Don’t get bent out of shape. (Caring for your summer hat.)

I have a weakness when it comes to hats. Which means, I have a storage problem. Currently, they’re stacked in piles, with ones that no longer suit me acting like a stand at the base. This actually works pretty well, but I’m always interested in ways to better care for hats.

Here are some tips for keeping your straw hat in shape…

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Happy Father’s Day! (& Friday Links)

Happy Father’s Day weekend to the handful of dads reading—which may in fact only be the three key ones in my life—Aron, my dad, and my father-in-law! As I write this, I can hear Aron reading bedtime stories to the kids, and I’m thinking how lucky they are—and how lucky I am. We’ll do our best to let him know this Sunday!

I apologize for the irregular posting of late—school is out and summer camps are not kicking into full swing for at least another week, so I’ve been keeping busy with the kids. The temperature is rising in Davis, so we’ve escaped to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. Next week—I predict—will require lots of swimming and popsicles.

Does it feel like summer where you are? Any special plans for Father’s Day?

Have a good weekend! A few links in the meantime…

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Summer To-Do List

One thing that seemed particularly special about living back east was the celebration that happened when the season changed—spring in particular—as the shift was so dramatic. But here the seasons can be more subtle, so I find myself wanting to work a bit harder to really savor them. I started making a list of things I’d like to do this summer—we can call it a could-do list rather than a must-do list, to keep it fun rather than stressful.

In an article on “bucket lists” (in truth, a slightly different concept), “Psychologist Linda Blair … says chasing experiences is worthwhile if you enjoy the whole process” but cautions to avoid “living in the future, ignoring what’s going on right now because you’re shooting for goals, which happen so quickly that they’re over, and then you have to chase another one.”

Still, time seems to pass so quickly that I find it can be helpful to plan some things and to find inspiration for savoring the season, especially with the kids out of school. How to strike the right balance?

Here are some favorite ideas I’ve come up with for us so far for our could-do list…

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