You are so good at evoking a sense of place and the feelings those places in turn evoke. This is one of my favourite things about your writing. When I read you, I always feel like I'm inside the scene ❤️
I've been trying, and mostly failing, to get into that delicious slow summer spontaneity, but you have inspired me to try harder!
About the images, my thought was also: who has legs that long?! C'mon!
Thanks my lovely. I fell about laughing reading your note letting on what you were wearing (or not!) when you got on a call🤣🤣….your weather is a lot more difficult to work and relax in than we have here. So treat yourself gently.
And those A.I. images-absolutely bonkers. And turning the one woman around so she is facing the wrong way on the bicycle??!! Is that what “without woman” means in A.I. ? 🥺
Yep- Spain does summer seriously! Enjoy it as best you can...At least you are more of a night owl and can thrive after dark when the warmth fades somewhat...
A blissful weekend it sounds Sabrina! I’m catching up on your lovely account now as we were away in the forest cabin camping last week and had little to no access to the electronic world, a gift in and of itself….on top of many🌲 🌲 and evening campfires to settle our minds!
As Jayne says, your words make me slow down, feel the sand and wind, and smell the salty air. I feel sand rubbing between my toes. But did I miss something about a G & T in there?
It’s a gift to be able to throw things aside during a regular weekend to act like you’re on vacation. It shouldn’t be that way! We should be so carefree and spontaneous a lot more often.
When we have those rare moments of “the heck with it, let’s go” I’m always much happier and more relaxed after whatever it was that we did. It could be so simple as deciding on the spur of the moment to pack up potato and tortilla chips and beer and head out fifty feet to bench in the plaza.
Thanks Andrea! You and I both plan so much in our lives that it is hard sometimes to leave open space for unplanned serendipity. But you are right: it is so worth it. If only to let space in for new thinking and weird connections to happen.
So glad to hear (elsewhere) that you survived your lengthy parched and aromatic hiking adventure. Jeeze. Maybe not the kind of unplanned adventure we were speaking about earlier!
You're a helpful reminder to leave that time open to unplan a bit. It's hard to do when there's so much we want to do!
Our adventure in Slovenia was not what he had in mind but it sure was a family bonding experience. My family members were such troopers and good sports!
Hi, Sabrina, "cross-Island bike path" conjured all sorts of wonderful images! What a wonderful weekend you described. Hooray for bicycles. 😁 "Listen to the repeating whish-and-whosh of the waves gliding into the sandy beach, whilst the calls and banter of people fade away and only the sounds of the breeze and sea surround you" transported me to Lake Michigan beaches of my Michigan life. You nailed it! There's nothing like those sounds rolled into one "beach" category. Ahhhh! Lovely! I always feel invited to travel with you, in your village, across the pond, wherever you describe, so warm and inviting. I always smile! The photos - the beaches, sky, garden, cafe - are gorgeous.
As for AI, I've never used it. However, your experience with it gave me a bright idea 💡 of drawing simple things simply, perhaps single-line drawings, or a brief sketch with a bit of watercolor wash, for people to use in their posts. Crazy maybe. But what a fun thing to create and offer, even if no one wanted to use one/any. Hmmmm. Thanks, Sabrina!
There's nothing like swimming that says "summer" to me. That inner quiet and the gentle noises of water are the best.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for another great read, and for nudging my imagination. 😎
Ohhhh, I would love to have your wonderful images to accompany my posts! If only I can plan enough ahead to know what I might want. But, on the other hand, I might very well write my posts because I am inspired by your drawings! Keep that thought alive and tossing around. (And feel free to talk to me more about it if you want-I'm very keen and would love to share your clever illustrations with my words)
I was thinking of you absolutely as I was writing about getting back on the bicycle. I would dearly love to be more comfortable riding on the roads around here so I could do more cycling. The reason for splurging on an e-bike is that I don't drive in this country and I hope that having a bicycle will give me more freedom to get out besides walking and the bus (which is just fine for many things). So I'm still working on my confidence and slowly accumulating gear that makes riding more comfortable (and rain-proof!). Reading your posts each week inspires me!
I'm so happy to hear that the post recalled your fond memories of summers on Lake Michigan. We all seem to have some lovely childhood memories of time spent on beaches and water. The water does have such a calming effect, still. Thanks for your very kind comments!
