When I was young in the country the summers were for playing outside. Wake up time was as soon as the sun decided to rise into the sky. Getting dressed involved putting on a swimsuit and a pair of flip-flops.
Handfuls of blackberries from the bushes separating the yard from the woods made a delicious after breakfast snack. They always left behind purple tinted fingers for the rest of the day and the thorns usually added another scratch or two to already battered looking arms and legs. Cartwheels to music in the backyard filled my mornings with Olympic gymnastics daydreams.
The sunshine was my playmate. When it was out so was I. Watermelon juice would trickle down my face as I sat happily on the porch, watching butterflies flutter about on the grass. Finding toads, salamanders, or snakes was always exciting. Dandelions made beautiful jewellery for the afternoon circus performances on the trapeze bar and swing.
Fresh green beans and peas in the pod picked from the garden satisfied a rumbling tummy until the barbeque was fired up for dinner. Corn silk provided hair to the husk family of dolls quickly made and just as quickly forgotten. Strawberry shortcake was a welcomed treat.
A dip in the pool washed away all the heat from the day. Prune like fingers and purple lips made for telltale signs it was time for me to get out.
When the fireflies made their appearance, it was time to go in. If I was lucky, I might just get to catch one or two first. If I was extra lucky, a bonfire would be made and marshmallows could be toasted until they turned black. I loved the way they hissed when they touched my tongue. Their sticky warmth tasted divine.
An old t-shirt and pair of underwear were all the pyjamas that were needed. The peepers outside made for a seasonal lullaby. Deep sleep came so easy in those days.
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Evelyn over at Filling a Hole has encourage me to participate in the Buddha Rocks Project this week. Each day I will use a different photo as inspiration for my posts chosen from the vast library by Eric Alder located at Bubba’s Place Deviant Art Gallery – Buddha Rocks.
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Into the Sun 
Oh to be young again!
What a great piece of writing Billie Jo.
I could see, smell and taste the whole scene.
Thanks for a great read.
Glad this pleased the senses. My memories are so sensory based that as soon as I saw the picture all of this came flooding through.
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What economy in this piece! In very few words you painted a picture that took me right back to childhood summers. Just beautiful.
We are the lucky ones to have experienced summers like these. I am going to sound old right now but here goes anyway – most kids these days do not have a summer like this. Even my own lead such a different type of summer than I did.
Delightful story, Billy Jo! Sounds like my pic stirred up some good memories for you. 🙂
Brilliant memories! Thank you for that!
Such a beautiful mix of memories!
Thank you!
This is really lovely Billie Jo. Brings back memories.
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I have a freezer full of berries…this last summer made good. Loved, Robin
Mmm, where I live now is more urban than where I grew up and there are no fresh berries in my garden.
This sucked me right in…
Loved IT!
Thank you Evelyn!
What a wonderful way to fall back into childhood memories. I felt, tasted, heard, saw and smelled everything as if it was happening right now. The only difference — we had wild strawberries, raspberries and blueberry bushes but alas, no blackberries. We had to get those at the summer farm stand 😉
We had to buy our blueberries from the lady down the road. 🙂 I loved growing up the way I did it was so free.