May, and this is the start of the first full month in June, or, as I like to call it: summer.
We all have different markers for when the season begins - the aforementioned holiday
weekend, the end of the school year, that blast of cold air as the office’s annual pre-set
AC comes on whether it’s 50 or 90 F. But without a doubt, June is the start, the first
month of summer, the month of weddings and graduations and my birthday, which is
why I know it’s so great.
I have certain rituals that mark the start of the season. First and foremost, I bring the
warm-weather clothing and the fans down from the attic, and carry the winter things up.
The parkas and scarves move from the foyer to the less-accessible front hall closet, and
the boots disappear in favor of sneakers and flip-flops.
There’s summer-specific beauty rites: a pedicure with bright nail polish and sunless
tanning lotion after showers (I wear it under my SPF 50 sunscreen.)
On the first really hot day, I’ll make myself cold tuna-mac salad, a 1960’s style dish that
was one of my mom’s staples back before she started replacing gobs of mayo with
heart-healthy alternatives. I’ll add a few things to my grocery list: lemonade mix, lime
and strawberry popsicles (which Google tells me I should refer to as frozen fruit bars,)
Miracle Whip (come at me, haters.)
And of course, as we discussed last week, there’s the joy of finding a horde selection of
Reds, what rites and rituals mark the start of summer for you?
HALLIE EPHRON: Ah, summer… Number one is opening the windows. This year I’m
having the windows washed, a pricey but necessary (at least once every five years)
fun watching the gawky hatchlings fledge. When you see four cardinals together and
not killing each other or mating, they’re nest-mates.
And on the watch for lady slippers at the base of trees on my walks.
And, oh yes, finding someone to help me hoist my a/c from the office floor and into the
window. It’s the only room I really need it for. Any volunteers??
LUCY BURDETTE: First is a tuna melt on rye when my favorite snack bar opens.
Deep River potato chips on the side. Pretty soon the farmers market will provide more
than greens and radishes, though we are enjoying lots of those!
RHYS BOWEN: Lucy and I have had a sneak preview of summer at our other homes.
It reached 95 before I left Arizona. Now I’m back in California with weather in the 70s.
My first summer task is to take heavy winter clothes downstairs and bring up summer
ones. Then go through and weed out those I no longer wear. (I wore a white jacket this
week. It’s after Memorial Day so I’m allowed to.)
Things I look forward to: Thursday farmers market with all that organic fresh produce.
And sitting out on my deck on a balmy evening, glass of Aperol Spritz in hand, enjoying
watching the sun slip below the hills.
JENN McKINLAY: Summer is…less fantastic for me. I’m saying good-bye to my weekly
unit is all good. You never want your AC to die when it’s 115. The pool starts getting
used daily to exercise the dogs - this is actually one of the highlights!
And my garden starts to shrivel up and die until late July when it’s time to plant the
pumpkins and hopefully a robust monsoon season will do the watering. Woo hoo!
And the highlight of summer is the annual trek to my mom’s summer house in Nova
Scotia. We count the days until we’re back on the Bay of Fundy, fishing in the trout
stream, hitting the local farm stands, and running on the beach! Can’t wait!
DEBORAH CROMBIE: The winter clothes migrated back into the attic here back in
April! But June does really feel like the beginning of summer, especially with all the
summer produce coming into the market and the frogs singing in the pond.
But every year I indulge in a little beginning of summer ritual–driving through our
But every year I indulge in a little beginning of summer ritual–driving through our
favorite barbecue joint. We have a great multi-awarded barbecue place but somehow
when it’s cold it drops off my radar.
But that first warm evening with the lengthening twilight, I love to drive
across town and sit in the drive-through line with the windows down, smelling the huge
smokers and watching the light fade over the western treetops. And if I get into the fried
okra before I get home, don’t tell…
JULIA: Readers, what starts your summer?
Images by freepik, gpointstudio, wirestock, freepik, vecstock, and chandlervid85, all on Freepik.com
Summer means the local Stewart's is open, so we always have lunch there. And, for the past couple of years, it has also meant that the two youngest grandbabies come to stay with us for a couple of months . . . .
ReplyDeleteJoan, that sounds like grand fun, for you and for the grandbabies!
DeleteThat sounds lovely, Joan!
DeleteGetting to spend time with the grandbabies is definitely the high point of the summer . . . .
