13 Ways to Recapture Summer’s Simple Pleasures

A few years ago we compiled our favorite summer activities and made this Summer Fun sign. 

Recently, I was chatting with my friend, Cassie, about summer.  We were reminiscing about the lazy days of our childhood summers and day dreaming about the freedoms and the fun.   I asked her to share her simple summers pleasures with us today!  

Hello Barn Owl Primitives friends!  I'm super excited to be here today.  When you’re a kid, summer is this magical season of no homework, loosened rules, and toasted marshmallows. But, there’s something about entering adulthood where it tends to lose its luster – unlike the kiddos, we don’t have a school bell that signifies a multi-month break in our responsibilities.

Recently, I was visiting my parents when, after cooling off in their pool on a sunny Saturday, I found myself standing in their kitchen, fixing myself a sandwich. Striped beach towel around my waist, I layered slices of ham, bologna, salami, and American cheese onto a hotdog roll, adding a squeeze of yellow mustard as a finishing touch. Instantly, I was brought back to the endless hours I spent splashing around and playing Marco Polo as a kid, only stopping to run inside and make myself the same exact sandwich when I eventually worked up an appetite.

This chlorine-drenched wave of nostalgia reminded me that you can still experience these sweet summer moments, even after the age of 10. We’ve compiled 13 ways for you to capture the spirit while the season’s still in full force (in case a ham, bologna, and salami isn’t your thing):

1. Make a pitcher of homemade lemonade.
2. Fill a vase with colorful wildflowers.
3. Root for the home team at your town's Little League game.
   
   Photo courtesy of Lydia Teague Photography
4. Forget about artisanal toppings – have a hot dog with any combination of the following: yellow mustard, ketchup, and/or relish.
5. As soon as you hear that unmistakable music, run toward that ice cream truck and buy yourself a treat. It doesn’t matter if it’ll spoil your dinner (hey, we’re not judging if you count the coneas dinner – after all, we suggest youeat ice cream for daily happiness). 
6. Listen for crickets.
7. Serve popsicles or freeze pops at your next outdoor gathering.
8. Go barefoot outdoors whenever possible.
9. On a clear night, lay out a blanket, kick back, and stargaze. Leave your cellphone inside.
10. Toast a marshmallow, break off a few bars of chocolate, and slap it between two graham crackers – s’mores are the signature dessert of summer. If you don’t have access to a campfire, melting a mallow over a gas stovetop or a candle still counts.
11. But… if you can, build a campfire. The sounds and smells of one will instantly bring you back to nights spent sharing ghost stories with the neighborhood kids.
12. An easy way to save money and travel time? Backyard camping.
    
    
13. You don’t need to catch them, but at least notice the fireflies.

What are your favorite summertime activities?  Leave me a comment and let me know!  

Remember ~ Keep it simple and enjoy your summer!  

xo ~ Cassie