Here it is, mid August already. The last two days were mostly rainy but the sun came out when I needed it.
This has been the most beautiful spring and summer in my memory. Back in early April, when it first started to warm up, no one trusted it because early thaws in Minnesota are frequently the precursors to maga storms. We’ve had cool summers, short summers, hot sticky summers and wet summers. Every once in a great while we get a long, warm summer in which we get lots of night rain but the days are sunny and bright.
The summer of ’15 is shaping up as being nearly as perfect as summer can be. We’ve had few days in the ‘90s, few days where the humidity has been unbearable, few days where we ran the air conditioner for more than couple of hours. Yet, we’ve also had a lot of rain. The lakes are higher than they were in the spring, after our nearly snowless winter. It’s very unusual for the creek to hold more water in August than it did in April.
Even last week, which had more rainy days than the three preceding months, I couldn’t complain. On Wednesday night, a storm dropped lots of lovely rain on us. Friday morning was cloudy but I had plans to go to the arboretum. By the time we parked the car, the clouds had gone and it was a perfectly lovely afternoon to spend walking amongst the flora and legos.
Saturday morning was again rainy but by the time we headed off to the barbecue at Katie’s house, the sun had come out and it was a perfect afternoon for a backyard party.
Katie and Adam’s party was great, by the way. Their enormous backyard was gorgeous and Katie had strung the white lights she bought for their wedding reception all around the half acre lot. The back deck and patio had dining room tables set up beneath a wonderful maple tree. I have no problem with patio furniture but there’s something really inviting about a dining room table and wooden chairs beneath a tree. It’s so brave. It’s like you’re saying to Mother Nature “I know you could ruin all my furniture, but you won’t.”
Sometime between the party Saturday night and church Sunday morning, it got rainy again. By late afternoon, the sun had come out, there was a lovely breeze and I walked around the lake with my sisters. When I got home again, I was hot enough to turn the air on in the house. Then I sat on the deck and read my book while Jay fired up the grill.
Summertime food is the best food there is. We’ve had chicken, steaks and burgers of course but it’s the fresh produce that makes every meal. We’ve been eating a ton of sweet corn, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and melons. Last night I did strawberry shortcake.
By bedtime, the house was cool without a drop of humidity. So was outside; I opened the window next to my bed a crack. Jay always freaks out when I do this without turning off the air but if I turn off the air, I’d have to open all the windows and that would wake him up. He has enough trouble sleeping. Besides, when it’s the same temp outside as in, the air doesn’t kick on. I just need that freshness coming in the window. I spend all winter breathing the same air, I’ll take the fresh stuff as long and as often as I can get it. it really bothers him when I open a window while the furnace is running. What can I say? Fresh air and dark chocolate are my only vices.
This morning dawned as bright and clear as a summer day should be. I turned off the air, opened all the windows and let the house fill with the aroma of the freshly mowed park across the street. I’ve got a list of projects to work on, now that I finally finished the deck and I’m excited to get at them.
We’ve already had five months of gorgeous weather this year and no reason not to expect three more.
This is especially serendipitous, since Tyler and his family chose to move back here this year. Ty was happy in Texas and dreads the coming cold weather. But this Minnesota summer has made Texas look like hell on earth. A sticky, stinky, parched and cracked hell.
Minnesota is green, lush, fragrant, breezy, fresh and warm with lakes, lakes, lakes everywhere!
Yay!