300 Hours of Summer
Now that fall is here, it is lovely to reflect the warmth and memories created during the summer.
Having the mindset to get outside as much as possible really fell into place as the year got warmer (except during the "heat dome" and low air quality days). It felt natural to plan our days around outdoor activities even if that meant just "heading out" in the morning, armed with plenty of snacks, water, and extra clothing, to see where the day would take us (and excitingly, what it would feed us).
I kind of let "counting hours" slide this summer. Although, looking through photos, it turned out to be easy to approximate the number of hours we spent outside during the summer months. It was exciting to discover that since the last time we posted an hour count, we had accumulated approximately 301 additional hours (yes, the 1 feels important to include!).
Here are some of the highlights:

We traveled for the first time since Covid!
We spent time with family at the farm ...
... in the garden planting seeds, tasting fresh peas, carrots, berries, and lettuce ...

Van Gogh, Flowering Garden with Path, Summer 1888
... and at the lake

"If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere."
Vincent van Gogh
We had special adventures with family who visited us
“All that we are is story. From the moment we are born to the time we continue on our spirit journey, we are involved in the creation of the story of our time here. It is what we arrive with. It is all we leave behind. We are not the things we accumulate. We are not the things we deem important. We are story. All of us. What comes to matter then is the creation of the best possible story we can while we’re here; you, me, us, together. When we can do that and we take the time to share those stories with each other, we get bigger inside, we see each other, we recognize our kinship – we change the world, one story at a time…” ~Richard Wagamese
We stayed up late and enjoyed many sunsets ...


and felt wild and free ...
Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.
~ Emory Austin
We made lots of animal friends ...
some more close up than others ...
and we learned about bees and flowers and how honey is made

“Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And make the ordinary come alive for them. The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
― William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents
... and enjoyed many summer treats!

We played hard ...
and we made the most of our favourite river in all kinds of weather
feeling the cold water, rocks, and mud between our toes
We enjoyed the fruits of the garden ...
and we walked ... a lot!

Now we are excited to enjoy the fall!

and the next adventures that await ...
