The Summer List, 2016 Version
It's officially summer! I love taking the time to make a list of all of the things (big and little) that I hope to do/cook/go/make/savor over the seasons. Do you do this, too? I admit I'm feeling a bit sad that we're not in Rhode Island to enjoy this beautiful season - those New England summers really are something special. Still, there's lots of goodness to enjoy around here, and making this list was a good reminder to appreciate the treasures in my life right now.
So without further ado, here are 50 things on my summer list:
- Go to the county fair. In the evening, when the carnival lights come on!
- Make a flower mandala.
- Visit a National Park.
- Check out the new SFMOMA.
- Picnic in the park.
- Float on a lake.
- Work on earning our Wild Explorer's Club badges.
- Go camping.
- Have lobster for dinner!
- Pick berries.
- Make fresh lemonade.
- Do some science experiments.
- Go to an outdoor concert.
- Try paddle boarding!
- Make a fairy house, pixie tower, or toad home.
- Ride a train.
- Visit a new park.
- Go for a walk on the beach at dawn.
- Swim in the ocean.
- Go to a matinee on a really hot day.
- Walk barefoot in the grass.
- Feed the ducks.
- Make the best quick pickles.
- Go for a nature walk.
- Press wildflowers.
- Make a refrigerator cake.
- Ride bikes on a pretty path.
- Read, read, read! (My pick: The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante; Bixby's pick: The Treehouse Books by Andy Griffiths)
- Watch fireworks.
- Watch the Olympics!
- Make a summer scrapbook.
- Play board games.
- Build a sandcastle. Or sand cat, whatever.
- Have a tiki party and pretend we're in Hawaii!
- Ride a ferris wheel.
- Listen to the Beach Boys.
- Mix up some sidewalk paint!
- Make jam.
- Go bowling.
- Fly a kite.
- Make some gorgeous grilled pizza!
- Go bird watching.
- Send postcards to friends far away.
- Visit an observatory to look at the stars.
- Visit a historical site.
- Go to a flea market.
- Skip stones.
- Listen to an audio book on a road trip.
- Visit a beautiful garden,
- Color the sidewalk cracks.
So that wraps up my list (for now...I keep thinking of more things!) ... what's on your summer list?