Summer

For lots of different, unrelated reasons, I have never been a huge fan of summer. I grew up in St. Louis, and the summers there are just as hot as they are down here in Hotlanta. But the summers down here last so long. There are times in the summer (especially late summer) when I give up believing that winter even exists. What is a coat and why would I want one?

I cherish the winter months here. They are so mild and easy. And when they aren't--say, when it snows--well, better take a week off of school/work! :) Even though as far as I remember we've had a significant amount of snow at least every winter that I've been here, I've never seen a single snow plow or salt truck. So it's no wonder everything literally shuts down when it snows. It's kind of fun.

I'd say the breakdown of hot vs. cold months down here is about 8/4. Eight months of heat with occasional mild spots. And four months of cool, breezy, sometimes freezing temperatures. So today I composed a list of the things that I like about summer so that next year when the weather is warming up, and I'm dreading the temperature change, I can read it again and be excited instead. Or at least that's the idea.

Sundresses--I don't really care for dresses in general, but sundresses are the exception. They are cute and feminine, but still perfectly comfortable.

Hummingbirds--We have a hyacinth bean plant growing along our fence outside, and it's pretty much a hummingbird magnet. There is almost always at least one hummingbird around, if not several. I have to be careful of what color I wear when I'm out on the back porch because if it's red/raspberry, there's a good chance they're going to come looking to me for food...and hummingbirds in your face can actually be a bit unnerving!

Strawberries, peaches, blueberries--lots of delicious fruits are in season which means they are cheap and I can buy them without any worries about the budget. Yum.

Vacation--my family usually all meets down in Florida for a week during the summer. We have lots of fun traditions that come out of Siesta Key..

Koolaid--an occasional summer treat. Delicious!

My backyard--Chuck grows all sorts of things in our garden--roses, lilies, a crepe myrtle, jalepenos, strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, lettuce, asparagus....it's beautiful and fresh and delicious. (There's definitely a food theme to this list...)

Lizards--Chuck teases me because lizards are such a novelty to me. I'm so excited when I see one in our backyard (which is pretty much everyday). I'm pretty sure there's a whole family of them living in our backyard because I see lizards of all shapes and sizes throughout the year. They eat up the bugs and once I saw one jump off the trellis to catch a wasp as big as its face in midair. It was definitely a National Geographic moment. Lizards are so cool!

My garage--one of the awesome things about adulthood and home ownership is that I can park my car in the garage. That means I don't burn my legs when I sit down or have to wear socks on my hands to keep them from burning when I touch the steering wheel. (Ah, memories from my old '93 Civic....:))

Drawing with chalk on the driveway with Ivy--though Ivy really couldn't care less, she'd rather just watch me draw things than draw anything herself. I'm sure she'll be more interested in it next year.

Well, there's the list for now. I'm working on one or two more posts, so maybe you'll see another one here before the apocalypse. No promises though. ;)