Monday, June 14, 2010

Do You Relax in the Summer?

I find summer relaxing. Everything feels more laid-back. We don't count the hours at the beach; we just let our grumbling stomachs lead us home. A night by the campfire, gazing at the stars seems the right thing to do, regardless of the hour.



I love to grab a glass of iced tea and head outside on Sundays after church. Sometimes I throw an old quilt on our backyard and leaf through magazines or cookbooks. Other times I might cut up a watermelon and herd the family to the pool. I'll read a book while the kids swim. Even a good old walk with my miniature dachshund, Sophie, relaxes me.

In essence, it doesn't take much for me to chill out in the middle months.

What about you? How do you unwind in the summer?

26 comments:

  1. Things just seem to slow down during the summer. Maybe we just make them slow down. I unwind hanging out in the sun room watching movies, reading, flipping through magazines, making art. A friend gave me a sign for the room: Home away from home. I always feel I'm on vacation when I'm there.

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  2. Hm, a whole latte ways ... Gardening, walking, time at the beach, outdoor concerts ... Happy summer days to you :)

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  3. I try to. I like taking the first two weeks of summer off, and the last one. Being self employed, it's easier saying this than doing it, as something always tends to come up that I have to take care of.

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  4. I love to take long, long walks in the desert that begins 1 block from my Albuquerque house. To walk for hours and to smell the sage and the winds blowing across the landscape is like a little bit of heaven.

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  5. a walk at dusk, an afternoon at the beach or the pool...the first taste of fresh iced tea, grilling our meals...making homemade ice cream or grabbing a popsicle. Everything seems more relaxing in the summer!!

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  6. I tend to ramp up the writing because the homeschooling has abated for awhile. But I do take more time out to go on day-trips with the kidlets too.

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  7. I don't have the distinction much here but I do like to sit out on my patio and chill under the fan:)

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  8. Lovely, Jill!

    We drive around the cove to our lake's beach and relax in the water. Yesterday after church we took inner tubes over and floated in the waves. It was heavenly.

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  9. This probably sounds crazy, but outside of lots of reading, my summer relaxation consists of tackling all the projects I've been putting off during the school year/winter: rearranging furniture, cleaning closets, painting, crafts, sewing. And in-between taking long breaks to read, write, nap, and watch TV in the middle of the day!

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  10. It's hot where I'm at. I mean HOT. So I tend to do the whole iced tea and ice cream thing. I love to take drives (after the car has cooled off a bit) and be adventurous in the Summer. It just seems more appropriate than an Adventurous Winter, ya know?

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  11. I adore the slower pace of summer! Of course "slow" is relative! But, I like having a break from the school year's intense pace and activities. We get together a lot more with friends during the summer at parks, at the beach or pool. And the kids have all their activities which is so fun for them.

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  12. You all have such lovely ways to spend the summer. Mm, mm, mm!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  13. Swing on a hammock, picnic on the grass, walk barefoot just about everywhere.
    ~ Wendy

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  14. Sit on the back porch with a glass of ice tea. I watch more movies and read more books...nice leisure time. :)

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  15. I'm usually at the beach all weekend with the family. Sometimes it's relaxing, sometimes it's stressful. LOL
    During the week, I usually head over to my in-laws pool and chill there, too.

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  16. The beach baby! :) I love it - another reason why I love your blog, because of your beautiful beachscape design! And corn on the cob - man, I love corn on the cob during the summer. Well, food in general, to be fair ;P

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  17. I usually read a little more in the summer, which is a treat:)

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  18. Evenings outside when the days cool and definitely iced tea :) That's a must. I also, love, love, love hiking.

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  19. I sit in my dreary office and peek outside as often as I can :D
    My husband plays men's league softball, so we get to hang out at the softball field with our church family.

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  20. I like sitting outside on our porche swing, reading my Kindle, and watching Brogan and Bubba run around the back yard!

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  21. I haven't had time this summer to do ANY of my traditional summer things except work in the veggie garden.

    There's a faster pace right now.

    I'm about to rebel.

    Thanks for letting me live vicariously for a bit.
    Sigh.

    Patti

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  22. Hi Jill -

    My idea of relaxation is working in my veggie garden and going for rides in the country.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  23. Summer usually is more laid back. Except this summer has caught me by surprise. One thing after another has come up. I'll be happy to find a glass of lemonade and a quiet space in the back yard. I just need to fit it in the schedule. :)

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  24. It's funny, but I can relate to every comment. This summer has been quite busy for me too, but right now I have a huge, fluffy cat on my lap and a breeze wafting through the window--the essence of relaxation. I guess we have to take what we can get.

    Thank you all so much for stopping by!

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  25. Mmm, love the images. I do love the laidbackness of summer. Going to the beach is my new unwinding. (Still a couple of hours away, but close enough for me!)

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  26. Being outdoors definitely chills me out. Especially in forests. There's something about trees that makes me feel more alive than anywhere else. :o)

    And that's a beautiful picture!

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