DeleteJulia, count me in the "love Miracle Whip" group . . . .
REDS: Can someone fix the formatting on today's post. The text is truncated on the right side of the page. I am using Chrome. THX!
ReplyDeleteJENN and DEBS: I can't imagine living in those summer temps above 100F!
Ottawa had its first summery sunny days with highs of 28C/83F this weekend.
Low humidity too, which is a rarity. In fact, I have NOT installed my apartment A/C yet.
We have 2 more warmish days today & Tuesday but the rest of the week will be in the mid 20C/high 70F range.
My weekly local FM's opening day was June 1. This means the start of local spring produce such as asparagus, fiddleheads, leafy and the first strawberries!
And like JULIA, I also ate my first BBQ ribs yesterday. Our annual summer Ribfest competition took place this weekend in downtown Ottawa As usual, the top spot went to ribbers from Alabama's Camp 31. Southern USA ribbers beat the Canadian teams by a mile (or km).
I was going to ask the same thing, Grace. Thanks!
DeleteSame problem here.
DeleteThank you all for mentioning this - i just thought it was me and I couldn't fix it!
DeleteGlad to know it is not me or my iPad having the “Monday Mornings”. Hope it can be fixed. Elisabeth
DeleteFrom Diana: Same problem here.
DeleteMe too.
DeleteSorry, everybody! It looked fine when I said it to publish in Blogger, but Blogger is a fickle beast. I'll get in and see if I can fix it.
DeleteI've already had my first G&T on the deck, eaten all the asparagus from my small plot, and planted my vegetable garden. The local farm store has delicious eggs and greens, and strawberries are around the corner. I'll try to get to the beach before school is out. I love summer!
ReplyDeleteI think New Englanders appreciate summer more than anyone else, Edith.
DeleteI always feel that we in New England earn our spring and summer weather.
DeleteG&T a sure summer time indulgence. Although the year I spent on Kodiak AK, a small group of us drank G&T all year round as an act of defiance! Elisabeth
DeleteAll of my summer prep has been delayed because my hubs threw out his back. He's better now, thank goodness, but we still need to lower the porch swing from where we hoisted it and hooked it high against the porch roof for winter. Then power wash the decking and furniture so I can sit out there and read, my favorite summer pastime.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Glad he's feeling better, Annette! There's always time to catch up on summer prep.
DeleteWe cleaned the screened in porch, put the cushions out and have been sitting out there reading.
ReplyDeleteI cleaned the gas grill and we had our first steaks and ate out on the porch. I bought corn on the cob at the supermarket and have been putting it in our salads! Yum.
Yes, Hallie, birds! Lots of sightings!
I have not flipped my winter-summer wardrobe yet but plan to do that this morning. Just lazy.
We had the most beautiful weather this weekend since I don't know when.
I baked Lucy's strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and then baked her strawberry coffee cake. Delicious!
I bought berries for a berry crisp. Yeah. It's summer, Baby!
You are in full summer mode, Judy!
DeleteWell, so far I've gambled that it was okay to put away my winter boots and snow shovels. Hope this isn't testing fate! Like you, Julia, I just made my tuna macaroni salad and I have to say something was missing. It just wasn't as good as I had remembered/hoped.
ReplyDeleteI now have a pair of cardinals! This is huge news for me. When I planted my pine trees 15 years ago I was picturing cardinals in the trees. Never mind that I am surrounded by woods, I had to have a couple of pine trees. So now I have a feeder on the deck rail and I get a good view of my pair. Unfortunately the squirrel likes to come too. There are a couple other birds that come but it is those red birds that really thrill me. I have often heard them so I knew there were some around but they never came to my tree until this spring. I blame the man on the other side of my woods; he has all kinds of feeders up. I no longer have a cat that goes outdoors and my dog is no longer with us so maybe the birds have decided it is safe here.
I have a pair that nests in my very large rhododendron, of all things. And I have more birds of all kinds since my neighbor/friend who feed them next door moved!
DeleteYes, please, on fixing the formatting of today's essay. How else can we read each precious word, and possibly funny comments, by Julia?
ReplyDeleteWe have sort of landed in summer this year with a whumpf, between my mom being in the hospital for a week, and me catching something while visiting, and two weeks in Europe last month, and now--what was I thinking?--preparing to be on the community garden tour this Sunday. No time for toenail polish yet.
