Savor the Summer: romanticize the season!

Here we are poised on the precipice of summer. The start of a new season offers us the opportunity to romanticize the season to the utmost. I love to consider all of the low and no cost ways to create beautiful memories of the season. Here is a list that I have compiled for summer 2024. I hope you give some of these a try!

Pack a picnic and eat al fresco. When I was a little girl we used to spend summers days at Lake Emerald in Southern Vermont. I can remember my mom packing a picnic lunch - nothing fancy - just peanut butter and fluff sandwiches (we called them fluffernutters), Lay's potato chips, and some kind of fruit - for us to eat at the picnic tables by the lake. There was something so fun about unpacking the cooler and eating outside in our bathing suits! I love to recreate that nostalgic feeling by packing a picnic basket, throwing a blanket and a good book in the back of the car, and having a lunch in a beautiful spot - be it a park, by a lake, or under a tree.

Make a summer reading list and visit your local library. I love to read in the summer. To me it is hard to beat sitting on my back porch in the early morning reading a good book. The cooler morning air, a light breeze, a cup of coffee and a library book is as good as it gets! I always make a list of books to be read (TBR) at the start of the summer. Here are a few suggestions for cozy summer reads:

• The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame: Follow the adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger in the idyllic English countryside, filled with riverside picnics, woodland gatherings, and whimsical escapades.

• "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery: Join Anne Shirley as she discovers the beauty of Prince Edward Island and the joys of rural life, from cherry blossom-filled orchards to cozy country kitchens.

• "Cold Comfort Farm" by Stella Gibbons: This witty satire of rural life follows Flora Poste as she visits her eccentric relatives on a dilapidated farm and brings order to their chaotic existence.

• "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Edith Holden: A beautifully illustrated and charmingly written diary depicting the changing seasons and the wonders of nature in the English countryside.

• he Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: Set in the aftermath of World War II, this novel tells the story of a writer who forms a bond with the residents of Guernsey Island through letters.

• "Summer at Tiffany" by Marjorie Hart: A memoir of two young women who find adventure and romance while working as the first female pages at Tiffany & Co. during the summer of 1945.

• "The Little Paris Bookshop" by Nina George: Follow the journey of a Parisian bookseller who embarks on a journey through the French countryside in a floating bookstore.

• "The Summer Book" by Tove Jansson: This novel explores the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother as they spend a summer together on a small island in Finland.

• "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth von Arnim: Four women escape their dreary lives in post-World War I London by renting a villa in Italy for the month of April, where they find unexpected friendships and renewal.

• "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman: Follow the quirky and lovable Eleanor Oliphant as she navigates life and discovers the power of human connection.

• "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett: A classic tale of friendship, healing, and the magic of nature, perfect for a cozy summer read.

• "The Beach House" by Mary Alice Monroe: Set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, this novel follows the story of a woman returning to her family's beach house and finding solace in nature and family.

• "Beach Read" by Emily Henry: A witty and heartfelt romance about two rival authors who find unexpected inspiration and love during a summer spent writing in neighboring beach houses.

• "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens: Set in the marshes of North Carolina, this atmospheric novel combines mystery, romance, and the beauty of nature in a captivating story of survival and resilience.

Visit a farmer's market. I absolutely love to visit farmers' markets in the summer. The fresh, local produce is so inspiring. Sometimes I like to challenge myself to create a meal based around a fruit or vegetable that is currently in season or one that I am unfamiliar with. It definitely helps me to be more creative in the kitchen!

Grow fresh herbs in pots. Summer is for gardening, and even if you don't have the room or inclination for a full blown vegetable garden, you can easily grow fresh herbs in small pots. Fresh herbs add delightful flavor to your cooking and are so much fun to grow. You can purchase herb starts from your local nursery, Lowe's, Home Depot, or even some grocery stores. Just plant them in small clay pots, place them on a sunny windowsill or spot in your yard and you will reap the benefits all summer long! Basil, flat leaf parsley, rosemary and mint are some of my favorites.

These are just a few of things I am hoping to do this summer to elevate and romanticize the season. Creating wonderful moments and memories doesn't have to cost a lot. I hope you give some of these ideas a try!