It bothers me that I at all times get started my posts with one thing both concerning the climate or about how briskly time has flown by–well, presently, I am simply surprised that it is JULY of 2023. I nonetheless really feel like we are getting issues “taken care of out” for the 12 months (budgeting and insurance coverage and stuff like that).

I stored pondering to myself, “It might be nice to do this this summer time!” all 12 months long–and now IT IS SUMMER and I’ve to do all of the issues. Except for I do not take into account them. Subsequent week, despite the fact that, we’re going to Jeanie and Shawn’s assets up north. I’m SO now not prepared–prepping vegan meals and bringing it with us goes to be worrying, however I will make it so simple as imaginable.

Since we are again to extra cautious budgeting this 12 months (in spite of everything the surprising bills closing 12 months), we should not have the financial savings to move on a “large” holiday. So, we’re renting a minivan, the children are each and every bringing any person, and we are heading up north for a protracted weekend. Jeanie and Shawn’s cabin is a FAR cry from “roughing it” within the woods (critically, it is tremendous great), however I assumed that for “3 Issues Thursday”, I’d write about 3 issues that I love about tenting/the outside.

I’m NOT an “outdoorsy” particular person in any respect, so this in reality would possibly not be a very easy submit. However I sought after to stay it certain and search for a couple of issues that I will sit up for…

1. Studying in my hammock beneath the timber.

I may actually do that all day lengthy. After seeing my brother (Brian) together with his hammock right through Ragnar Florida Keys, I truly sought after a hammock too! So I finished up purchasing one and whilst I do not use it very steadily, I *love* to make use of it up north. I were given an additional large one in order that we will be able to put extra other folks in it immediately. Jerry and I appreciated to drink our espresso in there within the mornings. (Here’s the hyperlink to a hammock similar to mine; the only I’ve is now not to be had. It is an Amazon associate hyperlink, in complete disclosure.)

2. Sitting across the campfire within the evenings.

Summer season nights within the northern peninsula of Michigan are lovely magical, I’ve to confess. The sky simply turns out such a lot deeper (clearer?) someway. The entirety is SO quiet and nonetheless. For some reason why, telling tales round a campfire makes them that a lot more entertaining as properly!

3. Operating with Shawn in his store.

I had a troublesome time bobbing up with a 3rd factor I love concerning the outside! Haha, that is horrible. So this one is more or less a cop-out… it is not essentially outdoorsy or camp-like, however it is one thing I care to do once I move up north. Shawn has an enormous pole barn and my dream wooden store. I love serving to him paintings on no matter it’s that he is operating on on the time. We labored on shiplap one time, which is how I realized what a planer and jointer do. His shiplap grew to become out to seem wonderful! (And of course, I will’t in finding the picture of it presently.)

Right here is a photograph of my different favourite factor to do up north–shoot Nathan’s rifle. It’s not that i am, and not will likely be, a “gun particular person”, however I do love taking pictures Nathan’s rifle–it more or less makes me really feel like a badass. We line up soda cans throughout a pond and shoot them, the use of a scope. Nathan’s now not going to be up there with us, so I would possibly not be doing that this time, sadly.

So, there we are–three issues I’m taking a look ahead to this summer time subsequent week. Excellent grief, time goes via quicker each second.