Summer is a magical time in Wisconsin. There are festivals in Milwaukee, many at the lakefront, and plenty to enjoy outdoors.
Not to mention the Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Festivals that dot the summer weekends with camaraderie and Highland joy.
Then there are the gardens…..
I tend to stress over work, over writing, over political platforms and whether those in need will be cared for, my children and their wellbeing…damn, there’s always something worth stressing about along with plenty that isn’t worth the worry.
When I stress, I garden. I love time in the garden. I love sipping coffee in the morning and tea at night (or single malt) among the blooms.
What helps you celebrate the season? How do you decompress and de-stress?
I’d love to hear from you – I’m always looking for ideas.
Leigh
Authors of Main Street 
I guess you could say I hide in my stories as I write. But I also enjoy going to Starbucks for coffee with friends. But back when I had a hubby, we’d we’d pack a picnic and take off for the mountains. Our favorite spot contained a stream that was icy cold year round. We’d jump a few rocks to sit on a large one in the center of the stream. Many times, the sounds of rushing water was too much to attempt to talk, so we’d eat our picnic in human silence and listen to Nature as she sang her songs to us. All we could do when we were done eating was sit still. Anything else would have knocked us from our precarious perch and sent us tumbling into that shallow but very cold water. So there we would sit, soaking up our surroundings as we shared smiles, and handholds. If the sun shone on the water, it was almost blinding as the light cast a million diamonds on the water’s surface. Or if it was summer and the canopy of leaves protected our eyes, those leaves appeared to create a green, stained glass, jigsaw puzzle high over our heads. An occasional wildflower dotted the banks of the stream. On rare occasion, we’d get lucky and see a deer stop by for a drink of water. At least we didn’t have a bear visit, but I suspect that was because there were no fish in that shallow stream. And after an hour or so of sitting there, we knew we had to leave and return to our hectic lives, but we were renewed and rejuvenated. The stress was gone. We had each other and that was all that really mattered.
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What wonderful images your words paint, E. I love the mountains. Something elemental and spirit rejuvenating about them that nothing else quite comes close to matching. We don’t live near any, but the pilgrimage to them is so worth it! Thanks for the mental pictures, they are stress reducing!
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You’re doing all the right things. Turn the AC down, grab cup of coffee or tea, a book, a blanket – then take a nap. Works every time!
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Sounds about right, Carol! Thanks 🙂
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