Field Notes. Edition No. 2 - July
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Welcome to Field Notes.
Field Notes is part of my monthly Postcard Club. It is a reflective scene to inspire the month ahead. It’s a day worth remembering, not a to-do list, but rather the types of things worth noting. I hope that this July can be as well-worn and lived-in as we hope it can be.
Field Notes for July
Wake in the chalet, the window already warm, the light arrived before you did
You're up before you mean to be, the unfamiliar view doing the work your alarm usually does
Make coffee and take it out to the balcony before the heat of the day settles in
Eat something cold and simple, sliced stone fruit, good bread, soft cheese, a small bowl of muesli you grabbed from the market yesterday
Leave while the air still carries last night's coolness, the village quiet before it wakes
Find a trail that gains elevation, notice the views open as the treeline thins
Sit at the top, or on a warming boulder, and do nothing for longer than feels comfortable
If there's water along the way, an alpine lake, a stream off the path, take your shoes off, or get all the way in
Come back down slowly, let the afternoon be unhurried
Wander into town, buy something from a market stall or a grocer without knowing what you'll do with it
Back at the chalet, cook dinner late, when the kitchen has cooled, something with tomatoes and herbs
Open a bottle of something effervescent, a pét-nat or a cold light beer
Eat on the balcony and trade stories about being outdoors as kids, the more vivid the story the better
Watch the sky go through all its colors before dark
Put on music at a low volume, an old favorite, and let it mix with the drone of the night insects
Stay out while it feels later than it actually is
Leave the window open when you sleep, let the night air do its work
July in my neck of the world is the fullest month. It is bursting with plants reaching towards their greatest height, building every leaf they can hold, and their fruits that started in the spring coming into ripeness. June might be that first taste of summer, but July is the explosive reckoning of it.
I think July is also filled with hurry. I was inspired this month, thinking through how I might live the best version of it, by focusing on the wildflowers I pass during the commute to my office job. These flowers and grasses bloom, some for mere days, and in the rush of life they are missed.
They inspire me to live out a quieter yet grander type of life. I’m adventuring for a life abounding in hikes on the side of a far away mountain, but also one where I could tell you what came into bloom in my own backyard this week, and what will be gone by the next. As I work towards and plan the big moments, I’m also focusing on bringing that same romanticism and awe into each day this July.
July Moodboard
The May Moodboard is the companion to this month's Field Notes. It's where I work out the visual language of the season, and explore what objects can support these endeavors. Things don't make the life, but the right quality, and purposeful ones get out of the way and let you live it. Take a look.
Comments