My 94 yo mom was supposed to come and stay with us for a few days this week, while my brother and his wife take their family for their annual vacation at the beach. But while we were really lucky she survived the pneumonia, she's still too weak to manage here, so I have to stay at my brother's with her. It's only 20 minutes away, but that assumes no traffic. Steve, bless him, volunteered to sit with her one afternoon so I could work in the garden.
The best-made plans...
From Diana: I am so sorry about what happened. Grateful that your family is nearby to help your mom. And I hope that you feel better soon. Something is going around. A friend was in the hospital and they are still running tests to find out what is wrong. Another friend has been sick. I had a difficult road to recovery after what should have been a simple procedure. That is another story. I am fine now. Knock on wood.
DeleteKnowing how hard it is just to do a regular garden, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to get one garden-tour ready. We have just watched the Chelsea Garden Show, so hope that you will soon be able to just enjoy the peace and satisfaction that a beautiful garden gives. I hope your mother can visit it too.
DeleteDiana, you were under the weather for a long time. Glad you're feeling better.
DeleteMargo, my garden is in no way comparable to anything at Chelsea! But as a Master Gardener, our job is to educate, and I wanted to show how to take a yard of nothing but mud to a lovely setting within five years. It's a work in progress with lots more to do. We have done everything in stages, which I hope to show, along with showcasing edible landscaping and how to incorporate native plants.
Karen: I have so enjoyed seeing your master gardening at work via pics on Facebook. Keep up the great work. You are inspiring!
DeleteBest wishes for your mom, Karen, I know how tough it is when a parent needs extra care. And as a gardening novice, thank you for being a Master Gardener! I've learned so much from local gardeners willing to share their knowledge.
DeleteThat is a lot of pressure, Karen. It's a blessing that your mom is out of the hospital and recovering at your brother's home. I am sure that the garden tour will be successful because of all the preparation you have done already. Knowing you, you'll probably make new best friends during the tour! I hope you will take a moment to have some fun with it!
DeleteThanks for the kind comments and good wishes. It's helping me keep my will to live. Not to be dramatic, or anything.
DeleteKaren in Ohio, thank you. I think menopause has something to do with my being under the weather. It really wrecked havoc on my health and I am going to talk to the Ob/Gyn about options. She is wonderful and we work together as a team to make sure that I stay healthy. I am determined to be well so I can attend a family wedding this year.
DeleteKaren, often when my mother was ill, me finding “the will to live” was hard…indulge in the dramatics and then giggle. It helps. Elisabeth
DeleteHubby and I are about to embark on one of the iconic items of summer: a road trip vacation involving camping part of the time. Honestly, it wouldn't have been my first choice, but he had the opportunity to attend a conference at the legendary Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, a place high on his bucket list, and was waffling about whether to go. So I said I would join him for the week there. (There's a family program I can participate in while he's at his conference. I'm eagerly looking forward to some great hikes! And while we will be in a tent, I am assured that there are private individual hot shower facilities and flush toilets.) As a token of his appreciation for me volunteering for that part of the trip, we're spending a long weekend in Albuquerque before the conference enjoying the comforts of a hotel and sightseeing.
ReplyDeleteCloser to home, we have fresh hanging baskets of flowers in all corners of the deck. The weather hasn't quite been cooperative yet for listening to live music on a patio, but we have that to look forward to after we get home. And I have recently clipped three new recipes for entree salads we can enjoy when the weather makes cooking ANYTHING feel like a chore.
Susan, that sounds like a really fun trip. I hope you enjoy the Philmont part more than you expect to.
DeleteMy grandfather was big in Scouting when I was a child; he had all his sons-in-law, plus my Aunt Rosie, leading Scout troops, and there was Boy Scout stuff scattered through my life (I always wanted to join the Boy Scouts, they had way more fun than the girls). Some years he went to the annual Jamboree at Philmont, so I've been hearing about this legendary place for about 65 years. Would love to hear your reactions to your visit.
I agree with Karen, Susan. It sounds like it could turn out to be one of those once in a lifetime trips!
DeleteSusan, I would like to speak to you regarding the Boy Scout Camp/Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. My husband is an Eagle Scout and was active as a counselor for many years.
DeleteI am interested in finding out a little more about the type of families who attend the summer programs. We would be interested in the family programs.
