30 Days of Summer - Post #1 - The First Day of Summer

Hello! Welcome to my first post in our brand new 30 Days of Summer blog series and link-up! I'm excited! And I'm so glad that you're here! 🌞

Summer officially began at 5:07 a.m. here in the Central Time Zone. I read earlier that, in England, thousands gathered at Stonehenge this morning to witness the dawn of the longest day of the year. For me, the best thing about summer solstice is that, from here on out, the days get shorter and we're headed towards fall! 🍁 YEAH! 😃

Traditionally, I suppose the first day of summer evokes images of fun-in-the-sun 🌞, playing and splashing around in cool water 🤽, ice cream sundaes 🍨, and more, but, to be perfectly honest, summer has always been my least favorite of all the seasons. 

As a child, summer heat meant one thing...an escape to northern Minnesota where temperatures were cooler, the days longer, and water plentiful. My dad would spend the extra-long days of northern summers out on a lake fishing while my mom and I (and whoever else might happen to have gone along with us...aunts, cousins, grandparents, or friends) would spend our time sight-seeing and exploring. My happiest summer memories are in that place and drawn from those experiences. 🌲🚣🐺

Of course, I've seldom looked past Missouri's heat and humidity long enough to look for the real beauty of summer here. I'm hoping that, instead of just enduring the summer season this year, that writing for this blog series will help me to get out and, purposefully, look beyond my own comfort levels and dig for the treasures that are hidden within each of the long, hot days of summer, and help me to better appreciate them. For that I would truly be thankful! 🙏

So...what do people here in southwest Missouri do to celebrate the first day of summer? I image not a whole lot of anything out of the ordinary...work hard and live life. 

For me, nothing too exciting for sure. Since I missed witnessing the dawn of summer solstice, I guess after I finish breakfast (cottage cheese on toast), my cuppa tea, and this post, my husband and I will head for the grocery store. After we get home, my plan is to turn the sourdough starter that I've got going into a couple of loaves of bread and get my daily reading done. In the evening I will probably go for a walk. And, oh! I need to try to catch a toad for Hug-A-Herp Day at work on Saturday, so I will probably try to do that this evening, as well. (There's been one hanging around the front porch in the late evenings, so it shouldn't be too difficult.) 

So...that's my big plans for the day! How will you spend the first day of summer???

My plan is to post the link to each post of the 30 Days of Summer blog series here, so they will be all together in one place, so be sure to check back often and come celebrate the 30 Days of Summer with Jean and me!

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...

Ideas For The 30 Days of Summer Blog Post Series

Introducing the 30 Days of Summer Blog Series

Saying Good-bye To Rebecca's HEARTH AND HOME Newsletter

Happy Homemaker Monday - June 18, 2018

30 DAYS OF SUMMER BLOG SERIES POSTS -

1 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #1 - The First Day of Summer

2 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #2 - Summer Bucket List 2018
3 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #3 - Summer Nights
4 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #4 - How To Beat The Summer Utility Bills and More
5 - 30 Day of Summer - Post #5 - Hooray For the Red, White, and Blue!

6 - 30 Days of Summer - Post # 6 - Red, White, and Blue Jello

7 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #7 - Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Pie
8 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #8 - Recipe: Angel Food Delight
9 - 30 Days of Summer - Post # 9 - Summer Birds - Jenny Wren Comes To Tea
10 - 30 Days of Summer - Post # 10 - Watermelon Know-How
11 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #11 - Summer Songs
12 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #12 - Hens, Hot Weather, and a Homemade Electrolyte Recipe
13 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #13 - The Summer Bounty - Zucchini
14 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #14 - A Lazy Day At Home
15 - 30 Days of Summer - Post # 15 - Fireflies
16 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #16 - Sunflowers
17 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #17 - Summer Poems
18 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #18 - Summer Sales
19 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #19 - Summer Quote
20 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #20 - The Dog Days of Summer
21 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #21 - Summer Picture and a Summer Poem of My Own
22 - 30 Days of Summer - Post # 22 - My Summer Friend
23 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #23 - Summer Birthdays
24 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #24 - Childhood Summer Memories
25 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #25 - A Rainy Summer Sunday
26 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #26 - Summer Vacations...Or The Lack Thereof
27 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #27 - Starry, Starry Summer Nights
28 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #28 - End-of-Summer Quote
29 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #29 - The Waning Days of Summer
30 - 30 Days of Summer - Post #30 - Summer Bucket List 2018 Update