My friend, Mary-Ann, wrote in her blog about Bernese Mountain Dogs and life, about The Looks of Summer. Mary-Ann teaches in Montana. She teaches people and dogs.

She explains that in summer, “the rhythm changes.”

Since reading her post in mid-June, that is how I explain myself to those who ask, “What do you do all day?”

“The same things I always do, but with a different rhythm,” is my response.

Summer Julie does not set an alarm. The dogs and I still wake up when the sun rises and the birds start to talk, but we don’t leap out of bed. Instead, we saunter down the stairs, go outside and then I chirp, “Okay, let’s go back to bed.”

Everyone trots back upstairs, eyes close, and we nap.  Sometimes, we don’t get out of bed until 9:30. Even though we’re wide awake, we are snuggling.

Then, instead of pouring food in bowls while I drink coffee, I sip Turmeric tea and make eggs for the dogs.

We can take a leisure stroll to the open space. Houston and Booker chase tennis balls, Gus runs and rolls in the grass, and Faith finds a shady spot where we can snuggle.

There’s less laundry.

When I find the dogs under the ceiling fan in the middle of the day, I can stop to cuddle.

I can schedule a 2-hour massage at 10:00 am followed by a facial.

I can drink in the neighbor’s driveway at noon.

Ideas for lessons pop up on my Facebook feed. I save images for my Canvas page. I respond to messages from children about acceptable community service hours. But, it is at a different pace.

I love dancing to this slow rhythm.