Lesson for all seasons: take time to enjoy the view (Mt. Rainier from Vashon Island).
Every season holds class for those who wish to attend, the hours in the day become pragmatic little teachers of simple truths and homegrown examples. This summer I tried to be a good student, and pay attention in class. Here’s a sampling of the lessons learned from my soulful sage and friend, summer.
The Lessons of Summer
1. Good eggs come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
2. Morning can be glorious.
3. Naps are restorative (and a to-do list activity).
4. One man’s runny jam is another man’s dessert topping.
5. Just because something is cheap, doesn’t make it a bargain.
6. The best dining rooms don’t always require walls, neckties or reservations.
7. Proven and true: the lawn will not mow itself.
8. Sometimes a sweet ride doesn’t involve four wheels.
9. Some cakes are almost as good as most pies.
10. And finally, never hug a man who has a fig in his pocket.
32 responses so far ↓
1 Sue // Sep 13, 2011 at 10:28 am
The views-spectacular, the lawn-well, highly over rated in my opinion. Lovely photos. I think you have a perfect life!
2 Donna B. // Sep 13, 2011 at 11:39 am
I agree wholeheartedly with #3; I nap quite often with my pups. ♥
But whilst I was reading your Tom-a-gram, I got to #10? Snorted so loud my co-workers thought I was insane. But I am, so it’s all good…
3 Karen // Sep 13, 2011 at 12:28 pm
All good lessons, indeed
4 Sustainable Eats // Sep 13, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Oh my! I’ve done that many times with eggs in my pockets but never figs. I’m not sure which I would prefer. What a marvelous post – heart you!
5 Sustainable Eats // Sep 13, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Your captcha made me do math! That’s just mean.
6 miffy // Sep 14, 2011 at 3:00 am
Simple truths…you see life’s most honest moments of pure bliss! Love and miss you my dear.
xoxo
7 sare // Sep 14, 2011 at 5:04 am
Hi, I’m sare from Türkiye. I have been living in Adana since Last summer. I found your beautiful site on Taste on Beirut’s comment part.
You have very beautiful picture and recipes. I did your carrot salat, İt was perfect.
8 tasteofbeirut // Sep 14, 2011 at 5:14 am
Loved this post! Truly perfect words of wisdom, summer or not, and superb pics to illustrate them.
9 Ina Gawne // Sep 14, 2011 at 6:11 am
Great photos Tom! Good lessons too….love the last photo…but why did you have a fig in your pocket?
10 brion // Sep 14, 2011 at 6:21 am
sometimes you can see a lot by just observing…the wisdom of Yogi Berra
many do not take the time to look, you are a wise and patient man Thomas
11 Tom // Sep 14, 2011 at 7:31 am
Thanks everyone for the kind words!
And Ina, I had picked a fig from one of my trees and dropped it in my pocket to eat later at lunch. Lesson learned.
12 June // Sep 14, 2011 at 7:33 am
Lovely post, beautiful photos and of course, you’ve made me laugh once again. Thanks Tom.
13 Rick // Sep 14, 2011 at 8:09 am
Hi Tom,
I’ve been procrastinating–checking out your posts instead of tackling my pile of mail and email. I think eggbeaters would make good Christmas gifts. Do you want a job as a cook on a sailboat next summer? The hours are long, but the pay is minimal…….
14 Tom // Sep 14, 2011 at 9:09 am
Rick that is quite an offer, sailing the Inside Passage. Maybe, if you promise no rough seas…
15 Bridget Ballatore // Sep 14, 2011 at 9:18 am
Awesome.
16 renae // Sep 14, 2011 at 9:20 am
Love it! And I need an egg beater. I will pay you $2.
Also, perhaps you can change #7 to the lawn that is not mown might become ornamental grass.
17 Tom // Sep 14, 2011 at 9:24 am
renae, or perhaps, he who fails to mow the grass will wake up one day to a meadow.
18 Roberta // Sep 14, 2011 at 10:43 am
Oh Tom,
)
Once again you have a beautiful and insightful post.
You are very spot on ,Grasshopper! And once again I will say how fortunate you are to live on Vashon Island!! I am waiting for your ‘Best selling
book’ to be written as soon as you write it along with everyone else. Also I love your “bluebird of happiness plate!
19 Shirley @ gfe // Sep 14, 2011 at 11:42 am
I loved every one of these, but perhaps the morning glory photos, pic of the pups, and the fig shot (exposed!) are the best. Thanks, Tom!
Shirley
20 Tamara // Sep 14, 2011 at 5:53 pm
One would think that a shirt pocket would be a safe bet for a ripe fig. Next time consider the hug factor and fill your pockets-beats using the food processor and a whole lot more fun!
21 Dianne // Sep 14, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Ah, Tom…you are wise beyond your years! I especially liked the one about taking naps…
22 Eileen // Sep 15, 2011 at 4:27 am
How true…
each and every one of them.
23 Scott // Sep 16, 2011 at 9:35 am
As always, great post…regarding the lawn…the un-watered lawn seldom needs mowing
24 Scott // Sep 16, 2011 at 10:00 am
OMG…I just realized somehow you fell off my blog reel (Blogger strikes again)…haven’t seen the last several posts…eek! Added you back on…whew!
25 Linda // Sep 16, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Summer at Tall Clover Farm is a little slice of heaven. I enjoy every minute.
26 Mark // Sep 16, 2011 at 7:43 pm
You made my day, Tom. Especially #10
27 weirdcombos // Sep 17, 2011 at 9:53 am
Hi Tom,
What a wise way to celebrate the end of a Season!
Good eggs come in different shapes and sizes indeed, and in many equally beautiful colors!
Hegs
28 Devaki @ weavethousandflavors // Sep 17, 2011 at 7:14 pm
And of course you prove that wisdom comes from unlikeliest of places and can be a wonderful surprise.
So glad to have stumbled upon your blog. You brought a smile to my face. For this I thank thee.
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
PS – Love the list. All of it.
29 Tom // Sep 18, 2011 at 7:37 am
Hegs, you are so right, and thanks to your keen observation on Lesson 1, about many ‘equally beautiful colors” I added that to the post–too good a lesson not to share! Thank you kind sir.
30 Patrick's Garden // Sep 20, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Sounds like you learned a lot this summer. And to top it all off, the fig in the pocket was pretty funny.
31 A Couple More Lessons From Summer // Oct 1, 2011 at 10:03 am
[...] October 1st, 2011 · No Comments #leftcontainerBox { float:left; position: fixed; top: 60%; left: 70px; } #leftcontainerBox .buttons { float:left; clear:both; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px; padding-bottom:2px; } #bottomcontainerBox { height: 30px; width:50%; padding-top:1px; } #bottomcontainerBox .buttons { float:left; height: 30px; margin:4px 4px 4px 4px; } A followup to my post: 10 Things I Learned This Summer [...]
32 Cindy Rose // Oct 7, 2011 at 9:23 am
I had to laugh at the fig in the pocket! And my outdoor cafe is The Rose Cafe. Love you blog and am a new follower!
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