If someone reads this before Susan does - I'd like to have a way to contact her - her blog is no longer accessible.
Anonymous, I didn't actually realize my old blog was no longer accessible! I am going to post my email here, but I will come back in a day or so and delete it because I think it is a risky security practice to have it hanging visible out here. I will also not write it in the form of an email, so "bots" can't harvest it. Maybe leave a comment when you have captured it? I am Emerson.Susan.K and the domain is gmail.com. (That is, "at" gmail.com) I will be happy to help if I can.
DeleteFrom Diana: My ritual on the first day of summer - June 21 - is to start reading a summer book. I plan to re-read SUMMER READING by Jenn McKinlay. Yes, I remember that the last weekend of May is the usual beginning of the summer with more people going out to weekend events or going away on trips?
ReplyDeleteThough I have not seen dry farm tomatoes yet. Starting to see strawberries for sale. A Scandinavian friend took photos of the local strawberries where she lives. The wether is getting warmer. It is supposed to be in 80s later this week…
No strawberries in our markets yet, either, Diana. But we'll enjoy them when they arrive!
DeleteI haven't quite been able to do my morning meditation aka bird watch on the deck. This week for sure, with temps in the 80s. The coyotes have 7 pups, so I am looking forward to seeing them some early mornings at the golf course. They currently have a den in the equipment area of the back 9 and one of these mornings I will head over there. My friends have gotten some great pictures. I've seen mom and dad a number of times, but not the babies. They need to do a lot of hunting to keep everyone fed.
ReplyDeleteHood strawberries are here and peonies are open, 2 signs of summer's start here in Oregon. I'm looking forward to the raspberries in a few weeks and swimming in the river from my friend's houseboat.
Swimming from a houseboat sounds like a dream come true to me, Gillian. No coyotes here (I mean, we have them in Maine, but not in my neck of the woods) but there's a fox family back in the neighborhood for the fourth year in a row. I usually manages one sighting of Mom leading the kits from my lean-to to the neighbor's barn. So cute!
DeleteSummer is more a thought than a season, and if you live in Cape Breton, you would understand as it probably will not get consistently warm until July. That means that we mark the season differently. After the snow is theoretically over (maybe March, maybe April, maybe May) and because we need the space, we move the Adirondack chairs back to Geriatric Row. Alf and the cats sit on them, we not so much – really in a parka? We may have a popsicle. The Open Door policy will start to come into effect – open doors in morning and leave them open until after supper – saves getting up to let a cat in or out, and improves the fly population in the house.
ReplyDeleteIn May we clean up, and cook for the Weekend party – spoken of before. Until then absolutely nothing gets done. Hummingbirds come back. Remember the Open Door policy – that means we often take the butterfly net and rescue a hummingbird from being inside, and a better cat snack. Some people go on Jungle trips for fun like this.
June we try and get the garden in, but you remember that bit about snow and temperature (for example this week it is due to rain all week, high temp 10C-50F, which is not contusive to growing). We hope it will all get in before July 1st – something to aim for. There are 100 geraniums that need to be planted along the rock face before the (gout)weed takes over.
July – we wait for the one hot weekend. Geriatric Row and popsicles here we come. Move over dog, that chair is mine!
August – we wish all the relatives would leave – oh for quiet and a chance for supper at a reasonable time and not having to go next door for ‘h’ors d’oeuves’.
September – still nice, but no longer hot. Garden is over-running and needs processing. Do you keep it or put it to bed?
October – every day is a treat – and hopefully still no frost. If there has not been a hurricane in Aug/Sept/early Oct, it is time to take in all the summer stuff – how did all this stuff get out here as all we did this year was sit in Geriatric Row and eat popsicles?
November – can’t move anywhere inside, as there is garden stuff, tomatoes ripening, and clutter everywhere. Need a GPS just to get from the kitchen to the living room. Think I will spend the afternoon doing a puzzle.
Isn’t it great to be alive?! I love summer – whenever it is!
What a vivid picture you paint with your words, Margo! Thank you.
DeleteLove your summary Margo!
DeleteMargo, you are such a gifted wordsmith. We're lucky to have you as part of our community.
DeleteGreat word painting of the seasons in your area!
DeleteHave you ever considered living in a place with better weather?
Summer here starts at the end of March and ends in December. There are those who live in the fog dominant areas of the Bay who like Samuel Clemens, they experience the coldest winter during the summer. They will not see the sun until September. Many of them have no idea of the glorious climate a few miles to the south.
