This year, summer took forever to arrive, or at least it seemed so in southwestern Idaho.  Now that we’re in the thick of it, it’s time to stop and enjoy the best that the summer season offers before the nights get much shorter.

1.  Drink a glass of lemonade (from a mason jar, if at all possible for maximum effect).

2.  Sit outside and listen to the crickets chirp.

3.  Enjoy the feel of hot cement under bare feet. Then, run like hell for the nearest grass.

4.  Eat your lunch on the patio or under a tree.  You’ll feel 100 percent more relaxed when you return.

Summer Slip N Slide

5.  Chase after the ice cream truck.  $1.25 for an ice rocket may seem exhorbitant, but it’s a cheap price to pay for a nostalgic afternoon.

6.  Enjoy the ambient noise and restful sleep that the soft hum of fans provide at night.

7.  Look up and see the stars surrounding you instead of clouds.

8.  Cut flowers for the dinner table and stick them in a drinking glass.

9.  Lay on the lawn and daydream for an afternoon.

10.  Treat yourself to iced coffee and linger on the bistro patio to enjoy the sights and sounds.

11.  Run through the sprinklers.

12.  Pour fresh strawberries over vanilla ice cream and call it a gourmet dessert.

13.  Eat BLTs when it’s too hot to cook with tomatoes off the vine.  (Personal note: I’m pretty sure Roosevelt is the one who ate all the tomatoes off the plant, so I’ll take a pass on this one…)

14.  Admire how much your garden (or house plant) has grown since last summer and take a moment for gratitude.

15.  Make fresh brewed ice tea right in the fridge.  (Add a bag of lemon herb tea for even more delicious flavor.)

16.  Take a cold shower after a workout and enjoy the refreshment that you can only get in the hottest months.

17.  Take a walk along the beach, the greenbelt, the lake, or just down the street.  Enjoy how mellow the world gets in the evenings.

18.  Listen to Billie Holiday, who always sounds sultry and appropriate in August. Or Def Leppard. Whatever.

19.  Play hooky for a day and catch frisbees in the park with the dog or a friend.

Limeade20.  Eat fresh berries on your cereal instead of dehydrated ones.

21.  BBQ corn on the cob and fresh fish.  Make the neighbors jealous!

22.  Enjoy a crisp glass of white wine in the company of butterflies (or just a good book).

23.  Snuggle into a hammock for a lazy afternoon of dreaming and planning.

24.  Take dinner outside, even if that’s just your stoop.

25.  Memorize the smell of sunscreen as it’s being slathered on; that’s the smell of summer fun about to be had.

26.  Wear flip flops everywhere you’re allowed.

27.  Delight in the occasional summer storm.  Nothing feels better than flannels in winter than a one-night excuse to wear flannels in summer.

28.  Read a trashy book and savor every word.  (I recommend Peyton Place and Valley of the Dolls.)

29.  Use hot days as an excuse to go anywhere air-conditioned.  Not needing a reason to go somewhere is a bit exhilarating…

30.  Cheer on late-blooming plants on neighborhood walks or backyard strolls.

What makes you think of summer and what are some simple ways to capture that feeling? Please share your ideas in the comments!

Photos courtesy of lepiaf.geo and Adam Finley

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