You're welcome, and hooray, Sabrina! Drawing for posts could be such fun. Indeed, the thought remains alive as ideas dance through my head. :-)
Yippee for your bicycle and getting on and out there! Good gear can do wonders for one's confidence and options for errand running. My trunk bag and my waterproof jacket changed my riding life. Safety first, too. I'm going to add another headlamp and a rear blinking light to my existing ones, as I'm now riding in complete darkness in the mornings. I'm happy to inspire, too. :-)
Yes, water has a major calming effect. I haven't been swimming in months, and would also love to be on the shore somewhere. Ahhhh. Summertime!
Ah Prue, you live the life every day I described that I achieved on only one weekend! I am reminded by you to relish how wonderful life by the sea can be every single day. Thanks.
And appreciate the tip about Bing-I'll check it out.
I grew up going on vacations which seemed to have a purpose. It seemed so different than my childhood friends that would go to the beach, a cabin or some destination just to go there. It was disappointing so I won't go further. Other than I've "grown" out of that. Now, regarding bicycling. Yes, the best is the middle group, bottom right. What could go wrong. As an avid cyclist it is very evident that women are in the minority. Riding in groups can certainly turn into a "bro" thing to which I try to avoid. Some of the bike manufacturers carry a line for women with a frame geometry designed more for the woman's build. They are primarily of the mountain, and drop bar (road, gravel) styles. I do see the women's (no top tube) type bike in the style of a general old school balloon tire townie; like we all grew up riding. Now Branson alumni. Are you aware of Kate Courtney who is a Branson grad and competes professionally in mountain biking. She's a past World Champion several times over, National Champion as well and has now switched to road racing. Earlier this summer she won the National Womens Road Championship and then a stage in a "tour" event in Slovakia, Czech or someplace in that region. She's since been picked up by a pro team that supports both women's and men's at the elite level. Look for her to compete in the women's Grand Tours if she sticks with it. Just like with soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball(?) the popularity to attract women doesn't happen in the US unless the national team excels on the world stage. Maybe Kate can make that happen. In Europe, it's different, the women don't need examples to participate, they just do it.
You are so good at evoking a sense of place and the feelings those places in turn evoke. This is one of my favourite things about your writing. When I read you, I always feel like I'm inside the scene ❤️
I've been trying, and mostly failing, to get into that delicious slow summer spontaneity, but you have inspired me to try harder!
About the images, my thought was also: who has legs that long?! C'mon!
Thanks my lovely. I fell about laughing reading your note letting on what you were wearing (or not!) when you got on a call🤣🤣….your weather is a lot more difficult to work and relax in than we have here. So treat yourself gently.
And those A.I. images-absolutely bonkers. And turning the one woman around so she is facing the wrong way on the bicycle??!! Is that what “without woman” means in A.I. ? 🥺
The AI responses don’t bode well at all!
Thank you for the reminder to go gently. (And to wear clothes 😝) Here that summer adjustment is a lot more “serious”, adjust or be miserable!
Yep- Spain does summer seriously! Enjoy it as best you can...At least you are more of a night owl and can thrive after dark when the warmth fades somewhat...
That is true, I do love the night!
A blissful weekend it sounds Sabrina! I’m catching up on your lovely account now as we were away in the forest cabin camping last week and had little to no access to the electronic world, a gift in and of itself….on top of many🌲 🌲 and evening campfires to settle our minds!
Thank you for sharing with all of us.
As Jayne says, your words make me slow down, feel the sand and wind, and smell the salty air. I feel sand rubbing between my toes. But did I miss something about a G & T in there?
It’s a gift to be able to throw things aside during a regular weekend to act like you’re on vacation. It shouldn’t be that way! We should be so carefree and spontaneous a lot more often.
When we have those rare moments of “the heck with it, let’s go” I’m always much happier and more relaxed after whatever it was that we did. It could be so simple as deciding on the spur of the moment to pack up potato and tortilla chips and beer and head out fifty feet to bench in the plaza.
Here’s to many more summer days.
Thanks Andrea! You and I both plan so much in our lives that it is hard sometimes to leave open space for unplanned serendipity. But you are right: it is so worth it. If only to let space in for new thinking and weird connections to happen.
So glad to hear (elsewhere) that you survived your lengthy parched and aromatic hiking adventure. Jeeze. Maybe not the kind of unplanned adventure we were speaking about earlier!
You're a helpful reminder to leave that time open to unplan a bit. It's hard to do when there's so much we want to do!