California is the world of diverse micro-climates.
Julia has been alerted to fix the formatting!
ReplyDeleteAs for me: not sure what happened to my bit, but here it is:FYI:
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: it always amazes me that there is one day where everything changes. Where touching a wool sweater is downright weird. When all the clothes I’ve been wearing all winter just won’t work at all and everything has to instantly go upstairs or to the dry cleaners. And— deliciously – – deliciously – – when I remember that iced lattes are a thing. When, in fact, iced lattes seem absolutely necessary and irresistible. And— when I see Caprese salad with my own tomatoes and basil in my future.
Thank you, Hank. Elisabeth
DeleteHank - so right. One day it's long sleeves and socks, the next shorts and bare feet. Amazing and also slightly annoying. I prefer a longer introduction to the next season...
DeleteI live in an area where the weather is pretty much the same year round. But I remember living in Logan, Utah (near the university) and it was late August and I was a sunny day and I eating the most wonderful ice cream which was made fresh from dairy cows on the campus. Suddenly the sun was blocked out by clouds and the temperature dropped. Someone said that fall was on it's way. I was totally shocked at the sudden change of seasons. I'd never experienced it before.
DeleteI don't know exactly where Utah is on the heat/temperature scale, but we lived 30 years in eastern Ontario. Summers were hot and the season would open often in early May like the doors to a blast furnace, and pretty much stay like that - until one day. There was that day around the third week of August when just as in May, the weather turned. It would be hot and stifling all day, and then suddenly you felt you needed a sweater come supper time. You had not worn a sweater since June at least and were not likely to even know where to get one. The weather had changed. It would never be really hot again. Summer was over.
DeleteIt feels like it's been a bit start-and-stop here in Maine - we had a furnace blast of high temps in May and now it's settled into normal or even below normal. It might be one of our cool summers - every seven or eight years, by my recollection, we have a summer that requires a cotton sweater and pants instead of shorts whenever you go outside.
DeleteWet and cloudy here, also quite humid. If I open the windows, everything inside feels sticky and wet--a weird situation so early in the season! So, fans on and windows closed for now. Opening the windows and doors is one of my favorite warm-weather rituals, so hoping for less humidity soon! Strawberries will be coming in soon--can't wait--those really mean summer is here--as is the first sighting of fireflies. Ah, summer!
ReplyDeleteI lo e those open windows, too, Flora! After spending the best part of eight months closed in, it feels so good to let fresh air circulate in the house again!
DeleteIn southern California our seasons seem all mixed up. We have what is referred to as May Gray followed by June Gloom. July is iffy as to sunny or cloudy. Then come Aug/Sept/Oct and we have the Santa Ana winds which blow hot desert air toward the ocean. Surprisingly Jan/Feb/March can often be lovely, crisp air, warm sunny days. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteMy father-in-law lived in Laguna Niguel, Anon, giving us the chance to visit occasionally. I was always surprised at how cool and cloudy the early summer months could be. I always pictured stereotypical "California weather" before I had the chance to spend time there.
DeleteJust go inland five miles, you will find blue skies, year round sunshine and temperatures fifteen to twenty degrees warmer.
DeleteI live ten miles inland we have sunny, hot weather all summer. Summer starts in April and ends in December.
The description above is the climate next to the ocean.
In theory, a ritual is to bring the summer clothes up from their downstairs storage tote and exchange them in the closet and drawers for the winter clothes. However, our weather here on the Manitoba prairie has been so up and down and generally below-normal temperatures that I've not yet done that. I did move the chairs onto the deck and clean off the front patio table and have enjoyed time in both locations when the sun and temps have been conducive for such leisure sitting -- and that's been lovey. No garden planted yet in the new raised bed. Soon, I hope (basil, parsley, oregano and a few tomatoes).
ReplyDeleteConfession: I've only moved a few summer things down from the attic, Amanda, when I was looking for clothes to bring to Colorado, where the projected temps were in the 70sF/20sC. It still hasn't gotten hot enough, consistently enough for me to haul down everything and finally pack away my turtlenecks.
DeleteJulia, the format means I can't read the whole page. Half the sentences are cut off.
