“When summer time has come, and all
The world is in the magic thrall
Of perfumed airs that lull each sense
To fits of drowsy indolence;
When skies are deepest blue above,
And flow’rs aflush,—then most I love
To start, while early dews are damp,
And wend my way in woodland tramp
Where forests rustle, tree on tree,
And sing their silent songs to me;
Where pathways meet and pathways part,—
To walk with Nature heart by heart,
Till wearied out at last I lie
Where some sweet stream steals singing by
A mossy bank; where violets vie
In color with the summer sky,—
Or take my rod and line and hook,
And wander to some darkling brook,
Where all day long the willows dream,
And idly droop to kiss the stream,
And there to loll from morn till night—
Unheeding nibble, run, or bite—
Just for the joy of being there
And drinking in the summer air,
The summer sounds, and summer sights,
That set a restless mind to rights
When grief and pain and raging doubt
Of men and creeds have worn it out;
The birds’ song and the water’s drone,
The humming bee’s low monotone,
The murmur of the passing breeze,
And all the sounds akin to these,
That make a man in summer time
Feel only fit for rest and rhyme.
Joy springs all radiant in my breast;
Though pauper poor, than king more blest,
The tide beats in my soul so strong
That happiness breaks forth in song,
And rings aloud the welkin blue
With all the songs I ever knew.
O time of rapture! time of song!
How swiftly glide thy days along
Adown the current of the years,
Above the rocks of grief and tears!
‘Tis wealth enough of joy for me
In summer time to simply be.” 
– In Summer Time by Paul Dunbar 1872-1906

We had one lovely Summer Solstice weekend! Full of new summer banners, strawberry/spinach smoothies in the morn, fresh fruit and veggies with a visit to the farmers market. Jeff cooked a solstice chicken on the grill for dinner Saturday and my parents came over to enjoy it with us. We had a beautiful sunday visit to the Natural History Museum where we caught the wonderful new butterfly house exhibit. I thought it was pretty magical being surrounded by all those butterflies. Ellie and Jeff weren’t so sure. They do make for some fantastic photos though. There was also a new “camping exhibit” perfect for the littlest of children. There were tree blocks to play with, dramatic play set ups and all sorts of buttons and nobs to push, pull and turn. Ellie had a blast! Then we finished the weekend up by planting flowers in our new box. Would you believe a man gave us this beautiful handmade flower box for free after I gave him a hearty helping of our kale?! A perfect weekend to ring in the summer! On to more crafting this week and lots of laundry (that didn’t get done this weekend) and then my birthday this Friday! Happy Summer to you!! Hope your weekend was a lovely one!
p.s. Thanks Jeff for capturing some sweet moments between Ellie and I this weekend!

-joining in with weekending over at Pumpkin Sunrise.