Summer Breeze...

Friday, July 17

“makes me feel fine…”  Summer is my favorite season.  Indeed, I’m a confirmed beach bum.  Whether it’s swimming, strolling for beach glass, playing Frisbee, volleyball, chess or backgammon, reading, napping or awaiting creative inspiration, it’s the place I decompress best.  It’s my favorite place.  And the hotter, the better!

Vacation is necessary for relaxation and rejuvenation.  It’s a time for healthy doses of rest and reflection, and an opportunity for inspiration and creativity.  For me, a typical day goes like this:

Morning:  Up early—no alarm clock.  Prepare breakfast which is usually an omelet, a half glass of V8 juice or some fresh berries, a cup of coffee or Earl Grey tea.

Mid-morning:  Go into town to see the sights, hit a couple of farm stands for fresh-picked produce, and then to the market for some fresh fish, grass-fed beef, lamb or buffalo for the grill later.  Get a nice bottle of wine too.

Late-morning:  Exercise.  I alternate strength training with yoga and jogging.

Lunch:  This usually consists of leftover protein from dinner the night before over a bed of greens.

After lunch:  Hit the beach.  If inclement weather, take in a movie, go shopping, or cozy up indoors with a good book or a game of Scrabble.

Late afternoon:  Find our way back to the homestead and start prepping dinner.  If we haven’t had our fill of the beach yet—which is most of the time---pack a picnic of cocktails and nibbles like raw veggies, hummus, nuts and cheeses and head on back.  Wait!  The muse has visited.  Bring our guitars.

Evening:  Fire up the grill.    

Dinner:  A juicy steak, lamb, or a beautiful piece of fish or shellfish, various grilled vegetables and a salad, along with some quinoa, rice or potatoes.

Later:  Go out for a stroll or to a local event, or hang out in the backyard with a cozy fire, or stay indoors and watch a movie.

Essentially, that’s it.  Pretty simple but this is what I love to do every summer.  The magic is in being at my favorite place—the beach---with loved ones and cherished friends.  I hope you enjoy your summer vacation too!