Twenty-one ideas to make the most of summer, from finding the ultimate beach reads to making a lobster roll.
Richard Felber
The Best Way to Catch Fireflies
How? With womanly wiles: "Fireflies blink to attract a mate," explains naturalist Lynn Havsall, director of programs at the George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History, in Bar Harbor, Maine. "Males fly around while females sit in trees, in shrubs, or on the ground. So find a female and watch her blinking pattern. Then imitate the pattern with a pen flashlight and the males will come to you."
A plus: The bugs move slowly, so they're easy to trap in a jar. Punch some holes in the lid and add a little grass and a piece of fruit for moisture. Admire your pretty night-lights till bedtime, then let them go.
Ditte Isager
The Best Way to Get In and Out of a Hammock
Everyone looks good lazing in a hammock- it's getting in and out that's tricky. To make it less so, try these tips from Penny Waugh, a buyer for hammocks.com.
Position your backside toward the hammock's center and tilt back until you reach a 45-degree angle, with the hammock parallel to your rear.
Gently sit back into the hammock and let it level out.
Swing your legs up and stretch them out.
Lie back. Loll. Sigh contentedly. For a graceful exit, sit upright and swing your legs off, anchoring your feet on the ground. Then push with your behind, gathering momentum to stand. "It's tricky, since there's nothing to hold on to," says Waugh. "But it's good for the glutes."
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Elizabeth Zeschin
The Best Way to Make a Traditional Lobster Roll
The Morrisons of Morrison's Maine Chowder House, in Freeport, Maine, have been hauling in their catch for more than 100 years. Steal their formula for the perfect lobster roll.
Use the freshest lobster meat you can find. Ask your local fish store when its lobsters are delivered.
Get a freshly baked New England-style hot-dog bun. Unlike a typical roll, this is split on the top and white on the sides, not crusty. (New England split-top rolls, $18 for twelve, hancockgourmetlobster.com.)
Butter both sides of the bun, then grill each side (like a grilled cheese sandwich).
Line the roll with lettuce for crunch (iceberg does the trick), then fill with lobster. Morrison's lets the succulent meat speak for itself, but some prefer a little mayo on the side.
Open mouth. Insert heaven.
More solutions for your everyday life - RealSimple.com
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