I remember paging through this Ikea design book in the store and coming to a certain page and thinking, “I am going to buy this book, but what I really want is to sit at that table”.

It was a page where furniture was moved right in front of the surf, setting up a sort of home in front of the sea. I couldn’t help but think that I want to do that…be close enough to the ocean to where I can move my couch to sit in the sand and watch as the tide comes in. Or goes out.

I think it was this picture that got me.

To buy this book.

Well, I am not close enough to the ocean these days to watch the tide change on my couch.  But summer is unfolding in some other sweet ways and I wanted to share them. They are wonderful. And book worthy in their own way.

Harvesting the last lettuce greens for the first course of a magical garden dinner party. And then picking fresh hydrangeas for the table.

Putting my favorite wedges aside to golf in bare feet. I loved the grass under my toes. I did not miss golf shoes one bit.

Finding a baby frog on the golf course…

And my very first glimpse of the ocean this season, so amazing that no furniture was needed. I took this picture and I think it is perfect.

So bring summer on. I am ready. For it all.  Couch or no couch.

I love those pictures in the Ikea book where everything is perfect.  I loved it enough to buy it.

But my life is messy. It is filled with paint splatters, found objects and materials with  sharp edges that need a little love.  And people that I love who love me back even when I have paint in my hair. And on my clothes. And on my hands.

My life is not staged perfectly and that is perfectly okay with me.

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