Simple Summer Wish List 2023

Last summer I had the good fortune of spending three weeks in Italy; photographing one wedding and attending another ten days later as a guest. It was a dream. But there is also something magical about a simple summer at home too. This year looks quite different. In fact, just a few months ago I would not have predicted that we would have moved to a new place, let alone a rental house with a big yard and a spectacular view.

A couple months ago we realized that we needed to find a new place to live because the person who bought the house we were renting our apartment in was rising the rent $500 a month and also taking away most of our amentities. With this housing market we had little hope of finding a new place. Stressed and exhausted, it some how worked out for the best and we found a whole house to rent that was cheaper than renting our small apartment. The best news was that this house was right in town. We are so grateful we get to stay in our little village in Connecticut.

We moved in two weeks ago and we are still unpacking and making a few minor updates. Last weekend I started planting my raised garden beds (better late than never). We are keeping to a tighter budget this year and we do not have any major travel plans outside of maybe a weekend or two of local New England travel. Honestly, I am already so happy in our new space and I want to make the most of our summer here. While last year was exciting, being away for a large part of the summer made the summer go by fast and I feel like we missed a lot of the simpler things like a beach day together.

At the start of every season I enjoy making my wish list. And it is important to distinguish that it is a wish list, not a to do list. If I do not achieve each item on the list there is no loss. This list is to inspire joy, not to add to my never ending to-do list or to pile on more stress.

My Simple Summer Wish List:

One. Complete planting and putting together my vegetable garden. (Also build a small protective fence around it to protect it from deer, bunnies, and other animals.)

Two. Spend a day at the beach.

Three. Start an art journal. I used to work in an art journal regularly from high school through college. I would like to start up again this summer.

Four. Paint en plain air.

Five. Set up an outdoor eating area in our yard with bistro lights and a long table.

Six. Go strawberry picking.

Seven. Have a lake day; go out in my kayak, read by the shore, and go for a swim.

Eight. Learn how to make strawberry jam.

Nine. Go for a picnic.

Ten. Eat al fresco as often as possible.

Eleven. Make homemade popsicles.

Twelve. Watch the fireflies light up at night.

Thirteen. Set up a sprinkler and run though the water like a little kid.

Fourteen. Host a tea party with a few friends.

Fifteen. Set up an outdoor movie projector for a movie night.