Sweetly summered still…

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Sharing sweet somethings from a summer
slipping somehow to a close…..
(Sorry…..couldn’t stop myself)

~most foodie love – tomatoes growing scandalous in my front yard,
lightly salted and eaten still warm from their suburban vines
(lots of other veggies,  too)
-I had so much fun as a gardener this year.

~most soothing space  – a little prayer garden we built
in the back yard,  strung with starry twinkle lights,
and tucked in cozy my roomy swing.
* swing-swing* *pour out heart*  *swing-swing*
*swing-swing*  *listen tender*  *swing-swing

~biggest summer strangeness – no swimsuit lines on this farmers tanned skin,
no swimming at all……that’s a first since,
well,  that’s a first.

~second biggest first of Summer –  no despair about the first summer first.
Didn’t surrender up one morsel of joy over it
and feeling sweetly summered still.

 ~biggest summer solution – Did some stretchy creative art-growing  with the front entrance
of our neighborhood because funds were short so instead of the usual plantings
I seeded strong sunflowers,  feathery cosmos and brilliant zinnias
and, my God,  their blossoms made my heart twirl colors I’ve never met before.
It was some serious splendor…..really satisfying stuff.

~sweetest summer  surprise –  goldfinches!

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~biggest slip and save – I tugged hard on a long weed and up came the weed
and a huge swarm of angry yellow jackets.  I fell backwards and was stung only once.
On my hand.  Like a slap.  Could’ve been way more wicked.

~biggest sigh of satisfaction – my zine was born and took
it’s first tentative toddles.

~scariest leap and learning curve – letting my zine be born and take it’s first
tentative toddles.

~best summer read – strange that this would even make the feed
but so crazy-helpful that I’d love to issue every human being a copy:
Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
Is that not just an unfortunate title?
The cover is even worse (really,  it’s a wonder anyone bought the first copy.)
But it’s brilliant stuff,  this.  Like a relationship whisperer.

~bye-to-summer splurge
–  banana bread with chocolate fudge icing
(or is this a hello to the season coming on golden with change?)
Either way,

~what I’m loving – living
yeah,  it’s a romance worth keeping alive

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Dear Life,
“I didn’t fall in love with you.
I walked into love with you,  with my eyes wide open,
choosing to take each step along the way.
I’d choose you;  in a hundred different lifetimes,
in a hundred worlds,  in any version of reality,
I’d find you and I’d choose you.”
-The Chaos of Stars

I’ll be sending September copies of my Ripplesongs zine
to Jane (my high school English teacher!),
Barbara and Susie.
Just need snail mail addresses and I’ll put your packages on a fast pony.

32 Comments

  1. Julia Bourque on August 30, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    I love the sharing of your sweetest summer treats from the garden, warm salty tomatoes fresh from the vine, flowers from seeds, what could be better!!! Your very own zine , wow!!! I think the prayer garden is a wonderful idea too. No wonder your soul pours out all this wonderful summer stew.

    Wishing you a refreshing Labor Day long weekend, dear Jennifer.
    Hugs,
    JB

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 4, 2014 at 3:37 pm

      It’s been too too hot here lately for me
      to do anything in the prayer garden
      other than help it survive. Looking forward
      to cooler temps coming on soon.
      It hasn’t been blistered so I’m grateful:)
      Thanks for coming by, Julia; hope you’re
      getting some good rest when you can,
      Jennifer

  2. Elephant's Child on August 30, 2014 at 10:22 pm

    Your heart-felt dances with and about summer almost make me warm to my least favourite season.
    I hope colours and comfort surround you in autumn – and every season.

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 5, 2014 at 6:34 am

      It’s my least favorite season, too, friend
      but I have a long time romance with the memory
      of when it was long and slow and easy….childhood stuff:)
      Thanks for coming by and leaving kindness,
      Jennifer

  3. Susan on August 30, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    You just … make me swoon.
    thanks ~

  4. Lady Fi on August 31, 2014 at 12:02 am

    You have really captured the magic of being alive! Beautiful.

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 5, 2014 at 6:36 am

      THANK you! That is just about the sweetest thing ever:)
      Much joy to you,
      Jennifer

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 5, 2014 at 6:37 am

      THANK you, friend….that is pure sweetness to my heart:)
      Big joy to you,
      Jennifer

  5. Barbara on August 31, 2014 at 12:19 am

    I hope I’m the Barbara you’re referring to! If I am, let me know and I’ll send you my snail mail. Thanks for the warning about tugging weeds and getting stung. I never imagined there would ever be yellow jackets on the other end. I’m glad you only got slapped! You’re summer sounds wonderful.

