SUMMER SLOW DOWN

 About a month ago, Little Prince #1 and I went out to pick strawberries together.

“Nonna! Look at this Beauty!” I heard that a lot. Then he would take one bite and toss the rest. Eventually we ended up with a couple of baskets full of beauties, more or less intact. 

Retirement means I have more of that incredibly valuable commodity known as Time. 

I’m having my first slow down summer since I was a kid, like under 12 before I started working. Back then I would wallow through the summer vacation occasionally whining about being bored. 

Now, at the other end of the hour glass I recognize not only the VALUE of time of the value of HAVING time. 

So I’m enjoying my slow summer! Time for El Fresco dining with fine cheese and fancy drinks

More time with grandbabies!

Or, adventures with friends.

Raspberries are my favourite so I decided to head back to the farm and pick some for the freezer when they were ripe and ready on the vine.

Instead of taking the quickest route (to save time) I took the leisurely country drive like old retired people do. There was a gaggle of over 60 year olds out there picking to their heart’s content. 

Not too bad for an ole girl eh?

I ate some, gave some away and stored the rest away for a taste of summer in the dead of winter.

It’s summer and no matter what stage you are in, it’s a good time to slow down: Family time, country drives, bike rides or a chunk of bread slathered in fresh Brie and washed down with something bubbly works for me! 

So, what works for you to do a summer slow down?