The smell of fresh cut hay filled my room on Friday night. As I lay there, I felt like the bed was rocking under me, taking me back to my hours in a boat last week during our annual cottage getaway. It was like I was in two places. My body home at the farm, yet my mind still on vacation.

It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through summer already. The cottage week with my family is the highlight of my year. All of our kids have embraced cottaging as much as my siblings and me. Watching them play together, swim and ski–and push themselves to try new things and master new skills–is so meaningful. Plus getting to ski myself, play with the kids, and hang out with my family is special too.

Writer Nicole Ziza Bauer mirrored some of my feelings about summer in the latest issue of Magnolia.

“Summer beckons us to remember. How it felt when our days stretched out in freedom–when a sense of wonder drew us outdoors and the world wasn’t something to keep up with but to create for ourselves… A few years might have passed but summer’s welcome return can be an invitation to retrace those well-worn paths.”

We’ve had lots of special moments so far this summer–both here and away, on new and well-worn paths. And we have more to come. I’m going to take a holiday from the blog for the next few weeks and focus on summer.

Here are some of the things that have been part of our summer so far.

I love fish tacos, and I finally made them at home. This recipe was tasty and easy.

This chocolate peanut butter pie was so good I made it twice this month. (Bonus it’s vegan and gluten free.)

I bought new bathing suits for the cottage (an upgrade from my 5-year-old suits). This one is my favourite. This was Ellie’s choice.

“I want to light the Olympic torch,” Ellie said as I tucked her into bed on Friday night. Watching the opening ceremonies with her was so much fun. My highlights were the light show on the Eiffel Tower, the torch run through the streets of Paris and Celine singing from the Tower.

I’m still deep in summer mode, but I’ve been saving some back to school tips from my favourite parenting account.

“Running had prepared me for this moment. It taught me to pay attention to goodness. It gave me the tools of resilience and gratitude, of awe and optimism. And even without running, these were with me. Views could still inspire me, gratitude would always fill me. The positive approach that contributed to my running was ready to strengthen any passion or pursuit.”

Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor

I hope that your summer is going well.

Anyone have some good summer recipes to share? What about good summer reads? Any other Olympic fans? What were your highlights from the games so far?