Things I Love About Summer.

Here we are smack in the middle of summer...isn't it wonderful? Some things I especially love about summer:

1. Hanging laundry on the line. Of course technically I could do this all year round, but it's so pleasant to be out there in the summer, hanging up the laundry in a leisurely way while the sun beats down and insects buzz around lazily. And I love how on a very hot day, the laundry dries in about the same time as it would have in the dryer.

2. Wildflowers. Right now the park across the street from us is filled with Queen Anne's Lace, Chicory, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Red Clover, Bird Vetch and more. I love to pick a bunch of delicate Queen Anne's Lace when we go there. Last time we went, we found upon arriving home that one stalk was home to a baby snail, and one white flower was hiding a rather large and pure white spider. Owen was quite fascinated with both of these.

Queen Anne's Lace By Mary Leslie Newton

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has washed her lace
(She chose a summer's day)
And hung it in a grassy place
To whiten, if it may.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, has left it there,
And slept the dewy night;
Then waked, to find the sunshine fair,
And all the meadows white.

Queen Anne, Queen Anne, is dead and gone
(She died a summer's day),
But left her lace to whiten in
Each weed-entangled way!

3. Fresh vegetables straight from the garden! We're loving the cherry tomatoes right now.  They taste so much better than anything you can get in the store!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summers, and to my Canadian readers, happy long weekend! :)

Comments

[Homesteadgirl]

I love those amazingly adapted critters...I took a picture of my primroses awhile back, only to see a HUGE yellow spider when I looked back at the picture! He/she blended in perfectly. What a cute poem.
Our cherry toms aren't ripe yet...can't wait! Have a great weekend.

[Lise]

A great list!

I have to put in a good word for winter laundry-lines, though: crisp air, no humidity, unbeatable fresh smell, and the coolest transformation from wet laundry to frozen laundry to dry laundry. I love it!

[Maura @ Lilac Lane Cottage]

Hello,
I love hanging my laundry outside, it takes me right back to Monday nights as a child when we would slip into sheets fresh off the line. Oh that heavenly smell! I love Queen Ann's Lace too ..but I hate spiders..all spiders. Our tomatoes are doing really well but temperatures of around 100 is making it difficult to spend much time in the garden...I'm really looking forward to some cooler weather. We lost our barn to fire Friday night which sits beside the garden...that too makes it hard to want to be out there. BUT tomatoes and strawberries and beans need tending to so I better get out there. Love your photo's and the poem. Have a wonderful Sunday. Maura :)

[Maura @ Lilac Lane Cottage]

Hi Laura Jeanne,
Thank you for stopping by my blog yesterday and leaving a comment about the barn. We think the second fire started from a 'hot spot' that didn't get put out on Wednesday. It's funny I didn't smell or see smoke though...although it already had the smell of burned wood. I had been out to the compost pile with the chickens and had even sat down and watched them right next to the barn and I never saw smoke...I even looked in the barn. About an hour and a half before Keith went outside and discovered the fire we had been in the pool which is in view of the barn. If it hadn't been for the neighbour we wouldn't have even gone out then although I'm sure someone else would have driven by and seen it. The flames were way above the roof. Thank you for your kind words...now we just need to move on and get on with life. I hope you have a wonderful Monday...take care. Maura :)

[Missus]

I love the picture of the wildflowers, and the beautiful pitcher you've placed them in.

I'm also impressed that you know the names of so many of the wildflowers that grow near you.

I have to confess I tend to have only broad categories for plants that we haven't grown on purpose - "weeds", and "too pretty to be weeds".

[Laura Jeanne]

I didn't use to know the names of wildflowers, but in doing nature study with my children (whom I homeschool), I've learned just as much as they have. :)