More Seasonal Stories
- A weekend camping trip to a new state park turned out better than any of our previous, more familiar trips. A ranger gave us tips nobody would've found in any guidebook.
- A neighborhood ice skating rink got set up in someone's backyard this winter using nothing but a tarp and a garden hose, and it became the unofficial gathering spot for every kid on the street within days.
- Every Halloween I tell the neighborhood kids I'm 'out of candy' while sitting in a lawn chair holding a full bowl of candy, just to see who's brave enough to call it out. So far, one eight-year-old has, and I respect her enormously — she called my bluff, grabbed two extra pieces, and walked off like she owned the block.
- We decorated the whole house for the holidays this year, string lights and all. It looked incredible for exactly one evening before a squirrel got tangled in the outdoor lights and took half the display down with him.
- We planned a surprise party for my wife's birthday down to the minute. She walked in early, caught us mid-setup, and had to pretend to be surprised twenty minutes later when everyone else arrived on schedule.
- I tried growing tomatoes this summer for the first time. I watered them religiously, talked to them daily, and researched every possible tip online. The one plant that actually thrived was the volunteer weed growing right beside them.