Our adventure in Slovenia was not what he had in mind but it sure was a family bonding experience. My family members were such troopers and good sports!
Hi, Sabrina, "cross-Island bike path" conjured all sorts of wonderful images! What a wonderful weekend you described. Hooray for bicycles. 😁 "Listen to the repeating whish-and-whosh of the waves gliding into the sandy beach, whilst the calls and banter of people fade away and only the sounds of the breeze and sea surround you" transported me to Lake Michigan beaches of my Michigan life. You nailed it! There's nothing like those sounds rolled into one "beach" category. Ahhhh! Lovely! I always feel invited to travel with you, in your village, across the pond, wherever you describe, so warm and inviting. I always smile! The photos - the beaches, sky, garden, cafe - are gorgeous.
As for AI, I've never used it. However, your experience with it gave me a bright idea 💡 of drawing simple things simply, perhaps single-line drawings, or a brief sketch with a bit of watercolor wash, for people to use in their posts. Crazy maybe. But what a fun thing to create and offer, even if no one wanted to use one/any. Hmmmm. Thanks, Sabrina!
There's nothing like swimming that says "summer" to me. That inner quiet and the gentle noises of water are the best.
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for another great read, and for nudging my imagination. 😎
Ohhhh, I would love to have your wonderful images to accompany my posts! If only I can plan enough ahead to know what I might want. But, on the other hand, I might very well write my posts because I am inspired by your drawings! Keep that thought alive and tossing around. (And feel free to talk to me more about it if you want-I'm very keen and would love to share your clever illustrations with my words)
I was thinking of you absolutely as I was writing about getting back on the bicycle. I would dearly love to be more comfortable riding on the roads around here so I could do more cycling. The reason for splurging on an e-bike is that I don't drive in this country and I hope that having a bicycle will give me more freedom to get out besides walking and the bus (which is just fine for many things). So I'm still working on my confidence and slowly accumulating gear that makes riding more comfortable (and rain-proof!). Reading your posts each week inspires me!
I'm so happy to hear that the post recalled your fond memories of summers on Lake Michigan. We all seem to have some lovely childhood memories of time spent on beaches and water. The water does have such a calming effect, still. Thanks for your very kind comments!
You're welcome, and hooray, Sabrina! Drawing for posts could be such fun. Indeed, the thought remains alive as ideas dance through my head. :-)
Yippee for your bicycle and getting on and out there! Good gear can do wonders for one's confidence and options for errand running. My trunk bag and my waterproof jacket changed my riding life. Safety first, too. I'm going to add another headlamp and a rear blinking light to my existing ones, as I'm now riding in complete darkness in the mornings. I'm happy to inspire, too. :-)
Yes, water has a major calming effect. I haven't been swimming in months, and would also love to be on the shore somewhere. Ahhhh. Summertime!
Breathing, beaches and bliss...
As for AI, I've used Bing's free service and its very hit and miss. https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator
Such a lovely post.
Ah Prue, you live the life every day I described that I achieved on only one weekend! I am reminded by you to relish how wonderful life by the sea can be every single day. Thanks.
And appreciate the tip about Bing-I'll check it out.
Enjoy your week relaxing away...
I grew up going on vacations which seemed to have a purpose. It seemed so different than my childhood friends that would go to the beach, a cabin or some destination just to go there. It was disappointing so I won't go further. Other than I've "grown" out of that. Now, regarding bicycling. Yes, the best is the middle group, bottom right. What could go wrong. As an avid cyclist it is very evident that women are in the minority. Riding in groups can certainly turn into a "bro" thing to which I try to avoid. Some of the bike manufacturers carry a line for women with a frame geometry designed more for the woman's build. They are primarily of the mountain, and drop bar (road, gravel) styles. I do see the women's (no top tube) type bike in the style of a general old school balloon tire townie; like we all grew up riding. Now Branson alumni. Are you aware of Kate Courtney who is a Branson grad and competes professionally in mountain biking. She's a past World Champion several times over, National Champion as well and has now switched to road racing. Earlier this summer she won the National Womens Road Championship and then a stage in a "tour" event in Slovakia, Czech or someplace in that region. She's since been picked up by a pro team that supports both women's and men's at the elite level. Look for her to compete in the women's Grand Tours if she sticks with it. Just like with soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball(?) the popularity to attract women doesn't happen in the US unless the national team excels on the world stage. Maybe Kate can make that happen. In Europe, it's different, the women don't need examples to participate, they just do it.