Every summer, I make a little list, a page in my notebook or a thought I scribble on the back of a grocery receipt. It’s not about getting things done, it’s more about slowing down, tuning in, and letting the season unfold in small, meaningful ways.

Here’s what I’m hoping to tend to this summer:

Tidy the garden beds

The mint has completely taken over again, and the tomatoes need a bit more breathing room. I kind of love the chaos of it all, but I know I’ll feel better once I’ve gently cleared some space.

Hang a clothesline

This one has been on my list for a while. I keep imagining cotton sheets swaying in the breeze, the way they catch the scent of sun and wind. Hopefully I’ll get to string one up between the two trees near the porch.

Make herbal bundles for drying

The chamomile, calendula, and lemon balm are ready. I want to gather them into little bunches and hang them upside down in the kitchen to dry. Even if I don’t use them all, just seeing them makes me happy.

Collect herbs to make a sun tea blend

Something about placing a jar in the sun and letting the day brew the tea feels magical. I’m thinking lemon verbena, mint, maybe some dried rose if I have any left.

Bake something with berries

Maybe a galette or a batch of those soft berry cakes I’ve been dreaming about. I love how the whole house smells like summer when something fruity is in the oven.

Go barefoot more

Just down the garden path or while watering the herbs in the early evening. It reminds me that I don’t have to rush. That I’m allowed to just be.

Take pictures of the everyday

Not just the pretty things, though I love those too, but the real stuff: flour on the counter, books piled up, the way the light hits the table in the late afternoon. I want to remember how this season feels.

This list isn’t about checking boxes, it’s just a way to hold space for all the little joys I want to notice while the days are long and soft and golden.

What’s on your summer list this year?