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 5, 2014 at 6:38 am

      Hope your package made it safe and that you have
      the most fabulous weekend ever, Barbara.
      Big love to you and your mom,
      Jennifer

  6. Sue on August 31, 2014 at 7:00 am

    What a wonderful summer, I’m always a tad sad when I see the end of the season on the horizon. So excited about your new zine- tell us more!

    • jennifer on September 5, 2014 at 7:10 am

      Hi Sue…..hope Autumn surprises and delights you:)
      I’ve got a few posts that celebrate my travels with this little zine
      but comments won’t let me post to you, for some reason.
      I’ll message later:)
      big joy to you,
      Jennifer

  7. Kathryn on August 31, 2014 at 7:20 am

    I LOVE this post!!! I think it could be my favorite of my favorites! You are so loved by this girl…and I love your prayer garden. Big wonderful hugs, kath

    • jennifer on September 5, 2014 at 7:18 am

      Thanks for saying, Andi’s grandma:)
      I’ll be calling out your name
      in that little garden:)
      -Jennifer

  8. gotham girl on August 31, 2014 at 8:15 am

    Such a fabulous post! Loved reading all of your “events” and glad you only had one sting!

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 6, 2014 at 10:32 am

      thanks friend:) my events were super small but delicious:)
      big love to you in all of yours,
      Jennifer

  9. Donna on August 31, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    Congrats on the Zine and I love the flowers especially all the orange as summer ends….and the sharing of your blessed, happy, sugary, special summerness.

  10. susie on August 31, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    This post gives me the giggles, from your adventures in alliteration to my winning a zine! (Unless there is another Susie…there DO seem to be a lot of us born right about this “certain age.”) Was Susan Hayworth THAT big a star-:)) Guess so! I’m with Robin….so glad you weren’t set upon by those yellowjackets. They are mean little buggers. Thank you Jennifer, I’ll send you an email. What an honest-to-goodness happiness and on my birthday too!

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 6, 2014 at 10:30 am

      So glad for your giggles and hope the birthday sweetness
      is lingering long:)
      Thanks, Susie,
      Jennifer

  11. CherryPie on September 1, 2014 at 5:45 pm

    Your summer garden adventures sound magical 🙂 I think autumn will bring you some equally magical moments 😉

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 6, 2014 at 10:29 am

      Thanks for that sweet stir toward autumn’s gold:)
      I love the changes as they come.
      big grace to your beautiful heart,
      Jennifer

  12. Kathryn on September 4, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Love your list of summer wonders! You lift my day with your posts!!

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 5, 2014 at 6:44 am

      So glad for lift:)
      Thanks for coming by, beautiful drawing friend,
      Jennifer

  13. Jane on September 5, 2014 at 7:43 am

    Oh my GOODNESS! Thank you so much! I passed July’s issue to a cousin as a gift of gratitude, and my chocolate lab Daisy decided that she simply had to taste (read:destroy) June. It was the most treasured item that she has ever “eaten”! I can’t wait to get home to Raleigh and September’s edition! <3 you, Young One!

    • Jennifer Richardson on September 6, 2014 at 10:35 am

      Thanks for cheering for me so, dear Jane;
      you’re such a sweet light in my life:)
      (hope Daisy pooped joy:))
      -Jennifer

  14. Anne Camblin on September 5, 2014 at 11:39 am

    SO much in here! I could taste those tomatoes—and a prayer garden?! What a genius idea!
    How do I get that new little magazine?? I’m headed off now to look up Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work 🙂

  15. S. Etole on September 5, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    Summer color has a spritely beauty but autumn dances richly in a twirl.

    • jennifer on September 7, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      thanks for sharing the vivid way you see and celebrate…it’s joy to me:)
      -Jennifer

  16. Jennifer Richardson on September 6, 2014 at 10:38 am

    Hey Anne! Thanks for coming around….I always enjoy you so:)That zine is in my etsy, which you can pop over to from my sidebar here. That book is a-maz-ing. Crazy good. Who knew?Love and lift to you in all your being,Jennifer

  17. jeanie on September 9, 2014 at 8:02 am

    Oh, those morning glories are fabulous. And yes — tomatoes are indeed the best! I’ll be so sorry to have the last of mine, though I suppose the season will last awhile longer at the market. So wonderful to see them grow and tint!

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