The past few weeks have been unimaginably hectic! I’m used to functioning at full throttle, but not like this. I finished up my own classwork earlier in the month, and wrapped up my work for the class I was teaching around the same time. Then came a week of graduation ceremonies and all of the school and family celebrations that accompanied them. I spent the following week moving out of my apartment, and cursing myself for accumulating such an ungodly quantity of stuff in a third floor walk-up. Finally, I brought the month to a close by performing bridesmaid duties for my friend Ellen at Pretty Neutral. All the while, I’ve been keeping up with the endless administrative requirements for my upcoming first year in veterinary school.

Now, I’m surveying the limitless possibilities of a few weeks of downtime spread before me like the still blanket of the ocean stretching from a pristine shore to the golden horizon at daybreak. The vast calmness is damn near unsettling, but I’m going to charge ahead and make the most of my time. A bountiful country garden is calling my name, and I’m enjoying getting back in the kitchen to take advantage of its abundance. I also sorted through boxes of books over the past few days, and can’t wait to start devouring all of the things I didn’t have time to read while I was in class. My 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge count is currently at 38, and I plan to surpass my 50 book goal before the start of the academic year. Maybe I’ll even increase my goal before the summer’s through.

How have all of you been spending these long summer days? Have you found any great recipes or read any engrossing books lately? Let me know in the comments! This is a wonderful time of year to appreciate the everyday pleasures that make life worth living. I hope you’re enjoying them as much as I have been. I’ll also be returning to a regular posting schedule. So much for making the time to write as frequently as I had planned. I’ll do better moving forward!