Tuesday 4: Summer Solstice

 

Summer Solstice

Welcome, it's Tuesday 4 time. I keep it up in memory of my friend Toni Taddeo who really enjoyed her blogs.

The Summer solstice arrived and some got hot weather and some got chill and rain. But summer is the time for holidays or vacations, summertime activities and being outdoors more. It's also a time, like winter, for complaints and we realize that people in Texas, Arizona and Florida stay inside in summer.

1. How is summer treating you so far this year? Could things improve? How do you make summer fun in your neck of the woods?

As most of you know we started out our summer with our AC breaking down and having to be replaced.  

Thankfully last week when it broke down the weather was cooler and rainy.  This week we are already having high 90's each day and no rain in sight, so we are very thankful to have our new AC unit keeping things cool. We live in Florida, and this is just the beginning of the summer heat. We mostly stay indoors in the summertime here, and try to stay cool. If we take walks, we try to go in the early morning or later in the evening when the sun is going down behind the trees. Summer fun in our neck of the woods now at our age is when we can be together with our loved ones and friends for a meal, either at our house or at a restaurant.  We sometimes take rides to neighboring communities just to get a change of scenery, but again, because of the heat we mostly stay inside wherever it is cool.

I love to watch the birds and wildlife outside our windows and keeping cool beside Still Waters Pond. Here's a few pictures I took just this morning:

Mrs. Ruby Throated Hummingbird says good morning!

Mr. Daddy Bluebird is bringing food to Mrs. Bluebird and the new brood of babies in the nest now.

Mr. and Mrs. Dove are preening and keeping cool in the shade of the pine tree...

And also taking a drink and/or a dip in the bird bath to cool off...

Mr. Sand Hill Crane has been showing up alone lately. I am not sure where Mrs. Crane and the two colts Pat and Val are these days.  Perhaps they are off on vacation. I hope they are okay, but I don't really understand why he is alone.

It seems very strange. I keep asking him to tell me where they are, but he hasn't given me an answer. Maybe they have found a better place to spend the summer where it is cooler. The last time I saw the whole family the "colts" were both able to fly just as well as the parents...so perhaps they are off exploring and he's here to hold down the fort.

I recently bought this new Log Cabin Bird feeder to replace a wooden one that was beginning to fall apart.  

I've been waiting for the birds to discover it, and finally today they showed up. Mr. Cardinal seems to approve...

But he still likes to stop for a cup of tea before he heads back to the trees...

And then Mr. Carolina Chickadee discovered it and kept coming back for more seeds.

I am glad they approve of the new log cabin diner. 

That would be my choice too, if I were a bird...

2.We give you magic powers! You can change the climate, the surroundings, even your house and anything you like. Tell us what you are doing to make your summer or your entire year better..... GO!

Oh wow...to be able to change the climate, surroundings, etc. for summer would be amazing!! If I could, I'd be in that log cabin somewhere up in the mountains where it is cooler,  perhaps with a little lake or mountain stream right outside to enjoy.  The weather would be perfect for swimming in the lake and/or kayaking down the river/stream.  We'd have a firepit and enjoy sitting around the campfire each evening, roasting hot dogs, making s'mores, and just enjoying the cool, fresh mountain air with friends and family telling stories around the fire.  It would be the kind of place where everyone would love to gather. There would be a hammock to nap in or lay there and read a good book, and a porch to rock in the rockers or a swing where you can just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. That's my ideal dream of a place to spend the summer.

3. The puppy on the boat up above is your new friend. He wants a name. What name will you give him and would you like to be in that picture (if you can't sail we will provide someone for you!)  That puppy is so cute. She looks a lot like Lily Grace's puppy Bailey.  (You all remember Lily Grace don't you?)  So, maybe I would name that cute puppy Bailey.  As far as would I like to be in that picture, well, I know I can't sail, but if there is someone who can take care of that very competently, then that would be fun. I'd prefer a small rowboat in a small lake as opposed to being on the ocean, however.  

4. It's friendship pot luck day at your house this month. Everyone is coming. Please assign us what dishes each of us are to bring to make for a great day.(by the way, you needn't use names. Just name some dishes you would like people to bring along)

Oh,  that sounds like so much fun!  I won't assign names, but here's what I would like others to bring:

Potato Salad, (or a Pasta Salad, if you prefer). Deviled Eggs, baked beans, Watermelon, homemade pies, either cherry or peach for summertime, and we will make home made ice-cream together. I will provide the barbequed chicken and/or hamburgers/hotdogs, corn on the cob, and iced tea and/or lemonade and rolls. We will have such a great time! I can't wait to see all of you!!

I hope you enjoyed this little summer solstice dream time!  But even if we can't do all the things we wish we could do, I hope we will all have a peaceful and blessed summertime right where we are, doing whatever we can do to bring joy to others in some special way.  

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

Thank you, Annie, for coming up with some fun questions once again! I hope others will join in and share your summertime dreams!!