5-28-2024 12:18pm

Estate...That's Summer in Italian

Christine Larkin Editor

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - ESTATE...THAT'S SUMMER IN ITALIAN

If you're a weekly reader of my newsletter, then you know I love all things Italian. And I love summer. So, what better time of year to write about than Estate.

Summertime. What an incredible season. The months from January to May go painfully slow for me as I wait patiently for the air to warm up and the sun to return. As soon as Christmas ends, I'm thinking about beach days, long nights, and cocktails at sunset. Summer is my favorite time of year. This glorious season runs just three short months long. Let's make the most of it.

We just celebrated Memorial Day. It's a chance to thank our veterans and those who continue to serve this amazing, unique country. God Bless America. Happy Summer!

Summer can be an overwhelming time of year as we pack on activities while packing our bags for an extended vacation or a relaxing staycation. Either way, summer feels like a much-needed break from life. It's the best time of the year. The modern English summer derives from the Middle English somer, via the Old English sumor. The meteorological convention defines summer as comprising the months of June, July, and August in the northern hemisphere and the months of December, January, and February in the southern hemisphere. Under meteorological definitions, all seasons are arbitrarily set to start at the beginning of a calendar month and end at the end of a month. This meteorological definition of summer also aligns with the commonly viewed notion of summer as the season with the longest (and warmest) days of the year, in which daylight predominates. Bring on the sun!

Days continue to lengthen from equinox to solstice and summer days progressively shorten after the solstice, so meteorological summer encompasses the build-up to the longest day and a diminishing thereafter, with summer having many more hours of daylight than spring. Reckoning by hours of daylight alone, summer solstice marks the midpoint, not the beginning, of the seasons. Midsummer takes place over the shortest night of the year, which is the summer solstice, or on a nearby date that varies with tradition.

I wrote a song several years ago to commemorate summer called Summer Solstice. I usually perform it somewhere on the first day of summer. It's goes like this:

It's Summer. Summer Solstice.

Where the water meets the sun, upon the horizon.

It's summer. Summer Solstice.

It’s Golden. Golden Summer.

So Golden. Golden Summer.

A long day, a long way.

Where the water meets the sun, upon the horizon.

It’s Golden. Golden Summer.

So Golden, Golden Summer.

It’s Golden.

This song is marked in time. Summertime. It has become a mantra for me.

I make a list of places I want to visit and things I want to do each summer. I always feel lucky to have another Estate, but my list is usually too long. I spend most of my time at the beach in this golden season. I grew up very close to the ocean. It was there that we spent a lot of time as a family together. My mother would whip up sandwiches, pickles, and chips, and pack a cooler of cold soda and beer. Nothing fancy. We'd stay until the seagulls came to eat the scraps.

Summer's a great time for live music. There are so many waterfront "tiki" bars where local bands perform seven nights a week. Some of them are really good, and most of the gigs are free. There's always cold drinks and hot food, so go thirsty and hungry. There's no better place to be than Long Island in the summer. We've got this.

I also love to eat al fresco. In Italian, this means eating outdoors. We used to eat outdoors at the house I grew up in. We had a cement patio and a wooden table with matching benches that my dad would redwood stain each summer. They were very sturdy. I think everyone had one. Food always tasted better on that table.

As the flowers bloom bigger, the air warms up, and the sun shines brighter, cheers to another summer we are so lucky to live. Bella Estate!

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, the beach can be the perfect place to relax and unwind. Rilassati e distenditi.

Support your local news!

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - KATCH AT VENETIAN SHORES

Katch is one of my favorites spots to chill and unwind. It's located in Lindenhurst on the South Shore of Long Island. Sit back, relax, and spend your summer at Katch! They serve delicious food at one of the best bar experiences in the Town of Babylon. With their in-house entertainment, full-service restaurant, and surrounding views of the Long Island Sound, treat yourself to one of the most memorable dining experiences around. There's music daily in the summer. I'll catch you at Katch.

For more information, visit www.katchli.com.

SKYLARK'S PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Dear God,

Please keep everyone safe this summer as we move about and travel around. Amen.

Support your local news!

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What do you love about Estate?

Please put your answer in the Reply bubble below next to the heart. I'd love to hear from you.

Support your local news!

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - ON THE BEACH by CHRIS REA

LYRICS

Between the eyes of love I call your name
Behind those guarded walls I used to go
Upon a summer wind there's a certain melody
Takes me back to the place that I know
On the beach, yeah, yeah
Down on the beach, yeah, yeah
The secrets of the summer I will keep
The sands of time will blow a mystery
No one but you and I underneath that moonlit sky
Take me back to the place that I know
On the beach, yeah, yeah
Down on the beach
Yeah, down on the beach
On the beach, yeah, yeah
On the beach
Forever in my dreams my heart will be
Hanging on to this sweet memory
A day of strange desire and a night that burned like fire
Take me back to the place that I know
On the beach, yeah, yeah
Down on the beach
Yeah, down on the beach
On the beach, yeah, yeah
On the beach

Support your local news!

ABOUT MY BRAND, SKYLARK LIVE

My brand, Skylark Live, was born out of my turning 60 and noticing a profound shift in this age. I wanted to talk about it and share what I was experiencing with the hope of helping other women as well. My brand consists of a weekly newsletter and a monthly vlog designed to motivate and inspire women over 60 to thrive in older age through knowledge and self-awareness. I’m in the process of formulating in-person presentations called The Skylark Sessions. These can be conducted in someone’s home, local library, or senior center.

Weekly Newsletter - My weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, features articles about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, motivation, music, places I've been to, and ideas I want to explore. I represent Bay Shore and towns beyond. There is also a calendar of events. I throw in Italian words, too, because I love the language and all things Italian. Bella Italia! As a paying subscriber, you will receive my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. That gives you a head's up. You can also advertise your business or event on my newsletter. Just click this link to subscribe: For updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!

Monthly Vlog - My first Monday-of-the month vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, is a recap of what I've written about in my newsletters throughout the previous month. Then, I introduce a unique topic for the current month's vlog. My vlog is recorded and posted on my YouTube channel as well as on my Patreon account and my social media sites. Just click my YouTube channel link below to subscribe: www.youtube.com/@christineskylark

WHERE TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT ME ON PATREON AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Patreon - This is where you can support my brand for just $5 a month. This enables me to carve out time to write my newsletters, create my vlogs and to expand my brand. Just click the link below: www.patreon.com/SkylarkLive

Social Media - You can follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

Thank you for your love and support. Andiamo! Let's Go!