Better late than never when it comes to this year’s Summer Bucket List, friends!
Here we are, smack dab in the middle of summer and the unwritten rule of summer so far? Have a glass of water and relax.
Of course, telling someone to relax is akin to telling someone to calm down. The advice is much easier than it is to do. Nevertheless, everyday this summer is an opportunity to down some water and venture out into the heat to camp and ride and stuff my face with fruit.
I’ve been quietly working through my bucket list for the past month, it just took until this week to get my list down on paper. Let’s live it all up, slowly and surely – here’s now!
HOW TO MAKE A SUMMER BUCKET LIST:
BUCKET LIST buck•et list (noun): a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have accomplished during their lifetime. Also, a 2007 comedic film featuring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson.
SUMMER BUCKET LIST sum•mer buck•et list (noun): a list of things that a person would like to accomplish and experience during the summer months. If done correctly, should involve water-guns, pool time, and roller-skates.
Summer Bucket List, 2023
• Put at least 1,000 miles on the new motorcycle – These are sweaty, hard-earned miles. Over the 4th of July weekend, Will and I rode The Twisted Sisters in what ended up being a 10 hour riding day. I LoVEd it! Also, my throttle hand was numb for two days but that’s probably normal, right?
• Take an intermediate motorcycle class – I spent last Friday in a parking lot of a Harley-Davidson dealership north of Houston where my brain melted and and I tried my best to take slow speed tight turns around cones. It was, very much, NOT my best showing and as much as I wanted to quit the class and ride my little butt home – I did not. Numerous times the instructor told me to relax . LOL LITERALLY HOW? I passed the class but wow my imaginary tight turns in a parking lot are janky, at best.
• More sandwiches, more peaches, more strawberries, more apricots – This is extremely self explanatory. Do not hesitate.
• Brew a batch of beer – Will’s best friend Bob passed his late father’s beer-brewing supplies and extensive notes to me, so I’m brewing a batch of Bob’s favorite beer in honor of his iconic dad, Andy. I used to brew beer way back in my Venice Beach days and it’s got to be like riding a bike, right?
• Go to Scotland and England with Will – if my dang passport renewal comes through in time.
• Camp Joy for several weekends Take to the woods, to the park, heck… the the patio and put together a recipe from the new zine. A few weekends ago, Will and I camped outside Fredericksburg and I made That Pasta Salad. Can confirm it’s dope.
• Eat more kolaches How else am I going to perfect this fall’s JtB kolache recipe?
• Finish a book while floating in the pool I’m thinking of picking up The Golden Couple from Toby’s year old summer reading list.
• Be open-hearted to all of it This is the best part!
This is the 8th year of the Summer Bucket List. If you need more inspiration, here are my pasts lists:
Summer Bucket List, 2022 Blueberry picking in Mississippi was a success (see: Gluten-Free Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins), but I didn’t eat nearly enough oysters.
Summer Bucket List, 2021 I loved this summer. My clay earrings were a disaster but wow was I in love with the rest of my life!
2020’s Bucket List, 2019’s, and 2018’s List
2017 (I got the piano) // 2016 // 2015 – the list that started it all!
What’s on your Summer Bucket List this year?
I can always make space on mine for your good ideas.
I hope you’re enjoying your days!
My love to you.
xo Joy
Chancey
Joy, I adore your penmanship and artistry on all of your Bucket Lists.
Emily
Currently 8 months pregnant so this summer the bucket list oscillates between trying to rest/relax as much as possible and trying to squirrel away freezer meals/jams to last through that “fourth trimester” period. Not to mention hoping to wrap up all the half-completed DIY projects around my house.
Freya
Love this list!! Really hope you both make it to the UK, we may be small but we have some gorgeous country and coastline. If you’re thinking of the Edinburgh Fringe – beware of the insane price hikes on accommodation…it might be cheaper to stay outside the city and bike (or bus!) in xx
Amy
Never too late for a bucket list! For the rest of this summer, I want to slow down – more lazy early evenings in the stocktank pool, more snack plates for dinner, and a beach picnic with friends xx
Joy the Baker
You’re absolutely on the right track, Amy! Also, I was thinking about a stocktank pool in my backyard in New Orleans. Do you love yours?
