Meet my new guru!
We met last weekend at Crabtree Falls in George Washington National Forest.
Just in time, because tomorrow marks the summer solstice here in the Northern hemisphere.
For me, June has always meant it’s time to slow down a bit. Maybe because the majority of my years have been defined by school and summer break. I realized today, that there’s only been a handful of summers that were not sandwiched between school years (either for me or my kids).
Anyway, it’s summer, and I’m back in snail mode.
Snail mode is not really a physical pace (although it can be). Here it’s more of a mind-set.
I’m going to be less concerned with the overwhelming, the never-ending measuring stick, and more in tune with
family
nature
road trips
reading
The Art of Chasing Normal and dozens of great reads are only .99 this weekend! Just click on the image to get to the Summer Book Crush site.
doodling
joy
intuition
Oh and forget perfectionism. I’ve got more important passengers.
So yummy pretty.
And I’m taking a deep breath of gratitude for where I am right now.
What does summer (or the change of seasons) mean to you?
Happy Weekend!
Coleen Patrick 
Love your summer theme–snail’s pace. I can hop on that band wagon.
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I suddenly imagined a bunch of snails riding in a wagon! 🙂 Thanks, Charissa.
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Sounds like you’ve got a great summer ahead of you, Coleen! I’ve got a vacation coming up too, which I plan to garden, read, write…and repeat. Yay!
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That sounds fun, CJ! I’m hoping to add back writing (at a snail’s pace of course) once I recharge. 🙂
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I love summer – it’s the time of the year when I usually get to pick what I want to do and when, as opposed the time from late August to early June. I’d love to be moving a snail’s pace, but it seems things are moving much too quickly this summer. I hope both of ours slow down so we can enjoy them… because August will be here before we know it. Enjoy!
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I’d say you could use the time machine on my front porch, except that only seems to go into the future! Hope your summer is awesome, Clay!
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Count me in too! Great post, Coleen. Have a great summer.
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Go Team Snail!! 🙂
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Spending time with the family over the summer is definitely more important! Have fun with your snail pace (cute snail drawing too)!
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Thanks, Teresa! Hope you have happy family time this summer!
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Enjoyed your post. My summer hasn’t slowed down yet. I am having trouble backing off because I have a stack of books to review, when I really would rather focus on revising some manuscripts my editor returned. But, I have the house to myself during the week and the peace and quiet. My brother’s memorial was last weekend, and a granddaughter’s baby shower this weekend — our second great grandchild — a little boy due at the end of July. Blessings. But, I want to slow down. Have a wonderful summer with family and friends.
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Thanks, Patricia! I hope you enjoy yours as well. A new grand baby is great news! 🙂
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Coleen a great message for all, even though I am rugged up with a hot cup of tea whilst smiling and reading your post. I slow down more in winter as it too cold to get my sorry butt out in the cold air for my morning walk. Love the family shot and the snail. My hubby took some beautiful snail shots for me the other day as I need reference for a picture book. I enjoy coming over here to see what you are up to. Always a treat to see your art, words and photo’s thank you.
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The snail pics your husband got are amazing! So pretty to look at. I enjoy visiting your blog as well, Kath. Always love seeing what creative peeps are up to!! 🙂
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I love that you slow down in summer. For me it’s usually the opposite, things speed up. There’s so many things to see and do and so few weeks to make the most of the outdoors, that I hate to waste any time indoors. Only my writing seems to slow down in the summer, because I don’t want to be inside at a desk.
I love the photos and the fact that you, or someone, took the time to paint a face on a watermelon.
Have a great summer, Coleen!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Just call me make up artist to the (watermelon) stars!! 🙂 Happy summer, Patricia!
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I feel like I’ve been moving at a snail’s pace all year! But you’re right, summer is different. Not sure if it’s slower, as there’s usually more to do, including lots of walks with the puppy. Love the seatbelt on the watermelon! 🙂
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Puppy walking sounds adventurous! 🙂
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Love the beautiful family phot!!!!
Almost every blogger has slowed down a bit. We’ve been traveling and I’m about to head out to Wisconsin where I will be without Internet….Happy Summer!!
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Hope you have a great one, Susie!!! 🙂
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Great post, Coleen, great photos, and great reminder to slow down (I write at 6:30 a.m. as I am gearing up for exercise class, then a day of running a charity lemonade stand). Sometimes I feel more rush rush in summer because I worry too much about finding the right balance between keeping my son busy and doing absolutely nothing and I have to remind myself that doing absolutely nothing is a good thing! Your photos reminded me a wonderful little book that is definitely related to this post, Elisabeth Tova Bailey’s “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating,” a memoir about the “relationship” the author develops with a snail in a bedside terrarium when she is struck by a mysterious virus and can’t get out of bed for months and months.
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I’m not familiar with that book. I’m going to check my library for it. Thanks, Dianne! Balance is a tricky thing. Sometimes I need balance when it comes to finding balance. 🙂 Hope your summer is a happy one. 🙂
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It’s raining and blowing a gale here right now, and I’m sitting inside with a blanket wrapped around my legs, reading blogs. Snail’s Pace, any time of year 🙂 Happy summer, Coleen.
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Sometimes our world seems small, but in the case of seasons, it seems VAST. Seems impossible that you are cold and my town has a heat index of 104 degrees Fahrenheit! Bundle up, Alarna!
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I wish you had put a tiny walking stick next to him to give him that Chinese karate master look 🙂 He’s a beautiful snail. I’m taking your advice over the last few weeks and heeding your warnings about time slipping by. This past weekend camping I spent a great deal of time just staring at the kids and smiling. They are amazing little beings.
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I love the idea of the walking stick! Either that or one of those Karate Kid headbands. 🙂 So glad you’re a happy camper, Lauri!
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I can totally get on board the summer moving at a snail’s pace. Especially after that recent brutal winter!
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I’m with you, Phil! Even here in Virginia we had a bad winter. So much so that I feel bad complaining that we’ve hit triple digits today!
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So much wonderful complexity in the design of the snail’s shell. I would wax lyrical about how it expressed Fibonacci’s Law or the Golden Mean or something like that but tragically that is not my area of erudition.
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I had to Google some of these things, Chris! But at a very slow pace, of course. 🙂 Happy summer!
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YESSS. Taking a deep breath, counting backwards from ten right now. Then going out into the backyard, finding a garden snail and not squishing it. Thank you for the reminder.
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Ah yes, the squishing. The life of a snail is a difficult one. 😉
Happy summer, Julia!
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Summer is my favorite time of year. I keep promising myself a snail’s pace kind of summer, but somehow it always speeds by anyway. This year, though – this is the summer of the snail! 🙂
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The summer of the snail!!! I should make t-shirts…
Thanks, Mary. 😉
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I didn’t sign my kids up for any summer camps this year, because I want to move at a snail’s pace. This past school year walloped my butt big-time, and last summer I felt like all I did was run around getting the kids to places. I’m worried that my kids will get bored and that they’ll be on their screens more often. But, for me, it’s a better schedule which allows for some writing and querying. I hope you enjoy your relaxing summer!
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Oops. The above commenter is me. I don’t know why that happened!! 🙂
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Hope you have a great summer, Kate!! 🙂
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