10 Things I Love About Summer

In No Particular Order

1.  Fresh vegetables from the garden. 

2. Geraniums on my back stoop.

 3. Flip flops and shorts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Our pool. It's where I most often want to be. I'm a water baby. A fish in water. If I get in, I find it hard to get out. 

5. Being out in the sunshine and fresh air.

6. The smell of the air after a summer rain shower.

7. Wildflowers.

 8. Grass between my toes.

9. The Beach (my brother got this shot on his morning ride up the coast on his Harley).

10.  Another gorgeous day (I say that in all honesty and in hopes that the weather gods hear me and get rid of the rain that supposed to be heading out way in time for the weekend).

And you? What are some of your favorite things about summer?

Have a great Wednesday and enjoy the day.

Ciao for now,

A Summer Reminder & From The Desk of Pamela J. Bates

Time

There is never enough. At least in my humble opinion. There's never enough to get done what needs to be done. Not enough to do all we want to do or try all we want to try or go where we want to go or see who we want to see. Not even close to enough to enjoy all the good moments and just relish in them. It's always rushing by and gone before you realize you missed something altogether.

So a gentle reminder in the midst of summer.

Work At Hand

I'm in the midst of several logo/branding projects. I've been working with small business people for 19 years and I truly enjoy helping them create a presence for their business so they can grow. 

Sometimes, when I'm in the midst of a design project I need a break just to clear my head. So I can see things from a fresh perspective. Sometimes I take a walk out back and see what is bloom (check) and sometimes I design something completely different from what I'm working on (check).

To that end, I've added a couple more premade logo designs to the shop. Premade logos are a budget friendly option that is customized with a businesses name. Now, I would much rather work with a client one on one, getting to know about them and their business and where they see it going in the future. Creating a logo that is designed just for them, and really speaks to who they and their business are, is very rewarding.  However, for those entrepreneurs who still want a professionally designed logo but have budget constraints, premade logos are a great route to go.

Now in the shop, premade logos with a little geometry and a nod to Shark Week.

available via Bates Mercantile Co.

 

also available via Bates Mercantile Co.

The sun is shining again here today. It's just been glorious this past week. I admit, some days have had a fallish feel, but they've been sunny, dry and bright.  We enjoyed sitting in the back yard at the end of the day yesterday talking to the neighbors. Today is a bit hotter and I will most definitely be in the pool........yes, the same pool I just saved two cicadas from (eeeewww.....more because I didn't want them in my pool).  

Luckily, the smell of the 'moo juice' the farmer spread this weekend is finally disipating. Now, I usually kind of like the smell of cow manure when it's spread (I know, I'm weird), but this new liquid manure (yes, liquid) has been pretty overwhelming. Obviously, it's more concentrated. Ugh.  They litterally came with about 10 tanker truck loads of the stuff which shot out the back, and sprayed the field over and over again this weekend. 

Yup, it was so nice working the garden weeding for the first time all summer. Hear the sarcasm? 

{The above comments do not in any way detract from my ode to farmers post of last week. It's just that the 'fertilizer' was really, really, really smelly. Thank you for your attention to this matter. That is all.}

Cow poop or not, the day is too beautiful not to enjoy! And I am very grateful that it's not as smelling quite as strong or bad. Much to be happy about.

Ciao for now,

Photo Challenge Day 1 and Freeform Friday

via paperkeeper

Summer

This is going to be good. The photo challenge that is. I'm already impressed with the first submissions.

I had to post Andrea's first, because she had the biggest challenge being on the otherside of the world down under. It's Winter there, which means Summer is a little hard to come by. By the way, these are lovely flowers a friend sent Andrea as congratulations for her new bundle of boy.  You must drop by her blog to see the picture of Mr. Man in his own little baby hammock. Precious. 

'I'm sure it's Summer somewhere', Andrea Hamaan, Strong Southerly

Ms. Cari-Jane Hakes is in London at just the right time. She caught the Summer Olympic fever and a shot of the torch. Personally, I love the Olympics. It's one of those things that pulls the world a little closer for two weeks.

'Passing The Torch', Cari-Jane Hakes, Hybrid Handmade

Mine is pretty straightfoward. It's all about where I spend my time in the Summer......in the pool.

'pool noodles', Pamela J. Bates, Mercantile Muse

Juicy, sweet, watery....hence the name. Watermelon. Thanks for making me drool Emma.

'Summer In A Bowl', via Emma, MyBoJuLife

By the way peeps, Emma is a new blogger. Stop by and show her some love,  won't you?

Flowers, flowers everywhere. One of my favorite things about Summer. And I really love when they bloom in mass, like these that Karen captured.

'Heavenly Meadow', via Karen, Bridgit's Bell

 

Reshma was inspired by her daughter's zeal for Summer, and I am too. 

'joy of summer', Reshma Sandell, Color Canopy

Kristen, of Milo and Molly, got a shot that reminds me of my parent's backyard in Summer. Marigolds. They almost always have some planted.

'Marry Me If You Have Gold', Kristen Skelton, Milo and Molly

The {PaperKeeper} herself, my pal Bonnie Burnell, is enjoying some downtime. So is her family. 

'fine day for a bike ride', Bonnie Burnell, {PaperKeeper}

Ah, behond the might sunflower Ashley Croyer of Papyrusaurus. It's screaming Summer. Big, beautiful burst of yellow. Just like the Summer sun.

'Screaming Summer', Ashley Croyer, Papyrusaurus

More sheer Summer happiness. Oh how I love to swing. If I walk by a playground I'm still apt to take a few moments to get the legs pumping just like Traci's little one, Luci Rae.

'Swing Time', Traci, All Things Luci Rae

Full disclosure, I made up the titles. That's just the way I am.

Way to give us some summer guys. Great job. We'll have to remember this when we're in the midst of Winter. Well Andrea can look at it now and see what she has to look foward too.

If you want to join the photo challenge, here's the lowdown:

The Mercantile Muse Photo Challenge runs Fridays, Mondays and Wednesdays from 7/27 through  8/22. If you'd like to participate, email me (pbates at speakeasyinfo dot net---- just avoiding spammers gang) a link to your photo submission (blog link, flickr link, facebook link, or what have you) by noon the day prior (well, I'd love it by noon, but sometime the day prior works too) if you want your photo to be included in the photo challenge post the next day. Next photo challenge post is Monday which means you need to get me a submission on Sunday.

Why not join in? Afterall, it's just for the fun of it. All of the topics are about how you interpret them. There are no steadfast rules here people. Well, except for the fun.

One more thing.....the current link party is still going on for anyone who has an online business or blog. Stop by and link up. If you don't have an online shop or blog, check out all the great stuff people are linking up.

Freeform Friday

Here's a classic Summer song for you. A little Mungo Jerry. If you don't know Mungo, you should when you hit play. If you're reading by email, click here.

Hope you have good plans for the weekend. Mine is, yup, you guessed it.....some quality time with my pal the pool.  Of course, there are other things on the list, but that's at the top. What about you?

Have a good one,