I’m naturally quite contrary.  I love city life and having the pulse of culture at my fingertips, but live in the country because I can’t survive without its peace.  I adore travel and wouldn’t consider exploring new cultures without trying their food, but have to be careful and cautious every time I put food in my mouth, for fear it will set off an allergic reaction.  So, I guess it’s no surprise that I’ve had mixed emotions about summer.

And why not?  It’s lovely the relax at the pool…unless the wasps find your watermelon and the sun crisps your skin.  And while I’m always happy to kiss the school day schedule goodbye, I sometimes miss the hours of productive solitude, and wonder at the hectic summer camp and vacation shedule.

But there are two things about summer that I refuse to find the least bit contrary.  First is the beach.

Sure, there are jellyfish lying in wait and pounds of sunscreen to slather.  But the beauty of a sunrise on the ocean, the skitter of little crabs in the sand, the tossing of waves against the beach and the peace of the wide blue sea so overwhelm any downside that they quite literally wash it away.

And that’s especially true since we have a firm policy of no barnyard birds allowed–not even adorabll coaxing and cute chickens!

My second all-time love of summer is reading.

That’s a nice-sized stack, but you’d be surprised where it can fit.  And since it’s summer, my to-read pile doen’t need to have any rhyme or reason to it.  I only have two rules–the suitcase must have a small space for clothes, and library books may not take swimming lessons!

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