Nesting Into Summer

There’s something special about getting a space ready for a season you love.

As summer soon arrives, I find myself spending more time outside. The deck turns into another part of our home, a spot for morning coffee, quiet moments, family visits, lake views, flowers, fresh air, and a soft place to end the day.

For me, nesting isn’t just about decorating. It’s about making a space that invites us to pause, breathe, and enjoy the life happening right in front of us.

Summer encourages us to slow down. Longer days, the sound of water, warm sunshine, and the lush green outside remind us that rest isn’t something we have to earn; it’s simply part of living well.

This season, I’ve been making our deck feel welcoming and peaceful. A few cushions, some flowers, cozy seats, and a view of the lake are simple touches, but together they make it feel like summer.

A place to gather.

A place to read.

A place to laugh.

A place to sit quietly and give thanks.

Living with uncertainty has taught me to notice these moments. I don’t see them as ordinary anymore. A summer morning. A blooming flower. A chair facing the lake. A talk with someone I love. These are gifts.

Getting ready for summer is really about making space for joy.

It doesn’t have to be fancy or perfect. It just has to feel like you. Maybe it’s a porch chair, a small pot of herbs, a favourite blanket, a bird feeder, a candle, or a book waiting by your cup of tea. Sometimes the smallest touches help us feel more grounded and present.

As we move into this favourite season, I hope you find a space to relax, a place that reminds you to rest, reconnect, and take in the beauty around you.

Summer is here.

Let’s settle into it gently, with gratitude, and fully.

How are you creating a peaceful space for yourself this summer?

The Story Beneath the Ink

With gratitude to Emma from Spicy Ink for helping bring this

meaningful reminder to life.

Sometimes the smallest symbols hold the most meaning.

This is the story beneath my ink.

I never thought I’d be the kind of person to get a tattoo. But sometimes, life leads us to want something we can see, something that honours what matters most in our hearts.

My new tattoo is small, but its meaning is anything but.

I’ve always thought the lotus was beautiful, but now it means even more to me. A lotus grows up through mud and darkness before reaching the light. It reminds me to stay resilient during hard times and that growth is possible, even in tough places.

That feels true to life.

We don’t always get to choose the conditions we grow in. Sometimes life doesn’t give us easy paths or soft landings. We might have to rise through grief, uncertainty, illness, change, or loss. Still, growth can happen.

The infinity symbol stands for love that never ends. For me, it’s about everyone I love who is no longer here, and the belief that love goes on, even when we can’t see it. It means life is stronger than death, love is stronger than loss, and there’s always a connection between the past, the present, and what remains in my heart.

It also reminds me of the green in my metastatic breast cancer ribbon. It signifies green is life. It is renewal. It is spring after winter. It is life over death and hope over despair.

The pink centre honours breast cancer and the journey that has shaped so much of my life. It is a small detail, but an important one. It holds the reality of diagnosis, treatment, courage, community, and the many women and families touched by this disease.

And then there’s the word Rise.

RISE is the title of my memoir, but now it means more than just a word on a book cover. It’s a reminder, a promise, and a gentle push forward.

It reminds me of my own strength to get back up, especially on days when staying down feels easier.

Living with uncertainty has shown me that rising isn’t always about moving forward with confidence. Sometimes it just means getting up, taking a breath, choosing hope, and trusting that life still has something beautiful to give.

This tattoo isn’t about being fearless. It’s about remembering.

Remembering love.

Remembering resilience.

Remembering life.

Remembering hope.

Remembering that even in hard times, I can still grow.

And I can still rise.

Welcoming June: Transitioning from Spring to Summer with Intention

Apple Blossoms on Hebbs Farm

This morning, I feel grateful as I wake up to sunshine and welcome the start of June.

This spring has felt more like a “sprinter” than spring. Many of us, especially those who winter here in Nova Scotia, have been longing for sunshine, warmer days, and gentle breezes.

With the start of June, it feels like a gentle reminder to pause, take a breath, and notice the changes around us. The days are longer, and the light is softer. Nature shows us that each season has its own pace, and sometimes we need to adjust ours as well.

Spring is usually a time for getting ready, planting, cleaning, and starting fresh. Summer, on the other hand, encourages us to slow down, spend more time outdoors, and make space for things that help us feel renewed.

This change in seasons is a good time to ask ourselves:

What am I ready to bring into this new season?

What am I ready to let go of?

What in my life could use a little more light?

Often, feeling well comes from making small changes with the seasons. This might mean drinking more water, taking a walk after dinner, eating fresh local foods, sitting in the morning sun, resting when we need to, and choosing calm spaces over stressful ones.

Summer doesn’t make everything perfect. We might still have worries, responsibilities, grief, illness, or other challenges. Still, summer can give us small moments of beauty, connection, warmth, and renewal.

As spring turns into summer, let’s step into June with purpose. Let’s let go of what weighs us down, welcome more light, and choose what helps us feel steady, refreshed, and alive.

How will you RISE into this new season?