Believe it or not, my perfect summer day begins at about 5:30-6:00 a.m. We live within a mile of the Douglas State Trail, so I head to the trail and meet some friends to run or bike. Even if the weather heats up, the tree border of the trail keeps it shaded and cool. This trail is truly a gem in our area and I gratefully use it multiple times per week.
After getting some miles in on the trail, I return home and have my favorite breakfast on my deck…avocado toast topped with Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning. I enjoy it best on white/english muffin bread, but I guess a person could put it on whole wheat toast if they felt super-nutritious. I also enjoy a large cup of coffee while the rest of my family still sleeps (another bonus to the early wake up time for exercise). I wander into my yard and check on my flowers and our caprese-salad garden (90% of what we grow is basil and tomatoes). I grab a ripe Sun Sugar cherry tomato and eat it straight from the plant.
I shower, and all four of us get into the car. We drop the kids at the babysitter and head into Rochester. Our first stop is at the Sargent’s Gardens north location. We browse the tree selection and find the two new trees we will plant in our front yard to help shade our house. We also wander a little bit through the landscaped patio areas they have, dreaming a little bit about projects we may do someday.
Then we go to Empowered Family Chiropractic for a wellness adjustment. I started visiting Dr. Chris a few years ago for help with some acute pain, and have continued with regular wellness adjustments since then. Their office is family-friendly and they specialize in serving children and families. If my kids were with me, they would happily visit with Miss Rachel or entertain themselves in the play area during my adjustment.
After my adjustment, I have an appointment with massage therapist Casey Lenn. I have had quite a few massages in my lifetime, but what sets a massage from Casey apart is his attention to detail, his personal interactions, and his dedication to learning and trying new techniques. Through July, Casey is providing massage services at Revival Rochester. In August he will begin offering massages at Hair Studio 52. Having an adjustment and a massage in the same day helps my body feel strong and healthy, which adds to the day’s perfection.
For lunch, Justin and I drive into downtown for our favorite lunch date: fish tacos at Pescara! We learned the hard way that fish tacos are not on the dinner menu at Pescara, so if you want fish tacos, make sure to go at lunch time. We recommend the actual fish taco entree under “Lunch Classics” rather than the lunch special, as the entree includes two tacos and a side dish.
We take a short walk on the skyway to the Rochester Public Library. As a school library teacher married to an English teacher, both of us love to read. We don’t buy books, though, and use our public library frequently. However, most of the times we are there, we are shepherding our kiddos and assisting them in finding materials. On this perfect afternoon, we both spend time browsing and finding books for ourselves.
We drive back to Pine Island, pick up our kiddos, and start packing our stuff up to head to Berne Wood-Fired Pizza (this means that my perfect day is a Wednesday in June-August). If you haven’t visited Berne before, make sure to read the first-time visitor information on their website so you know what you can/should bring with you to maximize your visit. We meet some friends and share pizza, drinks and fellowship while enjoying the live music. Since it is a perfect day, there is a slight breeze and no mosquitos biting us…we also magically find a close parking spot so when we pack up and are ready to leave, we only have a short walk.
After we get home, our children get ready for bed without complaint, and then Justin and I either watch the next episode of Schitt’s Creek, or finally have a chance to watch Captain Marvel together. I have a glass of white wine and a piece of chocolate while we watch. I admit, I may fall asleep on the couch, because after all, it’s been a perfectly full day.