ReplyDeleteHigh 90s are predicted for the middle of this week. Yuck. First wildfire is happening outside Tracy. Even yuckier. Across the street, the high school is getting ready for graduation. June is my birthday month. I've purchased my own gift. Nothing exciting. My brother-in-law has finished my bathroom project before the heat really strikes. He, my sister and their large dog are driving over the hills of Lake County, on their way home even as I write. And it is light when I wake up. Summer.
ReplyDeleteYou were near the Corral fire, Deana? That sounded serious, though I understand it's mostly contained now.
DeleteJune birthday - Gemini, or Cancer, like me?
I am closer to the fire than Deana. Just a grass fire, but with temps over 100 starting again tomorrow, it will take awhile to contain. It is expected to burn on a low level for weeks., We have already had a lot of days exceeding 100 here.
DeleteThat sounds rough, Anon. Here's hoping to a quick resolution and cooler days ahead.
DeleteI live in Sonoma County, north of Rhys. It's fires this size so early are worrisome. I am Cancer, Julia.
DeleteWe're supposed to get to 107 this week. ACK!
ReplyDeleteIs that normal, Jenn? Or are you in for another record-breaking summer?
DeleteThe replies are ok, but the Reds’ comments are still cut off.
ReplyDeleteSummer in Bern, Switzerland = eating not just lunch but dinner on our balcony; making Greek salads with feta for supper; being woken (too) early by the birds' dawn chorus coming through the open balcony doors; having tennis lessons on the clay courts instead of indoors and getting used to how weirdly the ball bounces; ordering cold, thinly sliced veal with tuna mayonnaise from the summer menu at my favorite Italian restaurant. I love summer!
ReplyDeleteKim, that sounds utterly idyllic (except maybe for the birds. I, too, mutter curses when they start singing outside my open windows at 5am...)
DeleteKimHaysBern - one of the best memories I have visiting Greece many years ago was the Greek Salad which had no lettuce but lots of large cut up ripe tomatoes, purple onion sliced thin, olives, sometimes capers with a splash of oil & vinegar and topped with sheep feta cheese. Reminds me of warm late summer months.
DeleteKim, that is just heaven, and now you've made me hungry!!
DeleteKIM: I love eating Horiatiki! A Greek neighbour firmly told me that an authentic Greek salad, or Horiatiki, does not have lettuce!
DeleteMy homemade Greed salad (not guaranteed authentic but very easy)is a block of feta cheese, two or more large tomatoes, a cucumber, all cut into chunks; lots of sliced green onions or snipped chives (this is to substitute for slices of the raw onion it should have in it); black olives (ideally Greek ones), salt and pepper. Add a dollop of olive oil and mix it all up. No lettuce! We have this as a summer supper with some bread to mop up the oil. Grace: thanks for telling me that this is called Horiatiki.
DeleteI would try to go in and fix it--but the photos might disappear! Julia has been notified! xxxx
ReplyDeleteFixed it! Sorry, everyone - what a PITA.
ReplyDeleteIt’s better, but some of the sentences are still being cut off and it is also hard to read when the print is on top of the pictures.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I see - it's fine on my laptop, but when I read it on my phone the left margin is still wonky. Will try to fix!
DeleteIt's good now! Thanks Julia.
ReplyDelete👍
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone, for bearing with the annoying weird margin thing!
ReplyDeleteWhen my normal network shows ends for the season in May, I start to look at it as summer.
ReplyDeleteThat's the way we used to define it, Mark!
DeleteJULIA: Thanks!
ReplyDeleteNow that I am reading all the Reds' responses, I realized I have had an odd transition year.
I normally wash my North Face winter parka and put it away in early April.
But I was away in Seattle-Vancouver-Singapore for 5 weeks.
So I just noticed on June 1 that my unwashed winter parka was still hanging on the entry way clothes hook! And my winter booties were still on my winter shoe tray!
Yes, I imagine there's not much call for parkas in Singapore, Grace! :-)
DeleteHA HA, Julia! FYI< Singaporeans Ovidia Yu & her husband have never seen snow. They are planning to go to Denver Left Coast Crime in 2025 since I am fan GOH. It's quite possible that there's snow in Colorado in March. If not in Denver, they are planning on renting a car and can drive an hour to the nearby Flatirons or the Rocky Mountains to see the white stuff!
DeleteI was just in Colorado Springs, Grace, and they had had a snowstorm just a few days before I arrived! Chances are good your friends won't need to drive anywhere to experience snow...
