Linen and Twigs

Hello Friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! Mine was spent with my boys, their girlfriends and wife, my parents and my husband. We had such a nice time clowning around and cooking out. My Guy is the best grill master there is, in my opinion. He never disappoints. Everyone pitched in bringing a dish and homegrown corn from my son’s garden. Everything was so delicious. It was the peak of summertime!

Aaaahhhhh….summertime…where the living is easy…and if it’s not, it should be. It’s the time of year when days last a little longer and the nights are warm enough to spend outside watching the glow of fireflies dart about the yard. Life seems to slow down just a bit and the beach becomes the place to be.

I am blessed to live in what I would consider one of the most beautiful states in our country, North Carolina.

I’m also lucky enough to live right smack in the middle between the beach and the mountains so a trip to either could be easily done. That being said, one would think that I would go on a regular basis…but I don’t. My husband and I aren’t big travelers. We talk about it but haven’t made a huge effort to do it. Maybe it’s because the few times we traveled usually ended up as one for the books. It may have involved being stuck on an island until high tide came back in so the boat would once again float.

In all honesty, that was probably one of the best trips I have ever been on. It was the first trip that my husband and I had gone on as a couple since our honeymoon and my hopes were high.  It started with a flat tire and ended with us being stranded but it taught me so much about myself, like I don’t always have to be busy and life will not come to an end when I’m not in control. Sometimes you just have to make the best out of a situation. We were lucky enough to be stranded with the most easy going couple, our oldest son’s mother and father in law. They are the best examples of “go with the flow”  and “take it easy”. We spent hours collecting the most beautiful sea shells that I have ever seen because that was all there was to do on this island.

There were no buildings, no restaurants, no people. Just the four of us and a bag of chips that we rationed out for dinner. Then when the sun went down, the most beautiful sky lit up.

Besides the giant flying bugs that were trying to eat us, it was probably one of the most relaxing nights I’ve ever had…that is once I got past the freaking out stage that I might die here or something might happen back home and I can’t get off of this island to get there. (Talk about control issues)

Relaxed and easy…that is what summer should be about. Every year around Memorial Day, I pull out my big tub of shells that we collected on that memorable weekend and place them in different spots around my home.

I swap out the cozy pillows and throws for something lighter. I put away some of my decorations for a simpler, more airy look.

I bring the beach to me.

(One of my favorite photos of my Mom and Dad at the beach.)

Why not make everyday feel like you’re on vacation. (Only maybe in a beach house instead of starring in a sequel of Gilligan’s Island.)

Every time I walk into a room and see the collection of sea shells, it reminds me of our crazy trip and the wonderful people we spent it with. It reminds me of the lessons I had learned…to slow down and enjoy life…and take it easy.

How do you spend your summers? Leave a comment letting me know. I would love to hear about it.