Keeping With The Times

living, learning, and keeping with the times

  • Home
  • About
  • Site Information
  • Privacy Policy

30 Ideas to Make June Magical

June 15, 2016 by Barb 18 Comments

Coming up with 30 ideas to make June magical may seem like a lot, especially since it’s already the middle of the month, but trust me, there’s still time to dream!make june magical, dream, barb brookbank, keeping with the times, bella grace magazineI live on a small lake in the middle of the beautiful boreal forests of Central Alberta, Canada, and I draw inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds me. As I type this post I’m listening to loons, geese, crows, and robins as they begin their day. It’s a regular cacophony!

It’s also pouring rain (again) for which I am always thankful! When you hear me say I’ve had enough rain, it will be time to get on the Ark ;)

For the last few years, I’ve primarily been a still life photographer, but there’s this other side of me that swoons over the dreamy, the impromptu, the unexpected.

Artful images that make my heart skip a beat when the light hits a subject a certain way, and reveals the magic in a seemingly ordinary moment.make june magical, dream, barb brookbank, keeping with the times, bella grace magazine… or leads my eyes (and my thoughts) into the distance …
make june magical, dream, barb brookbank, keeping with the times, bella grace magazine

One of the things I want to see this month is fireflies flitting through the aspens. Little sparkles that, when you first see them, defy comprehension. The first time I saw these little miracles, I was incredulous. I stared into the darkness and laughed and pointed in amazement until I realized how many there were, then I fell silent and simply watched. And I want to see them again.

So here’s my list of ideas to make my June magical:

30 Ideas to Make June Magical

  1. Watch fireflies on a warm evening.
  2. Wear comfortable clothes that flatter and flow (maybe even a skirt)!
  3. Explore the beautiful countryside where I live.
  4. Photograph it’s beauty.
  5. Spend an afternoon on a blanket spread out on the lawn, with only a stack of magazines and a cup of tea to keep me company.
  6. Find a great used book store.
  7. Take photos of fences, and barns, and cows.
  8. Visit the Devonian Botanical Gardens. It’s a half hour drive from my home and I haven’t visited in years and years.
  9. Spend as much time as I can in my garden. Maybe even stay out until dusk, coming inside just in time for a soak in the tub, and then to bed.
  10. Photograph my garden in creative ways.
  11. Have a campfire. Roast marshmallows.
  12. Pick and arrange tiny bouquets from my back yard and garden.
  13. Press flowers.
  14. Snip a few peonies before they open and place them in a bag in the fridge to be brought out and enjoyed a few weeks later.
  15. Use fresh herbs in all my cooking (I have tons of them growing in pots on my deck).
  16. Eat extra fresh fruits and veggies.
  17. Try a new recipe from one of my many beautiful cookbooks.
  18.  Sit on the dock early in the morning with a hot coffee and muffin (and maybe my hubby ;)
  19. Take a slow boat ride around the lake, again with hot coffee and a muffin, and definitely hubby!
  20. Say “no” to extra commitments.
  21. Go to the local town garage sale (this weekend – woot)!
  22. Keep my home clean and clutter-free (now that’s a dream).
  23. Sit at the kitchen table one afternoon with tea and a beautiful magazine. Watch the leaves on the aspens shiver in a light breeze.
  24. Have a pedicure.
  25. Get a haircut.
  26. Dream about a few classes I want to take this fall. Actual “in-person” classes. Maybe even book one or two.
  27. Sleep in as much as I can. I’m such an early riser, so a lazy morning is truly special.
  28. Have the occasional glass of wine … preferably red.
  29. Eat dinner outside.
  30. Put up patio lights.

I invite you to make a list of 30 things you want to experience this June. They don’t have to be big, earth shattering moments … keep it simple, and think magical.

Imagine … if you dream of 30 things, and 15 or even 10 come true … what will that feel like when the calendar turns to July? Pretty fabulous I’m betting!

*This post was inspired by my Bella Grace Instagram takeover earlier this month.

