Summertime in the West

Remember the saying, "Be careful what you wish for?" Winters last so long in the mountains with snow well into May. So by June, we are wishing for summer. It usually arrives sometime in late June to late July. But this year, it has arrived with a vengeance! Hot, hot, hot and dry, dry, dry. Portions of the west are infernos.

But enough about the west--what about ME? All I want to do is spend a little quality time outside and unless I get out there before 10 AM, it is just too darn hot and dry. Is it too much to want to garden or hike a bit? Because I am attempting to be a better citizen, we are not watering out lawn very frequently and my yard and flowers are all going to hell. And because of the smoke from the wildfires, I am in a constant state of sneezing and sniffling. Hurray for Benadryl!

Summers really are the best time of year in the mountains. Concerts in the park, drives with the top down, dinners on the deck--great times that are pretty hard to beat. Just be sure and wear a hat and sunscreen. And try to realize how short our summers really are.

But today I sit thinking about the coolness of fall and the downright coldness of winter. I know that the arctic chill of winter will come and I'll be complaining about it too. But for now, I think I'll kick the AC down a few degrees.