outside for more than early mornings and the memorable dusk of evenings. We will have the summer solstice in a couple of days, and a game next Saturday at the local ball park. It seems the year to make sure to get it all in.

It's been a nice pause for shifting objects, straightening furniture, and freshening the linens. Making plans, and finding misplaced things. Appreciating them with new eyes the way you can do after travel.

Moving a few possesions on to someone else, while reminding yourself of what is still important. Sorting myself out.

Dusting off the dogs, and adjusting a few more pitchers. . . .

I did the weeest bit of shopping when I was wayfaring and found something wonderful (as I knew I would). You can see it below.

Another sweet sampler to add to my collection of one. And a wonderful reminder. My own personal assignment, I think, for the beginning of this long hot summer yet to come.

Wishing you all the best of summer ahead!

Jacqueline