Soak up some sun before school

As we move into the second half of August, I feel a gentle tug toward September. Summer vacation days are numbered and it won't be long before I hear the familiar sound of school bells, children laughing and running in or outside, and university students discussing their semester schedules at the shop.

Mid-August is a time to both savour and plan. Savour these moments of sunshine. Soak it up and really experience all the sensations: warmth, light, the scent of herbs, the taste of fresh produce, the feeling of sand or grass underfoot. I love this time of year! It's also a time to make a few decisions about the upcoming school year and plan for the fall season.

You may be heading to university or college, or have children or grandchildren going to school. You may be a vegetable gardener, farmer, or winemaker beginning your harvest season. You may be a teacher or professor. Or support any of the mentioned functions or industries in another capacity. There are a lot of people with new seasons starting soon.

While you may have a few traditions during the end of August, you may also be on the brink of something new. If learning new information of any kind is in the cards, check out our Reverie section below to watch a very useful short video. Dr. Cal Newport, an author and professor of computer science shares an effective and time-efficient technique to use when studying.

We also have a mix of new items for the back-to-school season and tried-and-true classics to ease you into September:

We wish you a week of sunshine and summer delights. If you're returning to class, enjoy shopping for your back-to-school supplies. We look forward to seeing you in the shop. 

Next week, we have a different "kind" of topic...