Summer as a Marathon: The Final Lap of Camp Cook Season

I’ve come to think of spending a summer as a camp cook like running a long marathon. With only two weeks left, I’m finally on that last lap. The fatigue has settled in, but so has a bright anticipation — the finish line is near, and that keeps me going. I haven’t been feeling my best the past few days, so my dear friend Sue has kindly taken over the heavier kitchen duties while I rested. Today I’m hoping my muscles cooperate so I can return to work and help see the season through.

Before I head back up to the kitchen, I wanted to share a few of my favorite discoveries from the quiet days I spent at home recovering. They’re small joys that kept me entertained and inspired between naps and slow walks.

A few months ago I signed up for a course on Simplified Graphic Design. Life got busy — the camp kitchen took over my schedule — so I only recently found time to work my way through the lessons. Emily’s teaching style is patient and clear; she walks you through each step, and I followed along, practicing as I watched. The course sparked my creative side in a way I hadn’t expected, and I ended up with a little piece I’m proud of:

Working through that project sent me down a delightful rabbit hole of font hunting. I know that sounds trivial to some people, but I’m a little obsessed with typefaces — they make up a large portion of my Graphic Design Pinterest board. Browsing new fonts is one of those guilty pleasures that feels both frivolous and inspiring. I discovered plenty of beautiful typefaces, and, not surprisingly, many of the most polished options came with a price tag. I was pretty shocked to find a font listed for several hundred dollars — a reminder that some design resources are truly boutique items.

While browsing design inspiration I also stumbled across a house tour that completely charmed me. The colors, the curated accessories, and that effortless coastal style felt like a breath of fresh air. I love studying rooms like that, not to copy every detail, but to note the feel and the small ideas I can adopt at home.

There’s something reassuring about a well-styled space: it’s a reminder that small changes — a new color, a different pillow, a well-placed accessory — can shift the entire mood of a room. I plan to study those photos more closely and borrow the ideas that work with what I already have.

On a lighter note, if you need a quick laugh, reading a collection of brutally honest notes written by kids had my son and me laughing until we cried. Their blunt honesty and unexpected observations are exactly the kind of humor that lifts your spirits when you’re bone-tired from long days of work.

Now I need to pull myself together and head up to the kitchen. Today’s menu looks manageable: meatball subs for lunch, and ham with scalloped potatoes for dinner. The routine and rhythm of preparing meals for campers is tiring but also comforting — there’s a steady satisfaction in feeding people and seeing them enjoy a meal after a busy day.

These small discoveries — the online course that reignited my creativity, the font hunting, the coastal house tour, and the silly notes from children — have made my recovery days richer and more restful. They’re tiny reminders that even in a season of long hours and tired muscles, there’s still room for inspiration, laughter, and a little creative play.

I’ll close up for now and get my apron on. Two weeks left: time to savor the last lap and finish strong.