Less than a month ago, all of August still stretched before us – long and golden and reassuring, like an endless period of delicious sleep.” ― Lauren Oliver
I am doing this update a bit differently… I am capturing a bit of a snapshot of the Summer of 2026. Summer has never been my favorite, but I confess… this summer has been simply fantastic. It certainly has raced past because I swear that yesterday June was just starting! Everything was fresh and pale green and the days were long and getting longer! And now most of the things are looking a bit worn outside. Tired. The days… well, they don’t feel quite the same as they did as June began. It is now dark when I rise in the morning.
I think a bit of a snapshot of exactly what this summer has brought would be a very good thing!
Reading —
It has been a good summer for reading but I will remember this summer for the rereads I have done.Ann Patchett’s Whistler, Douglas Stuart’s John of John, and E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web… I read all of these this summer and I highly recommend each of them! I have probably read Charlotte’s Web a couple of dozen times in my life… and each time I read it, the story never feels stale. My favorite way to “reconsume” Charlotte’s Web is with the audio version read by Mr. White himself. It is simply the best to listen to an author read their story. Perhaps that is why Whistler made my list… listening to Ann read this story certainly increased its “likability”… she is a most excellent narrator!
Watching and Making —
I absolutely felt the “post-fútbol” slump and really nothing was catching my interest until August when I circled back to revisit Vera… what a delight Brenda Blethyn is! Anyways, having Vera helped me push through the miles and miles of 2×2 ribbing in my Assigned Pooling shawl and I hope that momentum continues as I have brought out my long lingering Waffle Pullover. I have dreams (delusions??) of somehow finishing this by mid-September. With the amount of knitting to go, I think that is a truly a dream… my inner realist tells me end of September is more likely but a girl can dream!
It most certainly has been a summer of making! I knit two sweaters… but really, it was the summer of hand sewing! I finished three Alabama Chanin pieces and I could not be happier with them! I am happy with my wardrobe additions. And! I learned a few new things as I made a Komebukuro Bag in MDK’s Summer Camp class! And though the weaving class with Angela Tong was not specifically listed as “summer camp”… it felt very, very summer camp-like! I had so much fun! And I have two more “boards” to play with!
A bit of twill weave with some yarn left overs!
Planning —
In these waning days of summer, I confess my thoughts have turned to fall. As I said above, I really want to get my languishing Waffle Pullover out and finished! I also have not one, not two, but three vests I want to make. Oh, and for my “side project” I hope to be setting off on a Sea of Linen Stitch! PLUS!! Plus, I have several AC pieces I want to get stitched.
Meditating —
I have spent a good bit of time this season using these brilliant little meditations. Short, sweet, and exactly what I needed as this summer season unfolded. I plan on continuing using them through the coming fall as well! Though brief, I found the meditations timely… just enough to disengage from whatever upset was occurring (and there have been so many upsets this summer… sigh)
Poetry also was a big part of my meditation this season… I have loved dipping into A Nature Poem for Every Evening. Confession time… I mostly read them in the morning. That way I had the entire day to contemplate the poem. There were many I revisited throughout the day and the poems provided me with lots to think about! I believe that summer days are improved with poetry… and I will be visiting this book again! I also spent some time with Angela Harding’s little book, Summer’s Hum. It pairs her thoughts with her artwork… a lovely combination! But my best find of all was Ted Kooser’s Local Wonders! It arrived mid-August… but the little essays were easy reads and I am ready for the meteorological start of fall on September 1st!
Observing —
What a month for observing August has been!
- The hummingbirds really hit their stride as August arrives. They are feisty little birds and are quite territorial about feeders! Woe to the errant hummer that flits in for a sip or two… the dominant female guards her territory well!
- The butterfly bush was absolutely massive this year and loaded with blooms… and it was equally loaded with visitors! So many monarch butterflies… one morning I counted 14 on the bush at one time!
- There have also been so many swallowtails, fritillaries, and bees… so many bees! And this month, the return of hummingbird moths!
- There was a missing visitor this year that really has made me very sad… I did not see a single firefly once this summer.
