This is a mix of nostalgia, aspiration, and loose association. What would you add?
A
Antiquing. When my family used to go to the Laurentians in the summer, I loved the idea of perusing the antiques shops in town (which rarely happened in practice).
B
Badminton. The quintessential summer lawn game. We did play this once upon a time but I haven’t in years. Will I? Hmm.
Baking. Favorite camp activity.
Bathing suit.
Board games.
C
Camp aesthetic. Here and here.
Chalk, sidewalk.
Citronella and calamine lotion.
Crafts. Summer was always the season of craft sticks, glue, and paint. And latch hook, paint-by-number, and needlepoint.
D
Dandelions. And Dandelion Wine.
Dew on the grass in the morning.
E
Evenings, savoring them.
Explore. My friend’s father would announce that he was taking the kids “on an explore” and they would load up the car and drive around without using the GPS.
F
Ferris wheel at the fair.
Fire pit. I want one but I’m also afraid of fire, so.
Fireflies.
Flowers. Hydrangeas, impatiens, peonies, roses.
Fruit. Cherries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, watermelon.
G
Grilled cheese sandwiches, in the sandwich maker.
Grilled everything. Have you tried grilled peaches? I have not but they look good to me. I would like to try them over vanilla ice cream.
H
Heather. This is wanderlusty, but the Yorkshire moors will be all abloom by the end of the summer.
Hiking, for those willing to do this. Not I.
I
Ice cream. Soft ice cream at the pizza shop, scooped ice cream from a tub, homemade ice cream (this one is aspirational).
J
Journals!
July Fourth.
K
Kidsongs! A day on the farm, a day at camp…There were so many that we loved. Is this a summer thing? They are also fun to listen to on long car rides.
L
Lip balm with SPF.
Lanyard.
Lemonade.
M
Magazines, home décor, summer editions.
Movies, classic.
Mini golf, outdoors.
N
Nature walks. I would like to one day make myself an enchanted forest nature camp, inspired by stuff like this.
O
Oars. I don’t have boats on this list, just oars.
Orange cream custard, new favorite flavor of summer.
Outdoor meals.
P
Pedicure, possibly, for the pool.
Popsicle, store-bought – or homemade?
Puzzles, 1000 piece.
Q
Quilts. We used to switch out our blankets on hot nights for summer quilts, but now that we have central air, we sleep under down comforters all year, ah well.
R
Reading.
Roasted marshmallows.
S
Sand toys.
Shalosh seudos, planned. Another aspirational item on this list.
Sprinkler season, up and down my block.
Swing set.
T
Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
Thunderstorm, watching from the covered deck. The smell before. The smell after.
Towels. And terry robes.
U
UV protection. I needed something here.
V
Vegetables. Snap peas, tomatoes, radishes, zucchini.
Visiting. Always love this picture book.
W
Water bottle.
Wildflowers.
X
Tic tac toe and other car games.
Y
Yellow stripes, luscious.
Z
Zoo trip.
(Photo credit: Andrea Davis/Pexels)
