Summer Camp Cooking: The Final Stretch and a Few Favorite Finds
Being a camp cook for the summer has felt a lot like training for a marathon. With just two weeks left, I’m on what feels like the last lap. Fatigue is definitely present, but so is a rush of excitement and the anticipation of the finish line drawing near. The pace of the season and the constant demands of the kitchen have taken their toll, and I haven’t felt my best the past few days. Thankfully, my dear friend Sue stepped in and carried the heavier shifts while I rested. Today I plan to test my strength and see if I can make it back to work for the day.
Before I go up to the kitchen, I wanted to share a handful of discoveries and small pleasures I found online while enjoying the quieter moments at home. I’ve been collecting useful and inspiring things that lifted my spirits during this busy season, and I hope some of them will brighten your day as well.
Earlier this year I signed up for a Simplified Graphic Design course, and between shifts in the camp kitchen I finally took the time to work through the lessons. The instructor walks you through each step in a calm, clear way, and I liked having the chance to practice alongside the videos. The creative exercise led to a piece I enjoyed making—an anchored design that felt both meaningful and simple.
hope-as-an-anchor-for-web
While working on that project I went down the classic rabbit hole: font hunting. Some might think this is a small obsession, but I’m very fond of typography and the right lettering can change the feel of a design. My Graphic Design Pinterest board is full of type inspiration and new ideas for layouts. As I searched, I realized I’ve developed a taste for premium fonts—many of the typefaces I admired were paid options, and some came with surprisingly steep price tags. It was a little shocking to discover just how expensive some fonts can be, and it gave me a new appreciation for the choices designers make when building a look and feel.
On a completely different note, I stumbled across a house feature that felt like a breath of fresh air. The rooms had an easy, coastal vibe with soft colors, natural textures, and carefully chosen accessories. It’s the kind of relaxed, comfortable design that makes you want to linger and study the details so you can try to recreate elements in your own space. I loved the overall warmth and unforced elegance of the interiors.
dream house
Small distractions like these—courses, fonts, and house tours—are exactly what I needed to recharge a little while I recovered. One lighter moment that had both my son and me laughing was a collection of brutally honest notes children wrote. Their candid and unexpected observations were hilarious and sweet at the same time; the kind of simple humor that catches you off guard and leaves you laughing until you cry.
Now it’s time to get organized and head back to the kitchen. Today’s menu is straightforward and comforting: meatball subs for lunch and ham with scalloped potatoes for supper. After a summer of creative problem solving, long service lines, and constant movement, there’s comfort in serving familiar dishes that everyone enjoys.
These last weeks of the season are busy but meaningful. Between the long days in the kitchen and the quiet moments at home, I’m taking time to notice the small discoveries that make the routine feel richer—new design skills, fresh typefaces that catch my eye, inspiring interiors, and a few laughs shared over silly notes. All of it helps me finish this summer with more energy and a little more inspiration than when I started.