- It was also a summer of rain… so much rain. Since June, the South Hills of Pittsburgh has gotten over 13 inches of rain! (Which means the mosquitoes are also abundant… sigh) Since I moved here 13 years ago, this is the first August that the grass in our yard is still green and growing! But it makes me happy knowing that the trees are getting “caught up” from the dry summers of previous years.
- This is the first year that the little tri-color beech tree in my backyard has lost its “sapling” look! And it grew so much over the summer… it is now at least 4′ taller than me!
- The final big change I noted this month was the changing light… it is almost time for me to get my headlamp out for the early morning walk Frankie and I take. Sigh. The shadows are lengthening and a few recent mornings just smell like “fall”.
And there you have it… summer 2026… my best summer in a very long time!
What about you? Do you have any summer highlights? I’d love to read about them!
Header photo by Joran Quinten on Unsplash
It sounds (reads) as though this summer was quite a good one for you Kat! I love reading about your upcoming sewing plans and I’m amazed at how many of the MDK classes you have taken! I’ve definitely noticed the change in light. I don’t really mind it (and I love having candles lit at dinner time), but yes it is dark when I get up in the morning now. You’ve reminded me, too, that I have not noticed fireflies. Colin has seen them and it may be that I just am not outside when it gets dark (hello mosquitoes). Thanks for the Seasonal Meditations link – that looks fabulous!
This is a really lovely late summer post, Kat! I really enjoyed seeing your AC projects this summer, just like I will look forward to future ones and your future cast-ons. I love hearing about your butterfly bush literally covered with butterflies. It’s been a pleasure to hear about the re-reads and how much enjoyment they have added. We’ve got a warm and humid week ahead, but I’m still knitting dish towels, looking forward to when I can stitch the badger on Justin’s hat when the first real crisp fall weather happens.
The real highlight of summer for me has always been the long days. I love being up early and seeing that it’s light outside (and similarly it’s a bit sad for me now that I need a flashlight for Ruthie’s first potty break of the day). I did see a couple of fireflies very early in the summer, but like you, I’ve been disappointed not to see more of them. But I saw hummingbirds in my backyard for the first time ever this year!
Absolutely love your post and I followed the link to your mediations and promptly signed up after listening to number 30- so apt as it has started to rain here again after an exceptionally dry and glorious summer. I need to go into the woods now to find the breaking down of nature this Autumn. Love the weaving!
I am so glad you had a most excellent summer filled with things to savor. I surely enjoyed reading about your making and reading. The next time I’m looking for an audiobook, I think I’ll try to find Mr. White reading Charlotte’s Web. We had fireflies here early in the summer. I wonder if all the rain your area experienced affected the population? I have no idea.. The highlights of my summer included observing all the bright colors of fruits, veggies, and flowers. Watermelon from produce stands was delicious. I enjoyed continuing with some slow stitching projects. And neither one of us had any surgery from which to recover.
Summer is my favorite, as you know, and I’m always a little sad to see it go. Camping and Pergola Thursdays, swimming and paddle boarding, long nights on the deck with Dale listening to music, coffee and reading on the deck in the morning. I will miss it all. There are things I love about fall, though, and this transition time is sort of lovely because we get both.
It sounds like you made the BEST of summer in every possible way, Kat! I hope this “seasonal momentum” takes you right into fall with new seasonal delights. XO
I devoured this post, Kat, and found myself responding to you out loud as I read! This word is delivering such abundance. I think of all the people I know who’ve chosen the word PRESENT over the years…so much of SEASONS sounds like a lesson in presence, to me.
I’ve seen more monarchs this summer than I have since I was a kid (hope I’m not naive in my bit of relief there?). I’m surprised to learn how wet your summer has been, because ours has felt notably drier than usual.(But when we DO get rain, it’s heavy downpours.) I’m happy to report that my reforesting plot has been full of fireflies this year. (My mentor tells me it’s thanks to my leaf litter.)
Your weaving sample, gorgeous. What a making season you’ve had! Thank you for taking us along.
Here’s to the season’s transition.
such a lovely summer recap! Our butterfly bushes have done really well, and what is best is that the deer do not eat them. I have enjoyed watching you make sweaters and of course the sewing projects. Like you I’m thinking of fall and have been mulling about what I want to make for myself that has LONG sleeves and wool. Also I’ve been researching what I want to knit for Christmas ornaments this year. It’s been fun planning.