Breezin Through a Summer Picnic

Summer Picnics

Like picnics look on a Sunday
Love looks so well on you
Love Looks So Well on You by Frank Sinatra

Summer picnics.
A blanket.
A tablecloth.
A wicker basket.
A warm summer breeze.
So simple, we forget.

Picnics come in all shapes and sizes —
each one is as unique as the next.
A garden party.
A barbecue.
A clambake.
A wiener roast.
Or simply a picnic in a backyard.

Picnics are get-togethers.
Shared by lovers, families, and communities.
They slow us down.
To take a breath.
To be together.
To enjoy time out in the summer sun.

Some families come together each year for a family reunion while others celebrate a holiday unique to them. Some host Hawaiian Luaus, Memorial Day picnics, and others watch fireworks and picnic on the 4th of July.
Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Traditions (Blog 12/13/21)

Picnics remind us of simple joys —
where the gathering is more important than the menu.
It’s a place to be yourself.
To settle down.
To find where you belong.

This summer,

May every picnic — big or small —
remind your heart what matters most of all:
time with the people who matter most.

*“a feudal picnic basket” by langalex is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerPicnics #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Ridin’ a Scooter

Summer Scooters

I got my scooter, got my helmet on
I’m gonna ride it until the day is gone
Scooter by Claudia Robin Gunn with Dean Jones

Scooters.
A child’s twinkle.
A companion.
A mode of transportation.

Scooters.
To a child, it’s a passport of sorts.
A rite of passage.
A taste of freedom.

Scooters.
Helmet on.
Children playing.
Scraped knees.

Scooters.
Side by side.
Mom on rollerblades.
Fun on a summer day.

Scooters.
Humming.
Zig-zagging.
The sound of kerplunk, kerplunk,
over the jagged sidewalks.

Scooters.
They teach us to play.
Play outside.
Play with your kids.
Play in the day.
Into the night.

The opening scene plays.
Anne Hathaway slides down a pole, grabs her lunch,
and scooters to high school.

– Nadia Crane, Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa

This summer,

May you take the time to play outside like you did when you were a kid. May you close your eyes and imagine the wind and smile on your face as you feel that whoosh of being on a scooter.

*Image Credit: “scootering in a dress”*
*by woodleywonderworks is licensed*
*under CC BY 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #Scooters #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Holdin’ a Popsicle

Summer Popsicles

Orange, lemon, cherry, and lime
Fudge, tutti frutti, and a grape that’s fine.
Popsicle by Jan & Dean

Popsicles.
Bells in the distance.
Ring, ding, Ring, Ding-
quick, come, the ice cream truck!

Popsicles.
Creamsicles.
Fudgesicles.
And ice cream bars, too.

Popsicles.
Wooden handles.
Dripping down arms,
melting fast.

Popsicles.
Stacked in the freezer,
in ice cube trays,
waiting for a hot summer day.

Popsicles.
Sticky smiles.
Colored tongues.
Coolness that refreshes.

Popsicles.
Beet pops.
Corn pops.
A mystery pop, too-
all for a Science Fair a long time ago.

Popsicles remind us:
to stop,
to take a moment,
to cool and refresh,
to return to our childhoods,
where summer memories wait for a taste.

Sipping reminds me of savoring.
Savoring a piece of pie or the last spoonful of ice cream.
Sipping is slow. It is a way of saying, slow down!

–Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Summertime Part 2, Blog 6/25/21

This summer,

May you feel excited as a child waiting for the ice cream truck.
And may a special summer taste linger just long enough to remind you that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

Image Credit:
*“Organic Watermelon Popsicles” by Growing a Green Family is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #SummerPicnic #SummerSongs #Popsicles #TasteOfSummer #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Catchin’ Fireflies

Summer Fireflies

Small town fireflies lighting up the night we knew,
Dancing in the dark like they were falling just for you.
Summer Fireflies by Morgan Wallen

Fireflies.
Jars on the porch,
Lids with air‑holes.
Children play,
as they patiently wait.

