Here we are in the middle of Summer in Muskoka. So beautiful. Although I feel like I'm not really enjoying it like I should. First of all, I have air conditioning in my house, which is nice don't get me wrong, but I feel like it's such a cop-out. If it's too hot I just go inside and turn on the air. I often don't even realise when people complain about the heat because I can easily escape it. I can't believe I'm saying this but I miss those days when it was so hot and you had to try every trick in the book just to keep cool. When I was a kid we used to eat dinner in the basement, fill the bath tub with cool water and turn a fan on to push that cool air into the house. Or what happened to running through sprinklers, picnics at the beach and sitting under a tree and reading... I sometimes even wear a sweater at work because the air is on too cold. It's ridiculous. And yet, I turn on the air..Also, I've been making a point of sleeping at night with our window open (and the air off of course) so that I can see the stars. I've realised that I used to always see the stars because I was out late with my friends at a bon fire or cottage dock etc. Now that I have a baby, I'm home after dark with nothing to do but watch TV or go to sleep. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my family but I miss those things..so instead I'll gaze at the stars through my bedroom window and water the flowers while the baby naps. It's those things that 'Summer in Muskoka' is all about. And I heard some great advice the other day which was in regards to my upcomming Wedding but I think it applies to life in general; Take a moment. Look up. Smell the season. See everything around you, and take a breath. It all goes by so fast and you're left wondering where it all went. At least if you can recall the smell, and visualize the day(s) you'll be able to reflect on the moment forever.