Friday Five: Hot Fun in the Summertime?

Songbird says: "It's possible I may have a bad attitude about the arrival of summer. On the eve of the Solstice I left for a mission trip to a town in Maine bordering Quebec. Beset by a swarm of bloodthirsty black flies, and a "classic allergic reaction" according to the PA at the Urgent Care, I had to return the next morning to a week of Benadryl and ice packs. (If only I had known about Bug Band *before*...)But I don't want that to ruin summer for the rest of you. So I invite you to share five things you love--or don't--about summer. The tone is up to you!"

Ooooh poor Songbird! That's terrible...BAD flies.
First of all I have to say I LOVE summer!!! There are way more than five things, but I will try to contain my enthusiasm!

1. It's HOT! That might be kind of self-evident you say? Well remember, we are blogging from the great North here....and really, it's not always that way (even, to be entirely honest in summer). But I love it the most when it is. Hot and steamy is my weather. I know...people think I am strange, but it energizes me when the temps and the humidities are hovering a-waaay up there.

2. SUN and LIGHT. Again....something we don't always have in large quantities. Add that to the heat and the steam and I am just the happiest lil ol camper! I love the light lingering on into the evening so we can play longer....walking, biking or just reading on the porch swing without turning on the lamp. It's all good.

3. I feel freer in the summer than I do in the winter. Maybe it's the fact that there are far fewer layers of clothing required to keep me from freezing. Or that I don't seem to worry so much about setting out for somewhere....I don't have to think about sliding off the road or having to find my way through a blizzard or a white-out. But at any rate, I have a much greater spirit of adventure and willingness to go and do...even new things that push my edge. We are getting kayaks this weekend...and I am excited about learning to paddle that little boat! For a girl who really likes looking at water more than being on and in it.....this is a stretch....but a good one!

4. One of the things I have come to really cherish about small town life is the community celebrations. Band concerts in the park, the annual summer community theatre musical, July 4th parades and fireworks, summer festivals in our town and the little towns around us....the community shows up and plays together and we are kind of at our best. At the band concert the other night a group of little kids in great variety were dancing to the community orchestra. Laughing and jumping and falling down and rolling around in a joyous little puppy pile of all sizes and types and colors....it was so wonderful to watch them....just a little bit of summer heaven.

5. Food. Summer food....fresh veggies straight from the garden, ripe fruit from the farmer's market, grilly things, R's potato salad (which I love second only to my dear late mother's), and of course....ice cream! And everything seems to taste better when you eat it outside.

My only "complaint" about summer would be its brevity. It's just way too short and moves too fast. So, as an antidote, I am trying to stay in the moment and savor each beautiful day.