Every year I panic when I start hearing the crickets chirping and begin to walk into spider webs in the orchard because I start thinking where did the summer go? I question myself did I truly take advantage of the summer? Did I schedule and create memorable experiences for myself and my family to make this summer special and something I can remember for years to come?
It is sometimes difficult to stop ourselves from the day-to-day grind and take time off to connect to the things and people we love. Taking time to get out of our daily routine takes a lot of effort. And the recent rise of the pandemic means more of us are missing out on family outings and vacations that we used to enjoy.
Studies have shown that the restrictions on our daily life and the inability to create special moments can be harmful to our emotional well-being. It is important to have fun and create new memories. And this doesn't necessarily require you to travel or have it be expensive. Even small changes to normal everyday activities that incorporate different sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences will make that memory stick with you.
If you know me and my sister, you know we look for opportunities to create special and unique experiences. To take advantage of the last days of summer, we have put together some fun ideas that you may try to truly treasure these last days of summer and make it a summer that you will never forget.
Here are a few fun activities that we loved doing!
Family Themed Dinners
Pick a theme and celebrate with your family. Last summer, my sister, Joanne and I had a Savannah Themed Dinner Party for our family under the pergola in the lavender field. Savannah is one of my favorite cities. My daughter Kirby went to school there at SCAD, and I loved having any excuse to visit. My sister also fell in love with Savannah while traveling back and forth to Florida to visit her son, daughter in law and grandson in Orlando. So since we weren't able to visit Savannah, we thought we would bring Savannah to us with all its southern charm. As always, Joanne made a delicious meal from one of our favorite restaurants in Savannah- Vic’s on the River and I took care of the flowers and tablescape.
To create the look and feel of the live oaks of Savannah and the Majestic beauty of the Magnolias, I cut white hydrangeas from the garden and laced them with Spanish moss, and hung them upside down from the roof of the pergola. For the table, I used magnolia leaves as place settings and accented the center pieces with white roses, hydrangeas, and lisianthus all from our gardens.
Cocktails were served from a vintage portable bar set from my husband's grandfather. We made Bee’s knees using our own Mt Airy Honey and Manatawny Gin. To keep to the “vintage theme”, my daughter wore my prom dress that my mother made me many moons ago to mimic Jessica McClintock’s Gunne Sax designer dresses that were popular at the time. It was fun and memorable and we loved the planning and preparation as much as the event itself!
Host a Special Themed Dinner with Friends
Host a Special Themed Dinner with a small group of family and friends. I actually have a group of friends that we call the “dinner club”, in which we get together every other month and have a ‘themed’ dinner. In our dinner club, we have 6 couples. The host couple prepares the main course and picks out a theme. Then each of the other members of the group is responsible for something else: drinks, appetizers, desserts, or clean-up. These responsibilities rotate each time we get together, with the host always having “off” for the next event after hosting.
It is always so much fun to get together and share stories and see all the clever dishes, outfits, and decor around the selected theme. And I find it kind of liberating to get out of my comfort zone and put on a fun costume or experiment with foods from around the world. Here are just a few funny pictures of me from some of my favorite dinner parties (Gilligan’s Island, Caribbean Adventure & Swiss Chalet.
Set up your Table under the Stars
If themed dinners are not your thing, think of setting your table outdoors under the stars. Hang some market lights or lanterns, and place some candles on your table for lighting. By using some of your “good dishes and linens” and adding some flowers to your table from your garden you can create a romantic elegant evening right in your backyard. Sometimes, just mixing it up and dining in a new spot will make an evening one that you will remember for years to come.
Pack a Picnic Basket
Don’t have time or space for an outdoor diner? Pack a picnic basket, spread it out in your living room, or go to a park. Picnics always make me feel like I am going to a special hideout place, even if it’s only a short walk in the field. Here is a picnic lunch we had with Henry (Joanne's grandson) when he was having an extended stay at the farm this summer. We just packed a simple lunch, took a hike and threw a blanket on the grass, and had a fun picnic experience without a lot of work and fuss. You can even throw in a little treasure hunt for extra fun!
Want more Adventure- Plan a Camping Trip
Want more adventure? Remember the fun you had camping? Why not go to a local campground or pitch a tent in your backyard? Camping always brings out the child in you. Add a campfire, some s’mores, read some bedtime stories, and reminisce about your childhood adventures.
We encourage you to take advantage of these last days of summer to create long-lasting memories. Whatever you decide to do, taking the time to stop and connect to the child within you will give you energy and joy and add memories that you will have a lifetime. So escape from your everyday life and cherish these last dog days of summer!
Happy Summer,
Amy and Joanne
If you are interested in having a small intimate experience at our farm, we welcome you to contact us here.