it's what's for dinner

If there's one thing I love about summer, it's the food. In fact, the other week, I saw a neat tutorial for making ice cream in a bag. I could hardly wait to get home from work and give it a try. We actually have an ice cream maker...but this seemed like way more fun. The verdict...absolutely delicious. It was all I could do to take this photo before I ate every last bite as quickly as possible.

I also love to grill out. Steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers, whatever...grilling out and summer go hand in hand. Of course, if you're going to grill out, you got to have corn on the cob. In fact, as soon as I saw commplace.life's shot, I got hungry. Yes, I do love summer eating!

By the way, in case you're wondering...I totally ate ice cream for dinner. Don't judge.

Until next time,
Ashley of Ramblings and Photos

196/365 by commonplace.life

season of fresh

Summer is the season of fresh. Fresh food, that is. Is there anything more delicious than eating a garden grown tomato? A perfectly ripe berry? I don't think so! There is nothing better than a farmer's market or a roadside stand for some good eating. How about a fresh salad with a cool glass of cristinsprigg's fresh squeezed lemonade on the side? I don't know about you, but I'm in!

I hope you are enjoying lots of good fresh foods this summer! Before you eat your fruits and veggies, be sure to capture that luscious fresh color with your camera. The produce doesn't last long enough to carry you through the winter months, but the photos certainly will.

Buon appetito!

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

Lemonade Stand~ by cristinspriggs

respite from summer fun

I just returned from five weeks away from home - a journey overseas to spend time with members of both my family and my husband's.  We had moments of relaxation, mad dashes for trains, slogging through sweltering heat in big cities balanced by cool drizzle in rural settings of exquisite beauty.  There was joy being surrounded by family and friends, and then blissful moments all to ourselves (and one seven year old).  There were weeks where we bounced from one city to another overwhelmed by crowds and heat and noise, and other weeks where we stayed put and the only sounds were sheep baa-ing and bees buzzing.  There were highs and lows, and then the moments inbetween.

I've written before about "traveller's melancholy", a term I first heard coined in one of Frances Mayes travel books - she refers to it as a state of being she sometimes sinks into when travelling, feeling a longing for familiarity and people she loves who are too far away.  I know this feeling well.  I love to travel, but also recognize the times when I need to slow down, take time to mosey.  My photo above is in our tiny bed and breakfast in Venice, after a morning of intense heat walking those beautiful streets and bridges under a merciless sun.  My daughter chose to use our siesta time to sit in the window seat and wave hello to the passersby below.  I engaged in my favourite activity - daydreaming - pillow beneath my head, a book and my camera close by.

I loved the similar dreamy feel of Hannah's breeze-filled curtains, and her longing for sunshine after what sounds like a dreary bout of rain and puddles. 

I wish for all of you what you most long for this summer - does your summer fun include nonstop activity or do you prefer a slow swing in the hammock with a book?  Or a bit of both?

cheers,
kim (mosey) of mosey along

Sunshine through my window by H a n n a h_

summer reading

1. Summer Read, 2. Under the covers, 3. Still Summer Vintage Love, 4. Day 79 Reading in the Backyard, 5. ~102/365~, 6. Untitled, 7. reading, 8. 172:365 Summer Reading, 9. The Botticelli Secret 194/365, 10. Serenity, 11. pig under book, 12. Taking it easy., 13. Me & My Book


The lazy days of summer are the perfect the time to savor a good book. No matter your age, no matter your preferred position, there is no better time to get comfortable and get lost with a good read.

So far, I've managed to enjoy two books this summer. One, by my favorite summer-read author, Mary Kay Andrews, titled Summer Rental. What about you? Have you found a good book recently? Do you have a favorite title you go back to each summer? Please share with us the title of your favorite summer read in the comments, there's still time to finish another book or two.

Thanks to all photographers listed above for submitting your awesome photos to the Mortal Muses flickr group.I also would like to say a huge thank you to all of the photographers who continue to submit photos to each of the Mortal Muses flickr groups week after week. You are a constant source of amazement and inspiration for me.

xo

maureen @ Cottage 960

summer solitude

This past weekend, I had the luxury of wandering alone through Historic Savannah with a camera and a sketchpad.  Two full days of bliss (read this as - no kids), gorgeous architecture and southern hospitality.  *sigh*

As I was walking along Bay Street, amidst the hustle and bustle, I spotted this sweet toadtool.  While you can usually find me sprawled on my belly shooting for just the right angle, I was not certain that the respectable ladies and gents of Savannah were ready to see my feet in the air.  So, I set my camera on the ground and just shot "blind." I love the softness of the out of focus grass, the diffused light, and the feeling of quiet that speaks volumes.  Such a delightful surprise. 

Where are you finding your solitude today?  Seek it out and share it with us.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

~190/365~ Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away by DocUNC

chalk fun

Oh how I love sidewalk chalk, fun for both kids and adults.  Extra bonus it will keep my kids entertained long enough for me to read a few chapters of my book!  It is fun, messy (my kids love to be messy) but easy to clean, and it is the one time I don't care if they write all over everything... I just wish this little princess would remember for when we are inside :)

xoxo
April of April Newman Photography

Exploration #1 by bunte-knete

the summer of instagram

These are some of the pictures I have taken over the last few weeks with my iPhone, because while I dearly love my camera, this little gadget can do a pretty good job of catching those fun summer moments too. As you can see from my mosaic, summer for me so far would appear to be all about eating yummy food, cuddling cute pets and going places. All sounds like fun to me! All these pictures have been shared with my friends on Instagram, which is both a camera app and a social network. The magic of Instagram is that as well as processing your pictures, it's also a lovely place to connect with others to see how they've been enjoying their summer too, one picture at a time and all shared instantly. If you haven't already downloaded Instagram (for iPhone only, I'm afraid), you should give it a try...and it's still square format. Yay! If you're also using Instagram, why not leave your user name/handle in the comments, so we can connect up and share the summer fun?

