I ate a lot of tomatoes. The End – hit publish and goodbye!!!
Wait, no. I forgot how this goes. I sit down, I write long and complete sentences. Beginning, middle, and end.
Three weeks is far too long to go without publishing. I’m out of my groove.
I’ve been feeling the anxious yearn for summers end. I need out of this heat. I need out of these patterns. I want to wear a hoodie. I want to hear rain splash outside my balcony. I want this summer gone so badly it feels like I put on a too-tight-sweater and I’m panicking to get it off.
Despite its best intentions, I did have a very lovely summer. Albeit unusual and just downright weird at times, I’ve managed to squeeze out a summer worthy of my Summer Bucket List.
1. Love my body, accept my body, thank my body.
This one is a journey. But I did my very best. Some days I fell short. Some days I excelled. But all-in-all, I really did the dang thing. I’m proud of that. I’m proud of my effort.
2. New flowers in the house, weekly.
I’ve learned something very important. New flowers in the house once a week is a lot of work. Especially when it’s really hot and the blooms attract fruit flies. Or, a very curious cat acts on his obsession with baby’s breath. By August I was only doing this once every few weeks. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
3. Learn how to make Ravioli.
Yes and yes. I made the Food and Wine version and this version as well. I stuffed them with fresh herb ricotta and parmesan Reggiano. Tossed them in browned butter and toasted pine nuts.
4. Wash, moisturize, exfoliate, mask.
I really did this to the Nth degree. I homed in on what works for my face. I accepted the fact that there are expensive products that are worth it, and expensive products that are just a pretty label. Lord, grant me the discernment for both!
5. Picnic Lunch, on a blanket, in a park.
I think I forgot about this one. I did eat a burger, on a beach towel, next to a lake.
6. Make bed in the AM, empty sink at night.
You know what? I definitely tried my best. And, that’s what counts. There were those days – those slow days when the bed didn’t get made, the dishes sat for 48 hours – those days I had more important things to do than keep up with appearances. I had the very important task of living, breathing, making it to the next day.
There were also the days I woke up bright-eyed, folded lines on my fluffy bed, showered, coffeed, made dinner early, and cleaned up as I went. They were just as special as the days when pressing my feet on the carpet beside my bed was enough of an accomplishment in and of itself.
I learned that dishes in the sink can wait.
7. Train Bruce Wayne on a harness.
You bet we did! I’m so proud of this little dude. Getting to watch him grow up this summer was the best part of these dog days. His bright little hopeful blue eyes, the way he always wants me near – I’m a goner.
He still gets distracted. Cars scare him. Heck, a dried leaf blowing in the wind scares him. But he presses on, ever forward, knowing that mom keeps a pile of freeze-dried chicken in her pockets at the ready.
And that, as they say, is that. Bring on the cinnamon candles, the caramel sauce, the lazy Sundays, and chilled foggy mornings.
I hope your summer was just as great, even better. I hope you were able to press your feet on the floor beneath your bed. I hope that you took it easy on yourself. The very act of living in 2020 is enough. Pat yourself on the back about it.
I laughed about the tomatoes, we watched our neighbors garden for three weeks and picked 100lbs of tomatoes! We ate and ate and and roasted and gave some away.
You cat is adorable.