Spring Into Summer
Northern Michigan reigns queen of seasonal transitions & the past two months confirm her spot on the throne. Weather & temperature hold serious sway for local Leelanau County businesses – nykamping is no exception; May & June’s numbers compare more & more to spring sales reports than summer. Last year’s early summer heat brought unexpected visitors & purchases, but clearly cannot be counted on for future years.
With most small business owners saving for slower winter traffic, a surprise extended spring only extends the financial stress. With winter’s storage depleted months ago, creativity & digital marketing is a must for survival.
This photoshoot of Abby Baudry, shot by Mae Stier, jumpstarted stagnant creative energy. Surrounded by floral by IndieGrow & blooming lilacs on a cool evening at sunset, collaborating for the sake of beauty inspired new ideas & possibilities.
While nykamping does not specialize in wedding-influenced attire, attempting new skills & visions exercised my brain. Such gorgeous images made me grateful for the community of creatives in Leelanau County – a much needed encouragement this May.
Finding music to represent the current state always brings some added comfort. This newest deluxe album by Lizzy McAlpine titled “Older (and Wiser)” contains more than a few songs taking up well deserved space in my heart. The beginning’s soft, yet cheery, growth of spring into a full anthem chorus of layered voices exactly resembles the celebration of a long-awaited summer.
It’s exactly how I feel. The anthem-y part just isn’t quite here yet.
1940s yo-yo quilt, reconstructed into a vest.
On Summer Solstice, friends gathered for a barbecue & bonfire under a clear, starry sky. A friend proposed sharing goals for the summer, whether it be dreams of activities or professional benchmarks. It’s been on my mind since.
Time seems to pass more linear in other states. Seasonality helps me “eat the elephant,” consuming years in a few months at a time based on Climate’s restrictions. Some personal & professional goals just do not work in specific seasons. If I want to enjoy swimming in Lake Michigan in 2025, there’s only so many days to initiate. A few years ago, my birthday arrived chilly in October, only to make me realize I hadn’t swum in the lake once that summer. It would be 8+ months before the opportunity would arise again.
Such is the necessary active enjoyment of lilacs. They bloom in full glory for two weeks, then disappear for 12 months. Missing that window reassures me that another chance shall come. The sun will rise tomorrow; the lilacs will line Leelanau’s farmhouses again. Witnessing their fragrance & fluffy structure in that window reminds me of the intention it takes to appreciate an experience so fleeting.
May we always stop & smell the lilacs.
Mae loves lilacs exponentially more than I do. I like them, but hadn’t considered them too much. The blooming weeks of lilacs are her favorite time of the year, making the collaboration contagious.
This community urges me to appreciate moments constantly happening around me, especially the ones I neglect to notice & fall in love with. Thankfully, they exist whether I acknowledge them or not. I find that reality beautiful.
Beauty is an invitation. Summer is our current hostess & she’s calling my name. While I think I do a fine job of standing in awe, I hope I do more:
cherry eating / pit spitting
skinny dipping / chunky dunking
running through orchards
laying on rainy streets
outdoor patio cocktail hours
sunset book reading
recording memories
licking of melty ice cream cones
rollerblading down the tart trail
What about YOU?
How will you initiate more appreciation for fleeting beauty in these summer months?
