Sunscreen. Kids playing “Marco Polo” in the pool. Family road trips. Summer is in the air! My writerly pals and I are sharing our summer dreams and inspiration in the C*U*R*R*E*N*T*L*Y – Summer Blog Hop. For more summertime fun, click over to meet the awesome #Gr8Blogs bloggers listed at the end of this post.
Here are a few things I’m looking forward to this summer:
*Loving – The Warmer Weather!
I feel like a broken record when I say I can’t wait for the nice, sunny days of summer. No, not much of a fan of the heat, but after this winter, I will have to catch myself not to complain.
Our team started playing softball this year on March 17th. I don’t think we had one game above 50 degrees. We had so many rain outs, they had to end the season before finishing the playoffs. Hopefully we will be off to a better start next spring.
* Reading – Every MG Book I Can Find
As you all know by now, I’m co-authoring a MG (Middle Grade) novel with author Cat Michaels. I’ve written and illustrated eight children’s books, so for me, writing a MG book is much different. I’ve been reading as many of them as I can find. It’s helped me get a feel on what readers enjoy and how larger plots come together. Our book also, involves a horse in our tale. Since neither one of us grew up around horses, much research has taken place and it’s been lots of fun.
We are at a place in our story, where a very big problem happens and things are getting exciting. Keep watching for more details to come.
Pssst. Don’t forget to check on Cat Michaels’s site from time to time, so you don’t miss anything.
* Thinking About – Summer Cleaning and Decorating
We have a breakfast nook that we are redoing. We’re bringing our washer and dryer up from the basement. This is has been a huge undertaking for my husband, as he’s had to redo wiring, plumbing, and lots of construction.
I get to do the fun part. (Not really) Years ago, we had the big idea to turn our breakfast nook into a “collective room.” You know the style, like they have at Applebees. We thought, what a cute idea!! (Chuckling now.) Well, it looked really great at first, but, as our sons grew, everything special they ever did, which was a lot, ended up on those walls. Baseball Jerseys, baseball hats, the list goes on and on. The task of cleaning this room after awhile, became so overwhelming. Needless to say, much of it is going to be packed away. We will still have many fun items to display, just not nearly as much.
* Anticipating – Party of the Year with Friends and Birthday Day Parties.
Summer holds lots of birthdays in our family, so we have many fun gatherings and celebrations to look forward to.
Every June, the friends that my husband and I grew up with, has a annual party to celebrate each other, and those no longer with us. It was around ten years ago, we all kept seeing each other at funerals. After that, our friend decided to put on a gathering with friends, food, and music. This event have grown and has become very big in the past years. It’s much different than a class reunion, as these friends all grew up in the same neighborhood or surrounding areas. I encourage all groups to try to reunite and have a party with those you knew back in the day and celebrate your time together.
By the way, our party was a giant success! We had perfect weather. The food was outstanding, along with the band. “The Instamatics,” were a huge hit for all that attended. Their 60’s and 70’s music was a perfect fit for our crowd.
* Making Me Happy – Summer Dinners
With all the gatherings, it’s the best time to fire up the grill and cook some of your favorite summer meals.
After roasting our vegetables in the oven all winter, I’m looking forward to cooking them outside for that smoky flavor. We love just about all meats grilled out, but a few of our favorites are, BBQ Pork Steaks, and Pineapple Bratwursts. Our store here sells them already made, but if you go online, you will find how to make them yourself.
Another meat we really enjoy cooking out is, “Flat Iron Steaks.” Most people we’ve talked to, have never heard of these. Many stores don’t have them, but ask to check to see if they will carry them. They are always tender, cooked on the grill, or as a roast.
So, what are some fun things you are looking forward to this summer? Write us a note, we’d love to here from you!
Don’t forget to check out our author friends to see what they have in store for this summer. You never know, you may hear about a new adventure you never tried before.
Happy Summer, and as always, Happy Reading!
Rosie
Julie Gorges at Baby Boomer Bliss