You light up my life...
The stark realization has hit: It’s almost August. And the incredible summer days and nights we dream of most of the year are quickly passing us by.
GASP. I know.
So consider this a little Public Service Announcement from your friendly neighborhood Grass Stain Guru…
GO OUTSIDE & PLAY.
Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. No more excuses.
- Catch fireflies
- Run through the sprinkler or have a wet sponge fight
- Roast the perfect marshmallow or challenge yourself to come up with a gourmet s’more recipe
- Head to a nearby fishing hole. Take a child who has never had the opportunity and watch their eyes light up.
- Try geocaching
- Have a watermelon seed spitting contest
- Camp. Backyard, tree house or nearby county or state park — it doesn’t matter as long as you sleep outside
- Eat a popsicle under a shade tree and play The Cloud Game
- Find a nearby trail and hike when the sun is not too high — early in the morning or at dusk
- _________________ (Use your imagination and share in the comments section! What’s your #10?)
When September comes and the kids head back to school and the summer light starts to fade, you will have such fond memories of time spent in the pursuit of play — and making the most of this gorgeous planet that we call home.
Trust me — this fact will make you happy. The end.
Don’t miss out. Mother Nature has something great waiting for you…
See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru
PS: And because it always reminds me of summer fun, a little They Might Be Giants. Sing along with me!
Recipe for the Perfect S’more!
Cut a piece of foil large enough to hold one graham cracker square. Place the square in the middle of the foil and cover with 4 small chocolate rectangles (adjust chocolate to your preference). Place the foil on a rock or grill at the edge of the heat from the fire…you want the chocolate to be melty but not runny. Roast two marshmallows to a golden brown, but be sure the middle is warm and gooey* (no cold blob on the roasting stick after the shell of golden goodness is removed). Place the perfect marshmallows onto of the chocolate covered graham cracker, add a graham cracker square “lid”. Slightly press down on the “lid” while gently sliding the roasting stick from the center of the marshmallows. And enjoy the sticky, gooey, tummy-warming mass! Be prepared with wet washcloths for chocolate and marshmallows smears on cheeks, lips, and noses…and sticky fingers! (You’ll probably have to change your shirt, too, so it’s best not to make these in your pj’s.)
*The key to the perfectly golden brown with a warm and gooey center is coals. No flames, just a bed of red hot glowing coals.
What is your favorite s’more recipe?
Thanks for saying what needed to be said. I feel like summer is slipping right through our fingers! These days are meant for living outside! Oh yeah, our #10 has to be throwing rocks in the river.
)
Yes ma’am….we’re planning a camping trip. Not coming up soon enough though, so we’ll improvise in the meantime. Outdoors is definitely the place to be!
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thanks, ladies! let’s all meet in the woods & Susan will make us s’mores. Mmmmmmmm
#10. Have a “bug club meeting” (my 5yo’s phrasing) with your kids and their neighbor friends! During our outdoor adventure today we saw a praying mantis and a spider facing off, a damselfly feasting on its prey (wouldn’t even have noticed the latter had we not zoomed in–cool!), a to-be-IDed big green beetle … and other wee wonders of the backyard. :0)
Yay for bug club, Kel!
I was thinking that same thing today. Since our summer didn’t start until July, I hate to think of it ending soon.
#10 More camping, more hiking, more time on the river.
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I’m gonna try one of Noah’s bird feeding ideas and make paper aeroplanes full of bird seed!
Then after that I’m off to the woods and the moors and the hills and the sea for some well-earned living outdoors time. Have even convinced a non-outdoorsy type to heads to the hills with me.
Seems she feels a tad inspired by all the outdoorsy talk and wants to see what camping’s like.
Come on, BIG KIDS, come out and PLAY!!!
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