Hello, Summertime!

courtesy of Country Living

Today is the first day of Summer, the summer solstice, and the longest day of the year.  

It's also one of my most favorite of all seasons.  Why?  Here's my list.

Why I love Summer

~more sunshine

~open windows

~waking up to meadowlark songs and robin chirrups

 ~swinging from the willow tree

~more daylight hours to be outside

~bare feet and sandal feet

~it's warm, I like it hot
~I was born in the summer, a summer baby

~green things growing

~flowers...every flower is a beloved flower in the north

~fresh-mown hay
~fresh-mown grass

~sitting on a hot open-air tractor

~reading a good book in the backyard on my lawn chair

~wearing shorts & skirts

~eating out of the garden

my fresh garden lettuce with tuna salad

~homegrown tomatoes

~all the birds come home to nest

~ice cream cones served daily

~iced coffee (with a tipple of cream)

~fruit infused water, on ice

courtesy of The Kitchen

~thunderstorms

~the earthy smell after the rain

~swimming in the pond (I hope it warms up soon)
~riding horseback to summer range

~grilling almost nightly
~roasting weanies & marshmallows over the fire pit

~fresh berries and fruits

~making jam

~butterflies

P.S.

My dad says he will make me a disc swing, like the picture at the top, for my Willow Tree.

I already have a plastic child's swing hanging in one branch, which we love, but I think the disc swing will be really fun for the littles too.

What do you love about summer?