Well, it’s here. The final day of summer holidays. It’s back to work and school tomorrow for many. I had a great summer.
We had a wonderful time meeting up with old high school friends with a fun three days in Niagara Falls with amazing food from a sky-high restaurant, a walk under the falls, and a climb to the top of a tower with a million-dollar view. We celebrated a friend’s birthday with the same group on a beautiful patio barbecue and swim. It’s been a summer of renewed friendship.
We enjoyed several local festivals: The Orangeville Jazz & Blues Festival with its great music and car and motorcycle show and the Hillside Music Festival with world music, crafts, old friends, and time with family. The Multicultural Festival was a celebration of international culture, where we shared some Arabian food and made some new friends. Festivals bring community together with fun activities and shared talents.
Summer food and all its delights was celebrated with family picnics and Elora’s Longest Barbecue. There’s nothing better than grilled meats hot off the grill, fresh fruits and vegetables, and trying new artisan food and recipes. I loved stopping at farmer’s stands, visiting markets, picking fresh berries to enjoy at my own table and revelling in summer’s harvest.
The highlight of the summer was our family visit to Newfoundland with its incredible sights and scenery. Boat rides through 2000 foot fjords, hundreds of circling puffins, hikes on ancient trails, fresh cod caught on our lines and cooked for lunch that day, stone art on beach shores, bald eagles, minke whales, starfish, jellyfish, sea glass and smooth stones gathered on lazy afternoons on ocean shorelines. Best of all, a spontaneous kitchen party with the locals in a small local hall with dancing, a Screech-In ceremony, and lots of fun and laughter.
But I can’t forget the quiet moments of summer’s gifts: the hummingbird at the feeder, the chipmunk filling his cheeks, the morning glories bursting with the sun, the flowers filling my garden and patio with reds and pinks and purple petals, fresh tomatoes ripened on my vines, flowered, flowing summer skirts and dresses, sandals and painted toes, easy reads, breakfast on the deck, bare feet in the grass, long, lazy swims in cool waters, strolls along forest paths, dripping ice cream cones, and starry nights and full moon-lit skies. Let’s not forget to remember the gift of time, the moments shared with family and friends when we’re not bound to work and school schedules. We enjoyed food, and stories, and laughter, and hugs.
Summer’s not officially over. The leaves are barely changing colour and we still have many warm days ahead of us. But for most of us, vacation time and long, lazy days are over as we return to busy schedules.
I hope the summer was all you hoped for. May the memories sustain you through the cold winter months. Continue to dream of new adventures and time spent with family and friends, as the seasons change and holidays bring us together again.
