The Weekend Wander #18 All About Summer

There are so many reasons I love summer.  I love waking up in the morning, throwing open the windows and doors and stepping into the garden with my first cup of tea of the day.  I love eating out side, every meal if possible. I love picnics.  I love summer food, salads and avocados, watermelon, peaches and fresh strawberries, ice cream and raspberries and meat cooked on the BBQ, and cold white wine sipped in the garden as the sun goes down. I love running later in the evening when its cooler, or earlier in the morning before its too hot. I love cycling to work without waterproofs or gloves.  I love Wimbledon. I love days on the beach and outdoor concerts.  I love day trips and weekend trips and planning other trips. I love the healthy glow that comes after a day in the sun.  I even love the smell of suntan cream.  I love planning my summer reading.  I love reading in the garden in the evening until the light fades.  I love summer flowers; roses and holly hocks, peonies and hydrangeas, red hot geraniums pastel pink petunias. I love the smell of honeysuckle and freshly mown grass. And I love that its 9 ‘0 clock at night, its still light and I am sitting out side under a fading blue sky in shorts and a floppy t-shirt, as I write this post.

If like me you are all about the summer, or even if you aren’t you might be tempted to wander over to some of these summery places.

Beach Hut Cook

This is a brilliant website written by Elinor who is lucky enough to own a beach hut.  It is full of food and drink recipes many of which are prepared at the beach hut and lot of enviable photos of her beach hut life.  Elinor says “There is nothing better than a feast by the sea with the odd cocktail or two thrown in” Here, here to that!

Summer Reads From The Literary Sofa

I think there is something especially decadent about summer reading.  It usually means the chance to choose and buy a selection of books you might want to read on long awaited holidays or simply in the garden on those long lazy days when its almost too hot to do anything else.  If you haven’t discovered the excellent  ‘Literary Sofa’ yet then this is the perfect opportunity.  Author Isabel Costello has compiled a list of 12 excellent summer reading choices.  I have earmarked at least half a dozen of them.  I also plan to get a copy of Isabel’s first novel Paris Mon Amour to add to my summer reading

Faraway Files

For the last couple of weeks I have taken part in a link up called Faraway Files.  Its a friendly, supportive community where bloggers read and share one anothers travel posts, and it’s a wonderful place to get travel and holiday inspiration.  I have loved reading about Vietnam, Spain, China and so many other places in recent days and am beginning to compile an extensive travel wish list.  The travel link up is hosted by Katy from Untold Morsels, Erin from Oregon Girl around the World and Clare from the brilliantly named Suitcases and Sandcastles blog. If you are seeking travel inspiration near or far I highly recommend a cup of coffee and a read of Faraway Files.  You can see all last weeks posts here.  You may even spot one of mine!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Long may the sun shine…..