July is a great month for kids. There are two endless months stretching out before them. In England the summer holidays were six weeks. After my first year of school in Canada I thought that summer was going to last forever. It didn’t, but the two months ahead were always a great thing to look forward to. It’s a chance for teachers to recharge their batteries for the next year.

Any month that starts with a long weekend has lots going for it, and the time for family holidays has arrived. Some people head to their cottages for the summer. Some board a plane for new adventures. Some eagerly start their first summer job. Others head to summer camp. It’s two months of something different. For hardworking wage earners, there is usually a couple of weeks off (sometimes more).

In May many of us planted our gardens. As we worked our way through June we watched as the seedlings spread their wings. We watered our gardens as we hoped for a bit of rain. By July the gardens and planters were full of colour. Every year I have a wonderful choice of plants, which I can mix and match as I please, and the natural textures don’t clash with each other.

In Durham Region we don’t have to grow any veggies because we have several Farmer’s Markets we can go to. All on different days of the week. I go to the one in Whitby, where at one of the stalls I can fill a basket with a variety of fresh vegetables for $7.00. There are lots of choices of small potatoes, different coloured carrots and beets, squash among other things. As long as peas in their pods are there, I squeeze as many into my basket as I can. The veggies are rewarding with their taste and freshness. What a great healthy snack.  Is there anything better for lunch that a freshly picked tomato sandwich?

There are also lots of activities for young and old in our area. We have several great museums. I will blatantly put a plug in for the one I am involved with, Lynde House Museum is on Brock Street South, kitty corner to the Senior’s Centre. People pass it heading to the 401 and I run into people who don’t know it’s there. It’s a great place to learn about the history of Whitby. It’s also a place that would appreciate financial support from the community. Funds come from grants (such as Trillium) and donations made by visitors. The Museum is run by volunteers, but we would love to have funds to have a full time curator. There are many events put on all year at the Museum, including Victorian Tea lunches served to different groups. It’s a wonderful place to take friends from out of town.

Here’s hoping you enjoy the second half of the summer!

About the Author

Linda Calder is a retired teacher. She likes to write and enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys going on cruises, taking pictures and scrapbooking.