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July arrived while I wasn’t looking. It began with a trip away from home, and somehow more than half the month is already behind me. The days are long, and most have been very hot, but July still feels like the heart of summer, settled right in the middle of the season. I plan to enjoy every day that remains, and I hope you do as well.
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1.) A Simpler Way
My family is coming to stay this week, and the old urge to make everything perfect showed up right on schedule. I have learned, slowly, that no one remembers whether the baseboards were dusted, and what they remember is how it felt to sit at the table together.
There is a certain kind of tired that comes from getting ready for company, and most of it we bring on ourselves. With family on the way, I am trying something gentler this year. Tidying only the rooms we will actually use, and setting out what we already have. You do not have to reinvent the wheel to make people feel welcome, and I remind myself of that every time company is coming. This week it matters a little more, because the house will be full and my time will be short. I want to enjoy every minute.
2.) Words Worth Sharing
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and serenely, and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
3.) The Follow-Up File
A reader wrote after noticing plain books in a few of my photos. She asked how I did it, or where the books came from, so here is the whole answer in one place. There are really two kinds. The neutral linen books are similar to ones I gathered into a small Amazon shop section. I chose beige on purpose, because it is quiet enough to move from room to room and settle in almost anywhere. There were not as many to choose from as I would have liked, so I am still looking and will add more as I find them. Some are real books, and some are book boxes. The blue books are not store-bought at all. I covered those myself with plain paper, the same way I used to cover my kids’ school books years ago, folding the ends in and creasing the edges to fit. The one thing I have not solved is where to find plain, heavy paper large enough to wrap a book cleanly, so for now I make do with what I can find. If you know a good source, I would love for you to send it my way.
4.) Gather & Savor
Hot summer days call for something cold and refreshing, and these two recipes are just right. The lemon ice cream is creamy with a bright citrus flavor, while the homemade popsicles are fruity, simple to make, and perfect to keep in the freezer for warm afternoons.
5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
- What You Might Have Missed: Last weekend, I featured two summer recipes: a beautiful tomato galette and an easy skillet zucchini lasagna. On Sunday, as I do on the last Sunday of each month, I sent the August digital calendars along with a look back at July. As the month comes to a close, I’m grateful for all the simple seasonal moments it brought.
- What’s Ahead: August will arrive gently, with late-summer recipes, including a roundup of favorite zucchini dishes. I’ll also begin thinking about how to welcome the coming season and share ideas for arranging late summer blooms.
- Summer is not over, and the entire month of August is still waiting to be enjoyed. I am in no hurry, but my thoughts are beginning to turn toward autumn. I have a few small updates in mind, along with a simple refresh for the front porch. I would like to welcome the coming season quietly, so I’ll spend plenty of time thinking before I make any changes. For anyone who feels ready, this is a lovely time to begin planning. That part can be just as pleasant as bringing the ideas to life.
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I love your artistry on this page…thank you for sharing the loveliness!
As I am currently frantically preparing for company coming, I thank you for the gentle reminder that my home doesn’t have to be perfect. I have to let go of the thought that if the light fixture in the laundry room isn’t clean and sparkling, the visit will be a disaster! I appreciate your thoughts on enjoying the visit itself rather than whether the house is perfect. Definitely a well-timed post for me!
Ann, your message was so enjoyable to read. So calm and soothing. Not “let’s hurry up and finish whatever we are working on so we can start another.” It was to me: do this if you want to or not! Enjoyed it very much.
I, too, usually wear myself preparing for family to visit. I appreciate your thoughts on not worrying quite so much about the house and to focus more on spending time with company. I will definitely be practicing that the next time I have visitors!
I have found 17″ rolls of kraft paper on Amazon in many colors. I have also found blind date with a book kits that have nice heavy paper in book wrap size and in many colors.
Yes, summer is not over! Bless you
Ann,
Thanks as always for your lovely ideas. I especially appreciate the idea for the books. Maybe this is a project you can show as a diy. One idea that I have not tried but that might be a source is wallpaper in a neutral color. Thanks for all you do. I look forward to your emails each week.
Almost three months ago my husband passed away and the family descended and at first I had such guilt that I wasn’t “ready” to have house guests. But….you know what? The family took over, we managed and it was the sweetest family time…..so no, your home doesn’t have to be perfect, in fact the refrigerator very well might have been empty, everyone pitched in and it was beautiful! So enjoy your family put them to work and you’re so right, you don’t have to have everything perfect for their visit.
Thank you very much for sharing this. I loved hearing your story.
Love the quotes you put in your blog.Enjoy your family time.
One option for the book covers is to use the packing paper (new not used) that you can buy at a U-Haul center. They are crisp, large, and are a linen-like color!
Hello Ann,
Thank you for your continued interest and patience in pulling together your blog each week. I look forward to them as I begin my mornings.
For heavy paper to cover books, I would suggest getting a roll of heavy Kraft paper used for shipping packages from your local supply store. I have used it along with linen fabric and burlap to wrap books.
Here in Southern Ontario we are having a regular summer of heat and rain, each day a blessing in whatever form it takes. I have been slowing down as you have, concentrating on enjoying my family, home and retirement. It is fun to shares ideas in this blog using my formal interior design training with a modest eye. I am so glad you are you. I am so blessed.
Ann, thank you for simplifying life and for finding beauty in the ordinary. Your posts are so refreshing!!