Simple

With the sound of crackling bacon, my brother and I awoke. Pulling back the tent flap, we headed out to see what our dad cooking this morning. The ground was still frozen from the previous night and the warm campfire kept our spirits up, along with the breakfast (although it didn’t last long between two teenagers).

The conversations were never much in the mornings. Silence filled the air as the Rocky Mountain critters made their way to investigate what we were up to. Grabbing our fishing gear, the family headed for the river. 

I have never met a more resourceful animal

This is why we were here, to inhale the scent of pine tress, catch fish, and admire the crisp blue skies. Platt River was our little family tradition every autumn that I always looked forward to. Today, I thought to myself, is the day I’ll catch the first rainbow trout. Now, I’m not sure if it was because of my overeager youth, but something remarkable happened that day.

Something to be said about the craftmanship of ones gear

 I still can remember the fresh air, the colors and often catch myself listening for familiar sounds even here in the city. Perhaps this is why I’m attracted to the comfortable simplicities of home.  

A new casual mood, where styling is relaxed and products have a rustic charm that is familiar, comforting and seemingly unconsidered. This color story is about artfully curating the home to reflect a sense of personal style where items are deliberately mismatched, worn, natural and wholesome.

I cast my line into the rushing river, when it snagged.  Pulling in the trout, I jerked the line a little too hard, causing my trophy to go air-born about fifteen feet. I ran after him once I heard something hit the tree branches behind me. 

   Alpine chair

The trout was caught in the branches gasping for air.  Flopping around, he struggled to wriggle loose, but there was nothing I could do to claim it—he was out of my reach. There was only one thing I could do….cut the lead.  Fish, pole and pride fell in the river below.

 However, due to a rocky start, my day wasn’t an entire loss. 

Family Style

With summer shortly coming to a close, friends and family cling to the shore to soak up the last rays and swap stories that only the season can provide. There isn’t much left to cross off on the lists we’ve made in May. Painted the mudroom, check. Gone to a baseball game, check. Spent hours at the beach, double check. In this, I find comfort. 

Indian spiced roast chicken

 Just last week, I invited some friends over for dinner around the kitchen table, to what seemed to be an ordinary gathering. Nothing too grand was awaiting my guests on their plates, simply grilled chicken, rice, and a summer salad. Yet, with music playing from the living room, the young adults at the table gave updates on their afternoons. One filled the air with his soccer aspirations, eyes lighting up when he told us that he got accepted to the high school varsity team. Another spoke about becoming a college freshman and the excitement that awaited her. 

Rather than reflecting on what had been accomplished this summer, they kept adding. They kept gazing towards the future. And every summer, that’s what the season affords us. It allows family and friends to be hopeful of the future with a childish arrogance and naiveté. Even the adults, myself included, shifted the conversation towards the Olympics, our hopes riding on a certain country or athlete.

Then Ping-Pong was broached.

Once Ping-Pong was brought up—That was the end of dinner. The kids cleared the dishes and dashed for the dining room table.  The boys scrambled for the portable set, and with that our own Olympics began. The light clicking from side to side was much less tension filled than the real competitions. However, I think that there was more teasing involved. Laughter filled the room whenever someone would completely miss. The ball bounced too quickly for the competitor to even see, leaving him stunned.  Although my favorite was when one of the adults would butt in by throwing another ball into play or needing suddenly grab a book during midgame that was on the other side of the table.

Standing there, watching the evening unfold, I couldn’t have been more pleased. At that moment, we were grounded by our mundane to-do lists in the backs of our minds, yes. However, we were able to enjoy the youthful attitude that summer affords us all; we were able to take full advantage of summer’s version of family style. A style bursting with life, opportunity, and daydreaming. And although Autumn in fast approaching, I embrace the next chapter, the future, my next to-do list. 

I find resolve in the idea that we will continue to make the seasons worthwhile.