kirstin of fleeting moments

1. first trip to the pool, 2. Baby smiles+coffee+sunshine=blissful morning, 3. ah coffee, the sweet balm by which we shall accomplish today's tasks, 4. the fair

parks and recreation

I've written about it here before. I come alive in the summertime. I'm a warm weather girl, and I like nothing better than to get outside and get active when the temperatures rise. Some of my favorite summer-time fun is riding my bike, running or hiking. And some of my favorite places to go for those activities are state and national parks. Americans are so very lucky to have so many parks to visit. Parks that offer a dizzying array of activities and scenery. Literally from 'sea to shining sea.' I love the idea of seeing views of our country that can only be seen after a bit of a hike or ride.

Both of these photos are from Mt Hood Mama. I am in love with that stunning view. And I love that the only way to see it, is to lace up your boots and put one foot in front of the other.

I hope you are finding time to get out and get active this summer.

xo
Maureen of Cottage 960

(L) Summit (R) On The Side Of The World

dreaming of autumn

I have mixed feelings towards summer. I work in the south, in an office building in which my thermostat doesn't work half the time and to walk outside requires a shower. Meanwhile, I find myself "flipping" through hundreds of "summer fun" photos each day...children laughing, sprinklers, playtime at the pool and carnivals.  Part of me wishes that I could be a child again so that I could enjoy a "summer vacation," but those days have long passed. The other part of me is dreaming of autumn, of cooler temperatures and our annual state fair. 

When I saw clare.R.armstrong's photo, I immediately imagined being at the fair and dove into my October archives. Just because I have mixed feelings towards summer, doesn't mean that I should wish my time away. Look at the bright side, at least we have more hours of daylight...right?

Maybe next time, I'll have a better attitude. Until then,
Ashley of Ramblings and Photos

img_4013.p by clare.R.armstrong

back with a bang

185 | 365 by Viva Deva

There are certain holidays you can only truly celebrate in your home country, and the USA's Fourth of July is one of those for me. We arrived home in Oregon from Italy on the First of July, just in time to get our bearings and hook up with friends for a Fourth of July celebration. It was very low key - barbeque with a few friends, legal fireworks on the street in front of the house, kids up waaaay too late. After being away for two years, it was perfect. Forgive me if I'm a couple of days late in posting a few fireworks pictures here, I couldn't help it!

Breathing the smell of the sulfur in deep, my 10-year-old son said it best, "That stinks! I love the smell of the Fourth of July."

I'm back with another bang today too: I'm giving away two spots in my upcoming Find Your Eye: Starting the Journey class! Yay! I'm so excited about to launch these classes again in late July. To enter, just leave a comment here on this post by midnight EST on 9-July. I'll select the winners and post a muse flash on 10-July to announce them.

Hope you are all having a great summer!

Kat of The Kat Eye View of the World

Day One Hundred and Twenty Four by  Chasing Peace

our summer feet

They float in pools and squish in the rough sand.  They glide across the green grass and flit quickly over steaming hot concrete in the late afternoon.  They walk among our gardens and carry us around new and exciting places when we travel on summer vacation.  They take us out for a run around the park or a slow stroll on a warm evening. Our feet are always there, every time we look down.

My photos above are from my recent vacation in and around Portland, Maine, and these wonderful images below are courtesy of Cosi!, FeeMail, and *emeraldgirl*.

Where have your feet been standing (or kicking back) so far this summer?

~christy of urban muser

1. another cooker!, 2. Second day in the US, 3. HBCCT! sitting on the deck edition

cool pool summer fun

One of my very parts of summer is swimming!  I hope you all have a fun day and enjoy some time in the sun with your families!  Happy 4th of July :)

April of April Newman Photography

give me more of that by *kuki*

the amazing spiderman by Jordan Sparks

chillin out by Kelly Russo Photography

focusing on summer

Can you believe that it is already July?  Here in Florida, the dog days of summer are upon us.  Not cute fluffy puppy dog days but ferocious snarling pit bull days. 

The extreme heat and humidity are slowing us down and shifting our focus to simpler and lazier activities. For our family, this holiday weekend will consist mostly of swinging in the hammock, grilling, reading, and sipping fresh lemonade. What lazy summer activities do your family enjoy?

Wishing you a relaxing weekend. Happy Canada Day to our Canadian friends and the happiest of July 4th weekends to the lovely ladies in the US.

xo tammy lee of bliss and folly

Untitled by kelly*green

and the next theme is...SUMMER FUN!

As the season starts to heat up, we are enjoying s.l.o.w.i.n.g. things down here at Mortal Muses with our month-long summer themes.  As we bid farewell to our square format prompt, we want to see what kind of FUN you are having this summer.  How are you spending these lazy, hazy days?

Running with abandon in the fresh air?

                                                                                                     7/52 weeks of troy by .:AnnetteB:.

Hanging out?

give a hand by aia*c

Taking a road trip?

drive by pixelmama

 Enjoying the simple quiet of a sunset?

sunset over whitstable by kirstinmckee

Having a party?

154/365 evening light by maureen nichols

Or perhaps you're working on a summer selfie project?

keep your head above water by suki_photography

Well, whatever it is you're up to, we'd love to hear about it, or rather, see it in our flickr pool.  Starting today, and for the next few weeks, show us your best summer fun photos!

Until I see you again, stay cool...

                                                                                                                      day 183 by AprilMN

~christy of urban muser