10 Simple Ways to Savor Summer

Summer has a way of asking us to slow down.

Not with grand adventures or packed calendars, but with quiet invitations: a warm breeze through an open window, the sweetness of a ripe peach, the sound of children laughing somewhere in the distance, or the golden light that lingers just a little longer each evening.

For me, savoring summer isn't about doing more. It's about noticing more.

After walking through seasons of illness and healing, I've learned that joy often lives in the ordinary moments we almost overlook. The simple things become the memories that stay with us.

Here are ten simple ways to savor this beautiful season.

1. Begin your morning outdoors.

Take your coffee, tea, or breakfast onto the porch or patio. Before checking your phone, notice the birds, the breeze, and the way the day quietly unfolds.

2. Gather something growing.

Pick a handful of flowers from your garden, collect wildflowers along a walk, or bring home a simple bouquet from the farmers market. A few blooms in a mason jar can brighten an entire room.

3. Visit a local farmers market.

There's something special about buying food that was picked just hours before. Choose one fruit or vegetable and let it inspire dinner.

4. Eat outside whenever you can.

A sandwich on the back steps. Dessert on the porch. A picnic in the park. Food somehow tastes even better under an open sky.

5. Watch a sunset without rushing.

Leave your phone in your pocket for a few minutes. Watch the colors change in the sky. Breathe deeply. Let yourself simply be present.

6. Create a summer playlist.

Fill it with songs that make you smile, remind you of family vacations, or make you want to dance barefoot in the kitchen. Music has a beautiful way of turning ordinary moments into lasting memories.

7. Plant something.

Whether it's basil in a pot, cheerful zinnias, or a full vegetable garden, tending something that grows reminds us that beautiful things take time.

8. Write down one moment each day.

Not a to-do list—just one small memory worth keeping.

"Fireflies at dusk."

"Fresh strawberries for breakfast."

"A long conversation with a friend."

By summer's end, you'll have a collection of moments you might have otherwise forgotten.

9. Share kindness.

Drop off extra garden tomatoes to a neighbor. Write a handwritten note. Invite someone over for a summer dinner or drinks on the patio. Summer seems to make generosity feel even more natural.

10. Leave room for wonder.

Search for butterflies. Count shooting stars. Walk barefoot in the grass. Listen to the crickets after dark.

Some of life's richest moments don't happen because we planned them—they happen because we made space to notice them.

A Moment to Savor

As I've grown older, I've realized that the best summers aren't necessarily the busiest or the most expensive. They're the ones where we were fully present.

The ones where we laughed around the table, lingered outside, watched the sky change colors, and found gratitude in the little things.

That's what Savoring the Seasons is all about.

Not waiting for life to become extraordinary, but discovering that the ordinary has been beautiful all along.

So wherever this summer finds you—in a season of celebration, transition, healing, or simply everyday life—I hope you'll pause long enough to savor it.

Because these days, just as they are, are worth remembering.

Angeline

For the love of food

I love food and I enjoy cooking, especially with fresh ingredients. I am nowhere near a professional, but I know my way around the kitchen. 

A good friend once said “you show your love through cooking.”  He could not have been more spot on. I love cooking for family, friends and anyone who needs a pick me up. It comes from the heart. You’ll see recipes on here that have been handed down, made up or adapted from experts and amateurs alike. All fabulous and all worth sharing. 

I hope you’ll join me. Try a recipe. Share a recipe. And more importantly, share how fresh food and ingredients have helped you savor the season! 

Because every season holds something worth savoring.  

Angeline 

Why I started Savoring the Seasons…

I’ve had quite the journey these past few years. I don’t believe for a second I am alone, but here’s the synopsis of my story. 

The year 2020 rocked everyone in every season of life. Thrown head first into Covid. The unknown. The loss. The fear. In addition to facing this insane pandemic, I also faced losing my mom, who was my biggest champion, my friend, my confidant, to her 8 year battle with breast cancer. It was a low I knew was coming, but was a major trauma to my psyche and soul. Next was a diagnosis I received that would challenge me in ways I’ve never imagined. In March 2020 I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythemetosus (SLE). As I adjusted to my new diagnosis, my knees gave out on me due to the wear of walking 4-5 miles per day during Covid and the increased inflammation of lupus. I tore the menisci in both knees and discovered I already had stage 4 osteoarthritis. Two knee surgeries later and various therapies to keep me going for a little bit longer on these worn out knees of mine, I thought I found pause. I was wrong. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A bi-lateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction later and here I am….still recovering, but getting stronger every day.

I’ve been pushing through and over. These challenges and my inability to sometimes get out and about as much as I would have wanted changed the way I see time and everyday moments. Finding joy and beauty in the most ordinary places and moments….food,  nature, and creativity have been a game changer.

I came to the realization that seasons aren't only spring, summer, fall, and winter—they're also the seasons we experience throughout our lives

I would love for you to join me on this journey. You’ll learn a little bit more about my story and ways to not only keep going, but actually enjoy living, share your stories, and build a community. My hope is that you leave this site feeling encouraged to notice beauty in every form, practice gratitude, where we can savor the season of this life you’re in.

Because every season holds something worth savoring.  

Angeline