Katt
One day I’ll make a real summer bucket list (not this year, lol), but for now:
– get a blackout on my Adult Summer Book Bingo card (from Seattle Public Library and Seattle Arts & Lectures). There’s 48 days left until it’s due and I only need ten more books! (Any suggestions for two books of different genres by the same author?!)
– at least a five day backpacking trip
– float trip (annual trip with friends is the weekend after my last day at work!!!)
– build a head/foot board (this will likely be a fall project, though I suppose summer does last until late September!)
Joy the Baker
This is a fantastic list! We have to get Toby in here about your book question!
Mary
Love the adult summer book bingo as a person who earned my personal pan pizza every summer as a kid! The first idea that came to mind for two genres is Nora Roberts – she writes romance and also like crime thrillers (under the name J.D. Robb).
Lisa
I’d recommend Summerland (young adult fantasy) and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (historical fiction (ish)) by Michael Chabon.
Sue
I think your bucket list is incredibly adventurous but sounds like a whole lot of fun in visiting other countries and taking long rides on a motorcycle. Without thinking it totally through as you have, I am looking forward to some of my own home grown watermelons, melons and pumpkins. I have been hoping to adopt a shelter dog but am not sure if it will exactly happen in the summer. There are so many animals that need forever homes it is really hard to choose. I probably will be doing some baking utilizing summer fruits. That’s after I get chocolate cake off my mind by baking some chocolate desserts. Anyway, enjoy yourself on your trips. Be sure to take lots of pictures to remember these special times away. Do you get inspired by riding on your motorcycle when trying to create your recipes?
Joy the Baker
Sue! You’ve got a great list right there off the top of your head! Absolutely incredible that you have your own melons in your garden. My big sister grew watermelons from seed last year and it just amazes me! Best of luck with your adoption. You’ll know when the right animal comes along for you. And yes, I do find a lot of inspiration riding the motorcycle. Here’s to great days ahead!
Anjani
As for the passport…it pays to get expedited service. You can either hire an google an independent company to process it for you (takes several days, costs vary but start at a couple hundred) or opt for it on the intake form you send in to the Passport office…instead of a six month+ wait it’s about a month and well worth the money.
Joy the Baker
Oh you know I have that passport EXPEDITED!
Hailey
At first I thought you meant finish WRITING a book while floating in the pool, but reading I can definitely get on board, or floatie, with. I want to read 3 books from my ever-growing stack, spend as much time as possible in water (always), and stay out late dancing and sweating to live music at least once… ok, twice.
Joy the Baker
I’ll keep the writing to the desk and couch. And YES get out there and dance it out! What a privledge!
Elizabeth
I wet to Scotland and England last summer. One of the best vacations of my life. If you hope to go this summer to Scotland, you MUST go during the Fringe Festival. We happened to be there the day it opened and saw three brilliant shows. I have many recommendations if you’d like :)
Joy the Baker
Yes we were looking at Fringe Festival! Seems amazing!
Deborah Burns-Walton
I feel you on the passport issue-had to cancel my trip to England and Scotland due to glacially slow “expedited” service. And friend had similar problems, not sure what’s happening but it sure isn’t processing passports!
Joy the Baker
That just SUCKS and I fear that’s what I’m on track for too. Womp womp.
Katie H
I eagerly await your kolache recipe. I moved from Houston to Kansas City, and they simply have no good kolaches up here. Guess I’ll have to make my own!
Joy the Baker
I really want Rebecca from Fluff Bake Bar to teach me how to make them. Have you had her kolaches? They’re fantastic!
Toby
Love your biker babe era! And at the top of my summer bucket list is going to the post office to send u more books :)
Joy the Baker
I am loving your upcoming Western era! Get INTO IT.