My new summer tradition, established last year on my birthday, is this one: I get up early, coffee-up, pack a cooler and leave for the beach at Lake Michigan ~ about a 40 minute drive due West. There are audible smiles of joy as I pack and singing at full volume as I drive.
Easy-peasy free parking and lots of it, I set my beach chair, books and cooler up just before 10:00 a.m. near the water’s edge, with the chair angled towards the sun but so I can still see the waves.
Much like this guy below:
Grand Haven State Park, MI
~~~ ahhh ~~~at the Water’s edge ~ An Emjayandthem(C) Photo
As the day progresses, I turn to follow the sunshine. Books are read, snacks are savored, I dip in and out of the water and make trips up the beach to the bathroom, too. I might chat with strangers or little kids or no one at all. I pack up and leave as the crowds … crowd the sand ~ somewhere between 2 and 3 p.m. Long before this:
picture from Michigan.org
On my way out of town, I stop at the “Tasty Treat” for a vanilla/chocolate soft serve and enjoy it (and its messiness) all the way home……ahh summer!
We’re in the dregs of winter now – and summer will come again. Between now and then we’re facing such weather events like “bomb cyclones – rain, thunderstorms, ice and snow … and more power outages. So I’m glad to have pictures like these because they hold me over until the time comes again when we can complain about the heat 🙂 !
“Don’t knock the weather. If it didn’t change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn’t start a conversation.” – ―
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What’s saving your life (in winter) right now?
So that’s what they call it! We had two separate “bomb cyclones” this winter, one just before Christmas and then one right after the new year. The first one caused widespread power outages that left some people without power from around December 20th to New Years Eve. Thankfully, we were only without power for 10 hours the first time, and not at all the for the second. Playing pickleball is our winter savior, we play 6 times a week and it is our major form of exercise during these winter doldrums. The good news is that I can see our lawn and flower beds again with the snow melting. Just hoping and praying now that the tulip and hyacinth shoots still poking through the ground will continue to rise as the weather warms again.
sounds like your pickleball is the cure for many things – winder doldrums, good fun and exercise! 🙂
It is raining here .. and freezing soon … Grand-dog Roscoe is with us for the week; gonna attempt a walk before it gets to treacherous out there for him and I!!
Happy Sunday! 🙂 MJ
I’m looking forward to summer in this area too! Especially after the erratic weather we’ve had of late. Love the Hubbard quote! 😁
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
you and me both! 🙂 Happy Sunday ~ MJ
Love the quote. I’ve tried to curtail my weather rantings on my blog. It was getting out of hand but I can’t wait to talk about a perfect spring day when it comes.
… I can’t wait to talk of a perfect spring day, either (hopefully soon!) Bests! MJ
I love your summer musings on basking and turning to follow the sun. We are expecting 2 days of sun next week. You are inspiring me to bask though the temps are still of winter.
one can bask in winter .. find a spot near the window, open the blinds and lean in … for good measure, crack the window for some fresh air and listen to the birds!! YAY 🙂 MJ
Your summer tradition sounds perfect. Love the pictures. And I had to look up what a bomb cyclone is. Back when I grew up, we called it a winter storm or a winter snowstorm. As damaging as predicted 50 mph winds are likely to be, they are neither cyclone, nor hurricane. I find it a bit disturbing when the news media renames a phenomenon, to instill more fear (bomb!), and attract more viewers and readers ($$). But maybe it’s the weather geek in me (hurricanes have sustained winds of 74 mph). Our winter weather has been pretty mild (and typically dreary) until a few weeks ago, when we had a few weather systems bring in snow and some strong winds. I’ve been enjoying all the extra reflected light from having snow on the ground.
… I do think the weather-casters use those naming conventions to up viewership and instill curiosity!
I am ready for spring but I know we have a ways to go yet.
Agree on the points about extra light from the snow on the ground ~ magical 🙂
MJ
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