Summer Layers of Goodness

And a recipe for meadow tea

This first! **In May, I sent out a little inspirational suggestion for each day based on my own living to those subscribers who wanted it. In July, I will be sending out the second one, Drop by in July. I’m excited that numerous of you have already signed up for it! This is the last day for sign up. If you’d like to receive this daily prompt, let me know in the comments or by email. I hope you’ll join me!**

Hot. Sticky. Blazing. Sweltering. I’ve been running out of words to describe this past week of weather. I just know that summer arrived like a roaring lion and I was not quite ready for it. This morning, the air feels a tiny bit cooler. It feels like there’s been a change. I can finally sit outside on my deck for my first cup of coffee.

As this heat dome surrounded us, I noticed that the language we use can be intense. And maybe the heat does that. But often, in other areas of life as well, it’s easy to make a sweeping statement about the situation. The only thing I can see is the thermometer in the red, the sun as a threat, the heat as a warning. I forget that a normal Indiana summer usually brings some hot days with it and that there are other ways to approach the situation.

Summer is my chance to slow down and soak life up. Instead of emphasizing the heat, I try to minimize it by carefully noticing what makes summer special. Here are a few things I've taken in this week.

My tomato plants are thriving and new baby tomatoes are appearing on the stems daily.

The sunsets have been spectacular.

The sky and light change dramatically as storms move in and out.

Nature is growing by leaps and bounds as evidenced during our walks at the park and our hedge that needs trimming.

A cool drink on a hot day is heavenly. (See recipe below for one I often make in the summer.)

Blackberries are ripening. Elderflowers are blooming.

I picked tart cherries for a cherry pie and a cherry chutney this week. And there’s nothing like making food from just picked fruit.

A summer salad with nature’s local bounty refreshes me.

Fresh herbs from the garden go into many of the meals I make.

Using cool water to drink and/or bathe.

Listening to birdsong. Following the dance of the fireflies.

Eating ice cream.

Yes, summer sometimes seems endless with sun and heat. But taking the time to soak in the beauty and preciousness of every day, no matter the weather, balances out its intensity. And our world is not hot or cold, negative or positive only. It’s made up of layers of so much goodness that are just waiting for me to see them.

Light, warmth, growth, ease, bounty, freshness. These might be a few other words to describe this season. What goodness do you see?

Here’s a recipe for meadow tea, a perennial summer favorite at our house that I make with the mint I planted from my Aunt Mary’s garden. Though she is no longer here, her mint still thrives.

Meadow Tea

Bring to a boil:

1 c. sugar

4 c. water

Turn off and pour over:

2 2/3 c. packed mint leaves

2 lemons sliced

Let stand until at room temperature or overnight. Strain off concentrate and keep in the refrigerator. Use 1 3/4 c. to 2 c. per gallon of water, as desired.