Summer Afternoon

"Summer afternoon--summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."

Henry James

I know it is not officially summer yet. But it feels like summer is here already. Especially in the afternoon.

I love summer afternoons because they are lazy.

We have to be outside under the tree--that's where it's coolest.

We snack out there, read out there, play out there and when it gets too hot, we turn on the hose or hop in the pool to cool down.

And then we lay under the tree and feel the cool wind on our wet skin and we shiver a little.

There is just something about a summer afternoon that makes you slow down. It feels good to rest and be and hear the quiet, hear the wind in the leaves and the chatter of birds.

By the end of August there will be days when it is almost too hot, even under the tree.

And we'll complain and long for a break from the heat. But for now, in these first days of summer, we will relish every moment of it--these lovely, lazy summer afternoons.

Here are some scenes from our summer afternoon today. They all say summer to me.

Frosty drinks and ripe fruit for snacking

and for sharing

Dappled light

A blanket spread on the grass

and a book for reading aloud

Spotting new friends

and getting to know them

How blessed am I to spend these sweet, sweet summer afternoons with my babes.

There is so much to be enjoyed and savored. And we don't even have to leave our backyard.

Happy summer to you, friends. I hope you have some time this weekend to enjoy some lazy summer afternoon goodness, whatever that looks like for you.

Love from,

Greta