At Home

columnist Tracy Porter is back! (Thank goodness, because we missed her!) Today, Tracy shares the many ways she and her family savor the summertime. But be warned: after reading her post, you’ll have the itch to get outside and run through water sprinklers.

Don’t mind if we do…

I am officially saving summer in this month’s column (so bold of me…don’t mind if I do! Ha!), because it slips away so fast and all the “lovely” that you want, and look forward to, is far too important to miss. So…I’ll share a few ways that my family saves summer every year…and how we will again this year. Hope to inspire you and yours!

Eat together & make food together…with friends, with family! Lots of hands in the kitchen…lets you get outside to eat & play sooner. Helping hands in a kitchen can be chaotic…but then that’s a home filled with joy, and life…things are not perfect, how lovely is that!

Make s ‘mores…easy dessert…every kid and adult will join in…get some of those wonderful long marshmallow “skewers” and keep them handy…simple old fashioned fun for all! (and yes, my boys like them burned.)

Homemade strawberry lemonade…any day, anyway, or try a new summer cocktail my husband John is always whipping up. (Remember I promised you he makes the BEST Meyer lemon cosmo! Read on!)

John Porter’s Enchanting Lemon Meyer Cosmo

2 Oz. Vodka (or 3 oz., depending on the day…)

½ Oz. Triple Sec

1 Oz. Cranberry

½ Meyer Lemon freshly squeezed

Shake with ice. Strain and pour into pretty glass.

(this makes one, but that’s usually enough…good night, Alice!)

P.S. no Meyer lemons? Use ½ freshly squeezed lemon and add a bit of grand Marnier…pucker up!! mmmm.

Keep tiny white lights out all year long…like fireflies, they add a layer of light. And get yourself a fanciful umbrella for outside…charm city!

Go out flower cutting, as often as you can while everything is blooming! It’s the perfect dose of summer bounty for your soul!

Make your own homemade summertime coleslaw…or try my delightfully easy recipe below!

For a printable version of Tracy’s recipe, click here:

Tracy Porter’s Cilantro Coleslaw Recipe

After dinner, play summer games. Scavenger hunts, bocce ball, lawn croquet, or our favorite…water balloons! WA-HOOOO! DUCK!

More endless summer, because you never can have enough…

~Picnics…anywhere…in your own yard…or pack up a big wicker basket and you are off to the beach or the countryside!

~Grill it…it just adds summer to the air…no matter what night of the week!

~Grow some of your own…herbs, veggies, fruit, anything you can walk outside and pluck or pick and use when you cook!

~ Go berry picking…bring back the goods and add them to smoothies, cobblers or ice cream!

Please Tell me…how will you save summer this year? How did your family save summer when you were a kid…inspire us all…!

Cheers to you!

xxx,

Tracy