Hot August Everything

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Hello My Friend and Happy August!

It’s hotter than heck where I live right now, and even though the children in my neighborhood will be sad eyed as their school vacation ends any minute, I’m still feeling full on summer mode myself.

While it’s a bummer for them to end their freedom fest, I’m grateful myself that I’ll soon be able to visit public places with less of the actual public in them soon. 

For now though, I’m feeling like it’s a good time for some serious lounging. The oppressive heat turns me into a semi nocturnal creature who can only venture out near or after dark, except to submerge myself in large bodies of water. 

Swimming is by far one of my favorite forms of movement as there is zero sweating involved, and in my mind, I can actually feel graceful and buoyant floating in the water.

(I realize I may not actually look graceful in the least, but that’s why there are no mirrors at the lake~ so I can live in the illusion of my mind that tells me I look exactly like a solo synchronized swimmer or aqua ballerina rather than a full grown woman flailing joyfully in the middle of the lake in a life vest.)

Speaking of the lake, last summer, I had only gone there one time before everything surrounding my beloved and favorite place caught on fire. Even after the fire was out, the skies were so smoky the health department warned to stay inside. Everything was covered in ash. The hills, the trees, homes, pets, wildlife and even people were in that ash.

I drive by the burnt land at least once a month for my work, and I’ve watched the land trying to heal. People will try to tell you that nature is resilient, and it is, but it doesn’t really make me feel any better.

A year later, there is some green amongst the black and brown, but what I see is brush and poison oak~ not trees that will give shade or relief from the scorching sun anytime soon.  

While my heart aches to look at the land, and probably will for some time, getting in the water reminds me that I love this lake just the same. She’s still beautiful, scars and all, and I’m so grateful that she makes summer in this place a bazillion times more bearable than it would be without her. (She offers beauty and wonders in all the seasons, but it feels like we need her the most in the summer heat)

Hopefully, I’ll get lots more lounging time with her this August as I recover from all the vacationing of July. 

We’ve had a house full of various combinations of our kids for much of the summer so far, and it’s been the busy kind of wonderful where you go, go, go. 

Since the kids were on their vacations, and I believe fiercely in the importance of vacationing, we crammed in a ridiculous amount of lakes, mountains, waterfalls, hikes, swims, kayaking and even a few days of big trees and coastline. 

The only thing is that we adults weren’t actually on vacation, so we did all that vacationing on top of working. It was great to explore with everyone- and now we’re exhausted and ready for a vacation from all the vacationing.

Oh, I also held my first Moonlight Art Circle Night last month, and it was loads of fun! 10 women under a big moon at a great venue getting creative with watercolors and words~ and chocolate and wine too.

​ It was one of those get an idea, jump in and fly by the seat of your pants things and I learned a ton. I'll be hosting 2 more in the next few months, so if you're in Upstate California and are interested, I'd love to have you join us!

Heading into August, I’m envisioning days in relaxi-taxi mode. I can work immersed in water or floating on my giant inflatable unicorn with my SweetHeart, and an icy beverage. Some books, a journal and sketchbook and snacks would be good for when my work is done too.  Oh and  stargazing too, which is what hot August nights are for.

Which reminds me...it was a hot August weekend 6 years ago when I unsuspectingly met this cute guy at a Homeschool Conference. I never, ever, ever could have predicted the twists and turns of the life that followed. 

It’s been a wild and wonderful ride and I’m hugely grateful for all he’s brought into my life and my kids’ lives as well. There’s no one I’d rather have in my expansive nest than that guy. 

I suppose the moral of that story is to be open to receiving and that you never know what you’ll find. Even when you aren’t looking, and are in an unlikely and even ridiculous place, sometimes life will send something, or someone, your way and change things forever.

Hoping you’re open to the wonders of the rest of summer and that life brings you lots of amazing things that make you smile.

Off to lounge while I can~ Pamela