Summer has officially arrived here in the northern hemisphere. And though spring will always be my one true love, I'm digging into summer with everything I've got.

I can learn to love summer! I'm certain.

Especially since this year I don't have Lyme disease – my usual way to celebrate the Solstice. It's the first summer I've felt strong since we moved to the farm. For that I am so grateful.

So yes to summer! Camping, foraging, and icy dips in the creek are at the top of my list.

 

I realized (as I was soaked through by the rain this morning) that almost every year Summer Solstice arrives dressed in storm clouds. She comes in with a dramatic lightening show and almost always a flash flood that rises our creek past its banks, year after year.

Summer. (crash!) Is. (boom!) Here. (splash!)

This year was no exception.

A flash flood raced down our valley today at 8 am, scaring the goats and cutting deep fissures in our driveway with rushing water. I was thankful for the hay mulch in the garden, holding our black soil in place.

After morning chores the kids and I tromped in the downpour out to the creek to see how high the water had risen. We checked the beaver dam, too, to see if it was engineered well enough for such rains. It was. Smart beavers.

Standing beside the creek I saw jewelweed through my rain-spattered glassed and gathered a great handful for a poison ivy rash I managed to pick up over the weekend, then watched as the storm wound down. Laughing and chatting we splashed our way home to breakfast.

And despite my itching arm my heart was full to overflowing.

Summer! Yes. I think it's growing on me.

 

Our weekend was full to overflowing as well. With love, community, celebration, and healing of many sorts.

There was the epic celebratory trifecta of Pete's birthday, Father's Day, and the Summer Solstice yesterday, plus a commitment ceremony with friends on Saturday.

Their wedding potluck – so rich with inspiring and authentic people and meaningful conversations – was also where we had the pleasure of sampling such wild-foraged and hunted treats as oysters, smelt, and beaver; wild mushrooms, wild greens, and wild rice. Amazing.

The earth – and this community – is abundant indeed.

And the best gift of all this weekend was seeing our sick goat (who was at death's door on Friday) exuberantly gallop toward me to say good morning and beg for treats on Sunday.

Small miracles and great blessings.

 

Happy Summer Solstice my friends. I hope you are feeling the summer magic, too.