Summertime Sadness

July 06, 2024 2 Comments

“What are you even doing with your summer?” Every year around this time, this is the thought that runs through my head. Summer is so fresh and new, the weather still tentative (as if that changes). Everything’s lush, the air heavy with the scent of late blooming lilacs, peonies, fresh cut grass. The giddiness of that first drink on a patio, hanging baskets overflowing, summer is at its finest. The possibility of what lies ahead is overwhelming. Completely overwhelming. Because I am not a summer person. I love the great indoors and summer is a season notorious for the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits. The result? A certain kind of summertime sadness that can only be born of the concern not that summer is passing too quickly, but too slowly.

And listen, I really do like certain aspects of Summer. The aforementioned scents and patio drinks, cool green mornings, bonfires. It’s not like I don’t try. Every year I check in with myself to see if this is the year I might want to try camping. It never is. Heading out to tube down a body of water? I am booked and busy. Laying in the midday heat to work on your tan? See you at the dermatologist, because I’ll be there despite the fact I haven’t caught sun in almost 10 years.

Plainly put, I am not meant for summer. I took that DNA test, turns out I’m (yes, 100% that bitch, but also) 86% Scottish, Irish and English with a shout out to Sweden, Denmark, and Norway contributing a solid 14%. I was built for the moors. I’m a rainy day gal. And dare I say it? I love a snowstorm. If there’s a chill in the air, I’m there. It’s literally in my DNA. Bad weather is a relief, with none of the guilt I feel sitting inside on a gloriously sunny day, curled up in my sweatshirt and full pants, contemplating use of the fireplace to take the edge off the chill of the AC.

But I’ve decided that this summer will be different (foreshadowing). I’ve vowed to find a way to not just survive but thrive. I’m having an Indoorsy Girl Summer. It will involve movies known for their interiors, a menu of summer delights, delectable summer reads, and optional outdoor enclosure time between the hours of 9-11am and 6-12am. Keep your midday heat, it’s not welcome here. Would you care to join me? I’ve made a schedule. For every week of July and August, we’ll have a movie, and a book. Ok, we won’t do a book every week, that might be indooring a little too close to the sun (ha), even for me. How about one book for July and one for August? A summer romance and a caper. For the movies, I’ve scheduled one a week to be watched at your leisure. We’ll chat about the movies the following Tuesday.

Indoorsy Girl Summer

July Book of the Month

This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune (foreshadowing!)

I love Carley’s books because they are quintessentially Canadian summer romance books. This Summer Will Be Different is set on P.E.I. (red cliffs, oysters, and Anne of Green Gables) and follows Felix and Lucy over several summers as they try to abide by their self-imposed rules of engagement. Carley has written three books and I highly recommend her first, Every Summer After, and second, Meet Me at the Lake, as well.

P.S. This book is best read with a glass of crisp vinho verde, Lucy’s drink of choice.

July Movies

July 8th

The Grand Budapest Hotel- Starting strong with Wes Anderson who has arguably one of the most distinct visual styles in cinema. Set designer Adam Stockhausen won an Academy Award for his work on the film.

July 15th

Father of the Bride- One of the all-time greatest movie houses, period. Nancy Myers, of course.

July 22^nd

Marie Antoinette- British Vogue calls Sofia Coppola’s film “Historic, extreme, and heavenly chic”. Parts were shot on location at The Palace of Versailles. The queen’s bedroom was the most expensive set to re-create and featured detailed reproductions of her bed and wall fabrics, costing more than $500,000.

July 29th

Mystic Pizza- Not at all know for the interiors, I’ve just been wanting to re-watch it. Julia Roberts in her breakout role.

August Book of the Month

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osmon

Quite possibly one of the most delightful books I’ve read and the first in a four-book series. Four friends in their 70’s, a retirement home, and a murder. Forget the true crime podcasts and Netflix documentaries and acquaint yourself with The Thursday Murder Club.

August Movies

August 5^th

North by Northwest- Hitchcock wanted his film “to show the trappings of wealth, power and prestige”. North by Northwest is also the film considered responsible for establishing modern architecture as the “successful villain style of choice”, an influence which can be seen in movies from James Bond to Austin Powers.

August 12^th

The Great Gadsby- It’s a Baz Luhrmann film, of course it’s going to be lavish with a capital L, but it will also be cinematic, energetic, and fun.  See also Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and Elvis.

August 19^th

Amélie- Charming, stylish, French. Shot in more than 80 locations around Paris. No, you should not get bangs.

August 25^th

It’s Complicated- You know I had to finish strong with the kitchen that launched a thousand Pinterest boards. Do you think Nancy Meyers knew that 15 years after it’s release, we’d still be pining over Jane’s kitchen while simultaneously wondering what her new one might look like?

Ok, that’s it! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on both the books and the movies. And welcome to the great indoors, it’s cool here.

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