Fireflies.
Sun sets.
Nature sings.
Fireflies wake up,
and rise from the earth.

Fireflies.
Tiny lanterns out at dusk.
Lighting on and lighting off.
Leading children through the fields.

Fireflies.
Hovering in arm’s reach.
Drifting low, drifting slow.
Glowing like a magic star.

Fireflies.
Running all around,
nets swinging high and low,
hoping to catch at least one glow.

Fireflies remind us:
of the amazing wonders of nature.
of childhood glee with smiling faces.
Hearts open to the light.

Summer night air is thick…
Fireflies flicker brightly.
…calling our attention to the night sky.

– Nadia Crane, Breezin’ Through on a Warm Summer’s Night,
(Blog, 7/7/26)

This summer,

May the fireflies remind you to look for tiny sparks
in unexpected places. May their glow warm your heart as you reminisce on summers of yesteryear.
May you feel their light guide you for years to come.

*Image Credit:*
“Fireflies” by *takot is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

#BreezinThroughSummer #Fireflies #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Followin’ the Light

Summer Light

See the curtains hangin’ in the window
in the evening on a Friday night,
a little light a‑shinin’ through the window
lets me know that everything’s alright
Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts

Summer light is comforting.
It’s warm.
It’s familiar.
It slips through windows and across floors,
reminding us that goodness still finds its way in.

Somehow it feels different in summer.
Brighter.
More golden.
Shining rays from all directions.

Evening light is comforting, too.
In a different way.
Softer.
Dimmer.
Quieter.
Telling the day to settle into a slower pace.
It reassures us that rest will soon come.

Summer light, whether day or night,
teaches us to notice —
and to be grateful for light itself:
light that opens our eyes,
light that sparks our imagination,
light that shows us where to go next.

A reflection from the patio light catches my eyes.

—Nadia Crane, Wine and Faith – 19 Days in Napa

Summer light does exactly that.

This summer,

May every soft beam of light lead your heart toward the quiet reassurance it’s been longing to feel.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsey #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through on a Warm Summer’s Night

Summer Nights

Sweet, sleepy
warmth of summer nights,
gazing at the distant lights
In the starry sky
The Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy

Summer Nights
Summer nights are gifts.
Gifts from the hot sun.
To gently cool us down.

Summer night air is thick.
Crickets sound louder.
Fireflies flicker brightly.
All calling our attention to the night sky.

Summer nights teach us to rest.
To pause.
To listen.
To let the day fade away
and welcome the stillness of the night.

Twinkling stars in the midnight sky,
Whisper secrets from heaven’s gate.

– Nadia Crane, The Spirit of Peridot, (Blog 8/1/24)

This summer,

May each moment in the day lead your heart toward
the peace and stillness of the night.

Image Credit: *Summer Nights* by Radarsmum67 is licensed under CC by 2.0.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerNights #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Watchin’ the Fireworks

Summer Fireworks

Lucy in the sky with diamonds.
The Beatles

Summer fireworks.
Paint diamonds in the sky.
Flash, sizzle, boom!
Shimmering lights all around.

An old-time circus comes to town.
Tents, animals, and clowns with red shoes.
A ring leader. An animal tamer.

Popcorn, popcorn, anyone?
Up and down the stairs he goes.
Red paper hat.
Red wooden box.
Red bags of popcorn lined up in rows.
Popcorn, popcorn, anyone?

Pie-eating contests and three-legged races.
Hot dogs, burgers, cotton candy.
Off on the horizon, the sun fades away,
as chairs unfold and blankets spread.

Fireworks.
Crowds start to gather from near and far.
to watch the annual fireworks display.
Kids wave sparklers,
dogs howl at the moon.
A perfect ending to a busy day.