Filed Under: LIFE Tagged With: dreams, flower, flowers, lists, still life

Comments

  1. Beverly says

    June 15, 2016 at 8:28 am

    Barb, I think I would extend this wish list through the summer, three full months of these dreams I could really use. I adore outdoor living…on a blanket, sitting at a cute cafe table in the back yard (I need to set mine up out there)…quiet, slow living is what I love about summer. Love your photography, your list of magic…just perfect! You do inspire!

    Reply
    • Barb says

      June 15, 2016 at 9:31 am

      Thank you Beverly! Yes – let’s not rush it!

      Reply
  2. Henrietta says

    June 15, 2016 at 11:41 am

    The location specific wishes aside, the lake and fire flies, I could certainly dream of all of these, if it ever stops rainning here, near Paris. In fact, l’m very lucky as I do many of these things very often. It helps to have grown up children and no paying job though 😄🌸💕

    Reply
    • Barb says

      June 15, 2016 at 8:15 pm

      Hi Henrietta! Oh, yes of course! it does help that I’m “retired” ;)

      Reply
  3. Karen Sue says

    June 15, 2016 at 2:13 pm

    Thank you for the inspiration! I may copy a few…

    Reply
    • Barb says

      June 15, 2016 at 8:16 pm

      Thank you for stopping by Karen Sue!

      Reply
  4. Deanna says

    June 15, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    This was a great post. I love all of your June ideas. I have already put in practice several on your list, but like you a clutter free home is but a dream.

    Reply
    • Barb says

      June 15, 2016 at 8:16 pm

      Thank you Deanna!

      Reply
  5. Caz says

    June 15, 2016 at 7:03 pm

    Love your ideas Barb ! I love seeing the fireflies too, and couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw them. So magical ! Love your photo of the colorful flowers along the fence !

    Reply
    • Barb says

      June 15, 2016 at 8:18 pm

      Thank you Caz! So sad, the people don’t plant poppies along that fence anymore :(

      Reply
  6. Mary says

    June 16, 2016 at 3:58 am

    What a lovely list, Barb! Summer is magical…if we just take a moment to slow down and see it!

    Reply
  7. Lisa says

    June 16, 2016 at 10:08 am

    Hi Barb, I love the images. Your are an inspiration and your IG is just stunning. Wow.

    I didnt know we had fireflies in Alberta . I will sure look.

    Have a beautiful day

    Reply
  8. Michelle B says

    June 17, 2016 at 6:22 am

    The light is beautiful in your lake image. Since my daughter was little (she is now 15 and just humors me) I have called the sparkles of light that shine on the water ‘fairy dust’. It looks magical. :) Your list is wonderful and I am going to steal a few ideas. :) I did put up lights on my screened-in-porch this year for the first time, it makes the space a little more special. Good luck with your list, I am sure you have a few crossed off already.

    Reply
  9. EmCi says

    June 19, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    Beautiful photos and wonderful inspiring list.
    Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Eileen S. says

    June 19, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Wonderful post Barb! I’m going to make a list in my journal for the rest of June and maybe the rest of the summer. Summer is so special and I have a lot of new wonders to check out in my new location in North Carolina. As always, your photos are just amazing and inspire me always.

    Reply
  11. Ann David says

    June 23, 2016 at 3:56 pm

    Thank you Barb for this beautiful post.
    I thought I better read it before it was July.

    Ann

    Reply
  12. biti says

    July 5, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Hi Barb,

    I love your ideas but got a late start for June. So I am continuing on into July.
    Thanks for the inspiration. :)

    http://www.pret-a-vivre.com/2016/07/30-plus-1-ideas-to-make-july-magical.html

    Please join us if you have time.
    Have a great week,
    BiTi & Em Ci

    Reply
  13. Celine Worotniak says

    June 17, 2017 at 8:23 am

    Sounds like a fabulous June. I can’t believe it’s the last half of the month. For me it hasn’t felt like summer is even approaching yet. Time is just going by too quickly. It makes me sad in a way. There is so much to enjoy, explore and learn. I feel like I’m running out of time. Do you ever feel that way?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

Categories

Archives

Copyright 2020 * Keeping with the Times * All rights reserved.