Finding Whimsy in Warming Weather

Jun 01, 2025

Hello Dear Faeries and Fauns, Satyrs, Selkies, and Fey Folk of All Sorts.

The merry month of May has taken its leave of us, and the drowsy hot summer months have arrived. Though some people revel in the warm weather, I would rather bundle under blankets on the couch than simmer in my own sauce in the sun. Because of this, I tend to focus on the beauty of liminal times when I try to romanticize summer: the gold through green leaves at twilight, the mist after night storms in the dawn. And the magic of night, when the sun eases its intensity and pale flowers in the garden look like stars. In Ohio, we also are lucky enough to have fireflies, and the anticipation of my first sight of one each June is a personal yearly rite of passage I love.

I am also a Midsummer baby, having been born in the early early morning hours of the 22nd, and the beautiful visuals of a faerie bower, somnambulant flower-drenched grotto, sparkling beads of dew on gossamer cobwebs, and lovers meeting in the woods just get my heart racing with whimsy. It's why I've made the Shakespeare play and all its visuals my theme for my summer decorations. Although I've only had this theme for a few years now, and I suspect there's much more I'll be able to do with it eventually, I do love the little touches I've created so far. Last weekend I shared a tour of the decorations. You can see them in the following ways:

A YouTube house tour
A blog with photos of details
An Instagram/Facebook reel sharing an overview of the highlights.

Also this past month, I've been reveling in my garden (between the raindrops). After a slow start and an uphill battle, mentioned in my last missive, she has burst forth into beautiful life, and every day the weather allows, it feels like blasphemy to be inside instead of out enjoying it. Of course, as a gardener, "enjoying it" often means drifting around and pulling a weed here, deadheading there. But at this point, the upkeep is all part of the joy. (Ask me again in the scorching weather.) I've been sharing photos of the garden to my private Facebook account, but I hope you'll forgive my sharing a few here as well.

Mid-month, a new dress I found on mega sale arrived in the mail, and the ivory color of it inspired me to finally take some pictures I've been meaning to ever since I received a pair of D.M. Anderson's glowing antlers from her as a holiday gift. I woke up extra early to get ready and drove to a favorite park with a beautiful meadow. Of course, modern phones see a dark setting and think "oooh I help, I help," so the images turned out brighter than I ideally wanted. My dear Greene Spiro came to the rescue and edited the resulting images into something truly magical. I am so pleased with the result.

Some lovely writing news this month: I received an acceptance letter for a short story. "The Wood Witch and Wren," was chosen to be included in the forthcoming charity anthology for women's reproductive health, Midnight Crossroads. I will be sure to keep you updated as the project progresses. I was also asked to write an article on troll fashion for the Fall/Winter issue of Fairy Tale Magazine. It is definitely a subject near and dear to my heart!

I also spent some time one day this month at a magical waterfall only 40 miles or so from my house. The cold weather we've had worked in my favor: Honeyrun Waterfall is right off the road and is normally swarmed with visitors, but I had a solid half hour or so of it all to myself.

Another great comfort this past month has been a playlist I started several months ago and have been adding to since. The title is simply "Hope," but every song on there is one that puts me in a state of joy, gratitude, mindfulness, or awe. In case you might find comfort in the songs as well, here is the list.

Finally, the start of June means the celebration of Pride month! Since corporations don't cry happy tears if you buy from them, below my signature is a list of some queer-owned small shops with Pride merchandise. Each link is to an item I especially enjoyed of their options.

I am so eager to see what June brings, and what I'll be telling you about in my next missive. I will, after all, be going to my first New York Faerie Festival at the end of June, traveling with my dearest Greene, and camping for the first time since I was sixteen. I'm sure I'll have some stories to tell!

Much love, with faerie wings and magical things.

Grace

Pride Month Companies