Fireworks.
Fireworks remind us:
America the beautiful —
each state sparkles like a star.
East coast to west coast,
and all the miles in between,
we celebrate everyone who calls this place home.

Like diamonds in the sky, painting a picture that lingers…

Fireworks paint the midnight sky,
cascading through the veil of time.

– Nadia Crane, The Spirit of the Ruby (Blog 7/1/24)

This summer,

May the freedoms of yesteryear
ring true to you in the years ahead —
shimmering like diamonds in the sky.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Fireworks #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer with a Sweet Summer Kiss

Summer Kisses

Soft kisses on a summer day,
laughing all our cares away,
just you and I
A Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy

Kisses are sweet.
Tender.
Gentle.
Small gestures that somehow carry big meaning.
The kind you offer to the ones who matter most.

But summer kisses…
They flit in differently.
Lighter. Softer.
As if out of thin air.
The kind that find you before you even realize they’re there.

Summer kisses are warm.
Smooth.
Memorable.
They happen when least expected.
On boat docks.
On porches.
In oceans.
On lakes.
Under trees.
On the sand.
And everywhere in between.

Kisses show affection.
Presence.
I see you.
I hear you.
You matter.

They teach us to:
slow down,
savor the moment,
and open your heart to let someone in.

Affection is more than a gesture. It’s a language of touch—through hugs, kisses, and quiet acts of care.

— Nadia Crane, Sacred Affection (in process)

And summer has a way of reminding us of that truth.

This summer,

May every soft kiss lead your heart toward what it longs to feel.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #SummerKisses #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer at Summer Camp

Summer Camp

Have fun at summer camp.
Have Fun at Summer Camp by Spencer Sutherland

Summer camp.
Fun.
Scary.
Lots of kids.

Cabins line up in rows.
Bunks that creak.
Mattresses stained.
A mixture of pine and sunscreen fill the air.

Flashlights.
Band-aids.
Sleeping bags.
Insect repellent.

So much to do —
canoes,
swimming,
archery,
horseback riding,
craft tables.
Which one do you choose.

Summer camp.
Fleeting friendships.
Campfires that sizzle.
Hot dogs on sticks.
Rounds of songs as nighttime falls.
Memories that last a lifetime.

Summer camp teaches us:
to try new things,
to be brave in a new place,
and to remember that we don’t outgrow wonder —
we just forget to look for it.

…Camp Cherith.
That is where I learned to do archery, shoot a rifle (BB’s),
and go horseback riding.

– Nadia Crane, I and Thou: It’s Summertime! (Blog, 6/10 /21)

This summer,

May your days feel a little like camp again —
full of surprises, new talents,
and the kind of courage that invites you to try new things.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Just Singin’ a Song

Summer Songs

We all live in a yellow submarine.
Yellow Submarine by The Beatles

Summer songs.
Silly songs.
Songs that make you smile and dance.
As you roll down your window, cruisin’ along.

Beach songs.
Sand, surf, and tidal waves.
Strolls on the boardwalk,
searching for seashells,
and dipping toes in the water.

Car songs.
Songs in rounds with kids in the car.
Day trips, road trips, near and far.
Laughing and singing
til your voice goes hoarse.

Campfire songs.
Soft and smoky, the scent of fire.
Sparks sizzle and light up the sky.
Songs that somehow bond buddies together
and, North, South, East, or West,
teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony.

Summer songs remind us:
to be silly,
to laugh,
to seize the moment,
and to echo through the hills and valleys,
a call for peace throughout the land.

As I lay in bed that night at Amelia’s, I think: What a comical yet complex day this has been — the singing cards.

— Nadia Crane, Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa

Summer songs come from everywhere—
from yellow submarines to singing cards,
from car radios to campfire rounds.
They remind us how music moves through the stages of our lives
and how each of us,
in our own special ways,
can teach the world to sing.

This summer,

May you find your very own yellow submarine —
a bright little place of joy
floating in a sea of green beneath the waves.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog