As George Gershwin wrote, and Ella Fitzgerald and my personal fave, Sublime, sung…it’s

Summertime, and the livin is easy.

Great song. Kinda makes me wonder if Georgie G.had any kids though. Hmmmm.

Anyways, welcome to our summer garden/summer house tour. *This post contains affiliate links. Please read our full disclosure policy HERE.* This is our place. Actually, it’s our old place. A 1950’s cape, with a front porch. And a swing. A swing where, in my fantasy summer life, I would sit and while away the hours, sipping lemonade and reading House Beautiful magazine. Wouldn’t that just be a dandy? Sure would. Trouble is, that idyllic little slice of heaven is a farce. Do you know why that picture looks so serene?

There’s no people up in there.

And by people, I really mean the pint-sized peoples. The Offspring. Bless their little hearts. Do you know that saying about spring? Comes in like a lion….well, that’s how this Mom feels about summer. Only the reverse. June finally comes and summer has arrived. Mommy’s a happy sheep. My sweet little lambs have come home. And June Mommy has made big summer plans.

If you want the quicker, less wordy video version of the tour, here is your chance to escape…

In June…

We go crabbing.

Go to the beach.

Did you just see that?

We take time to stop and smell the flowers.

We even try to grow some flowers. And herbs.

We take day trips to the coast.

We do the boardwalk.

Take in all the nearby sites, like Mount Vernon.

Talk about gardens! I’ll show you good ‘ol G. Washington’s instead of mine. His are MUCH more impressive…

We act like tourists in our own town.

And hang with some locals, like TJ here.

July rolls in…

Mama sheep’s getting a tad tired, so we end up chillin’ on the home front. Although here in Maryland, it’s more like sweltering on the home front. After being inspired at Mount Vernon, we test out our own green thumb. And check it! LOOK at this squash! (That is squash, right? I don’t really do details.)

We didn’t grow our own lemons, but we make lemonade…from powder. Still counts.

We spend lots of time on the deck. And decorate both our outdoor and indoor living spaces with whatever happens to be growing at the moment. Like black-eyed-susans (our state flower here in Maryland)…

Gladiolas (which my husband loves because his grandparents grew them on their farm)…

Peonies. My favorite. (Really, this was from the spring, but I couldn’t resist putting in a shot of my fave flower…on my favorite sink ever).

In July, we spend time lounging or attempting to lounge. Me, on the deck…

The kids, down at our DIY treehouse…

The treehouse is a work in progress…we’ve got Swiss Family Robinson dreams here. Minus the whole shipwreck thing.

Finishing it was part of the summer itinerary, but (yawn) my energy is dwindling, people

And here comes August.

By the time old August decides to join the summer soiree, this once lamb-like Mommy has now become a raging lion, and I’m ready to SHUT THIS PARTY DOWN. Mama lion is about to go Ape-s#$%. Suddenly, I want to flush all those unaccomplished summer pipedreams, and I get the sudden urge to shop. For school supplies. Here to illustrate Mommy’s summer meltdown progression (or regression, as is frankly more appropriate) is our very own, Sweet Cheeks.

Mommy’s Summer Regression (Meltdown) in Pictures

And there you have it, friends. Mommy needs a drink, so let’s end with a big farm-style country “Cheers”…as we clink mason jars.

And just a few more images that will make it continue to falsely appear like summer is relaxed, relaxing, and really really awesome round here.

There certainly is joy to be found in delusional thinking. True story.

But that said, pristine can be pretty boring. And quiet can be well, too quiet.

What’s life without a little dirt and chaos, right? 

Stick with it summer Mommies! Power through summer Daddies! There are some tough weeks ahead, but once they are in the rearview, we will always remember how wonderful these summers were. A couple of inspirational hashtags for you guys. Because I’m all millennial hipster and everything (eyes rolling, fingers crossing, mouth smirking)

#PowerToTheParents #StickOutTheSummer #WeCanDoHardThings

And for now, let there be s’mores.