DeleteFrom Diana: I was in Denver when there was snow one day and the next day the snow was all gone!
DeleteI'm not a big fan of summer because of the heat, don't like sweating, and I sweat easily. I do, however, like the extended hours of daylight. We can go to my daughter's and not have to worry about driving back after dark on the road where deer are plentiful. And, there is the beautiful green and flowers. Unfortunately, I always associated Memorial Day weekend with the start of summer, and Memorial Day weekend last year was when my son Kevin was murdered. And, we have flowers in the back yard that always come into bloom around his birthday, on June 11th, which definitely signaled that summer had arrived. But, it is a lovely time for my daughter and her family who love fishing and being on the water. They're taking their boat to the Keys soon, and I'm so happy that they are going to be enjoying a fun summer trip. Now, I need to get our back screened-in porch in shape to sit out on.
ReplyDeleteOh, Kathy, I didn't realize it had been a year.
Delete"When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d,
And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night,
I mourn’d, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,
Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,
And thought of him I love. "
Kathy, I'm so sorry. (Selden)
DeleteKathy, you never forget and in your case it has been tragic, but let me give you hope that the first year anniversary is a milestone. Believe it or not, it does get a bit easier from here.
DeleteTrader Joe’s has brought back their summer stock of fruits such as cherries, apricots and peaches. There are other groceries that only appear this time of year including salt water taffy, strawberry lemonade and Carolina Gold bbq potato chips. They have just arrived in the last couple of weeks and are called limited edition since they will disappear at the end of summer. Haven’t tried the lemonade yet and I’m looking forward to their small round seedless watermelons.
ReplyDeleteI had watermelon for the first time at a Memorial Day BBQ and it definitely ushered in summer for me, Anon. And salt water taffy! That's a staple of all the tourist shops here on the Maine coast. I love it.
DeleteHow much do watermelons cost? A year ago they went from about $3 to never less than $5. Huge inflation, and not something that I buy anymore - regretfully.
DeleteSummer happens when all the college students and cadets go home or graduate and the town is relatively quiet. You can get into any restaurant without having to wait for a table. The city and county start having events for the populace: concerts, food festivals, etc. My husband just left with Jack the dog for a few weeks/months in Texas. I planted some tomato plants and can't wait for the reward.
ReplyDeleteNew London, or Colorado Springs, Pat?
DeleteI live in Lexington, Virginia. Home of VMI and Washington & Lee. Lots of famous alumni from VMI.
DeleteAh, I forgot about those cadets!
DeleteFrom Diana: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH, Julia! Looking forward to long summer days. Seeing visiting relatives. Reunions with friends from my work on the East Coast. Reunions with friends from University. Love watermelons. Dry farm tomatoes. Strawberries. Good salads. Relaxing and enjoying the summer. And the summer reads! Looking forward to reading THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS by Jacqueline Winspear in June then THE SUMMER OF YES (rom com) by Courtney Walsh. And I continue to write. I hit 60 thousand words yesterday! Wow!
ReplyDeleteDIANA: Enjoy your summer trips seeing relatives & friends.
DeleteWhat are dry farm tomatoes??
From Diana: I will have to take a photo of dry farm tomatoes and send it to you. Are you on Instagram? Easier for me to send pictures through instagram. Or perhaps someone here can post a photo of dry farmed tomatoes. I recall it is for a few months in the summer or early autumn. These tomatoes have more flavor for my tongue than the other tomatoes. I really love the dry farmed kind.
DeleteGetting the fans going! I love the sound of a fan and the feel of cool night air blowing on my face. Also, towels and bathing suits draped over the porch railings.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have an " Ambient Noise" app on Alexa that I use when falling asleep, and one of the sounds I love to play is "fan." It's nice to replace it with the sound of real fans!
DeleteJulia, Love when it time to turn on AC, helps with allergy. I grew up with Miracle Whip in our household. No strong feelings, can use either Miracle Whip or Mayo, however would not have a problem with any Miracle Whip users, it is fine with me. Marjorie
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the support, Marjorie!
DeleteDemon cholesterol puts both mayo and miracle whip on the “nono”list. Have discovered a wonderful avocado “mayo” with a taste and a tang I like better than either mayo or miracle whip. ;) Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteElisabeth, that sounds delicious!
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