Monthly Musings: How We Summer

Even though I missed the "Monthly Musings link up because we were in Europe, I wanted to join in (a lot late) to answer these questions. Thanks to Holly who blogs at Pink Lady and Patty who blogs at Good, Better, Best for always hosting such a fun blog party! This is a particularly good time for me to reflect on Summer 2025 because this is my first full week of work post-summer break.

1) Favourite thing about Summer 2025?

My absolute favourite moment of Summer 2025 was hugging my mom in the Barcelona airport!!! I hadn't seen her since she'd received her cancer diagnosis, and had successful surgery for it, so I was so happy to hug her and celebrate with her! After that, my favourite moment was our three generation trip to Europe. I'm just so happy it all worked out so well!!!

Left: me and Mom at the shore in Barcelona; right: all six of us on the "Hop on, Hop Off" Barcelona bus

 

Another favourite moment was that Rachel became a Bat Mitzvah a couple of weekends ago. She'd been working towards this for over a year so I was very proud of her.

2) Favourite thing you ate this summer?

My favourite meal this summer was the paella we ate at the beach in Barcelona. My favourite drink this summer was the sangria I had in Portugal! 

But I do have to give a special shout out to our charcuterie picnic at the lavender farm with Tim & Janice in July. The lavender Gouda was sooooo good!  

 

3) Did you see any summer movies? (stream or theatre)

I watched The Good Liar on the plane on the way home. Other than that I've just been watching a lot of baseball or Gilmore Girls. I really don't tend to watch a lot of movies -- other than Hallmark movies in the fall. Oh, I did watch the live action Snow White on the Disney ship with my parents one morning -- it was pretty good!

4) What books did you read this summer?

I've read a lot of books this summer. It's funny but I read two absolutely awful books this summer (All Fours by Miranda July and The Irresistible Urge To Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley) and, sadly, those are the two books I remember the best. Ugh.

5) Ready for fall or hold onto summer?

I want to hold onto summer, especially since I have to go back to work this week, but I'd be happy to let go of all the heat. Ugh. I am not doing well with the heat this summer.

6) What is different about your summer schedule than the rest of the year?

I don't have to work and the kids don't have school. Thus, we are all sleeping in more. I am trying to get things done around the house/going to all my appointments/getting together with friends, as I don't have as much time for these kinds of things during the school year. The kids really have their own interests/activities so I've spent a lot of time supporting them (as they get ready for them) or driving them around.

I had way less time to read and blog than I'd anticipated this summer, as there was just too much else going on.

We also did some biking as a family this summer, which I really enjoyed. It feels like we have more time to get to places in the summer as opposed to the rest of the year when our schedule is so tight. Hopefully we can continue to bike more after summer is over.

7) How do you take a break/relax in the summer?

My favourite thing to do (when it isn't too hot) is to sit out in the backyard and read or blog. I've gotten to do that a bit this summer, but not near as much as I wanted to. 

 

8) Any trips still on the calendar for the rest of the summer?

Not really. We went and picked Sam up from camp this past weekend but it was just a day trip. Rachel is going to her best friend's cottage for a few days and the rest of us are going to a Blue Jays game, but that's not really a trip :) I would like to get to Lake Ontario before the kids go back to school but we'll see if that happens...

Picking Sam up from camp! 

9) Any summer concerts this year?

No :( Our downtown holds sunset sessions with local musicians on Friday nights and I'd love to get to one of those but I just don't know if it's going to happen this year.  

10) When does summer end in your world?

Well, as I mentioned, I go back to work for the whole week today (boo) but the kids still have some time before school starts. I would say that Labour Day (Monday, September 1 this year) is our official last day of summer, even though the kids still have another day off after that.

So, belatedly, that is "how we summer(ed)" in the summer of 2025. I will still find small ways to enjoy summer this next week, but we're definitely on the slide into fall now.