This is rather odd because my favorite season is autumn. I love the chilly mornings and evenings, and the leaves changing colors, with the hint of smoke in the air, and the taste of hot apple cider, and the sense of snuggling in for the winter. Summer, on the other hand, leaves me anxious. I don't like heat and humidity. Dawn comes too early for a night owl. And -- worst of all -- I need to pay attention to the weather report. I don't like thunder and lightning, especially being caught outside or on the road when a storm sweeps in.
But I love the colors. I love looking across our one-way street at the lavender and other plants along my neighbor's walk. I love the yellow daffodils growing beneath my front windows. I have purchased seeds for wild flowers and waited for warm weather to sprinkle them. I intend to plant them in my pocket-size backyard. If the seeds become a riot of color, I'll be able to watch the butterflies who come to drink from them.
I'm thinking of putting up a bird bath. The birds would enjoy it, and so would my cat, Harry, who would sit in the window watching them with his tail twitching.
In summer, I want more color around my house and on it. My vinyl siding is a pale cream. Not a color I would have chosen. This summer, I want to paint my front door. Change it from teal to pink or orange or blue gray. Paint the steps slate gray or navy blue. And when I drive up to my house, my house will make me smile. Maybe a pale yellow door. . . and more flowers in my front yard.
I think that the colors of flowers, houses, and clothing worn by people in sandals and sneakers are the best part of summer. That and ice cream -- a bowl of butter pecan or a fancy dish of vanilla with crumbled cake and nuts from the ice cream shop in the mall with the open design that is perfect for summer strolling.If I have ice cream in summer, then a salad is all I need for dinner. In summer, even a small meal is sufficient when it has all of the colors of the season.
Seafood, too. I'd like to take a walk along the shore and stop for lunch.
Maybe I should find a place to sit down in a park and write there. The best part of summer is that I can decide where and when I'll write.
Summer still reminds me of when I was a child. The endless days filled with possibilities. Not a bad feeling when there is writing to be done.
Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your world and a picture of your beautiful Harry! And for being a good kitty mama by keeping him inside. My cats love sitting by the sliding door to the deck and watching the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife in the woods behind my house. Wishing you a peaceful and productive summer!
ReplyDeleteTanya
I feel much like you about summer and the fall. We get wicked heat and humidity where I live and I am so glad when September comes. You express it so much better than I can, being a writer! Loved the photo of your cat too. Hubby and I have recently lost our fur baby of 12 years and are debating on adopting - not sure, dog or cat? Thank you so much for your lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tanya. I think Harry is beautiful, too -- although I'm always amazed that he can leave clumps of fur everywhere he walks and not show any signs of going bald.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your cats have the ideal view of the world. But even here in my city neighborhood, I have a pair of robins who returned this year to a nest under the awning over my front door, and a rabbit family that lives in a warren under the storage hut. Not to mention the ground hog who passes through now and then from my yard to the neighbors. So Harry needs to be an indoor cat both for his sake and the sake of the wildlife. Not that he seems to mind as long as he can go out on the enclosed porch in the afternoon and turn his belly up to the sun.
Donna,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your cat. Harry recently turned 13, but he's still dashing about like a kitten. So I'm hoping he may be aiming for 18 or 20 years.
I've been debating getting a puppy for Harry to play with when I'm at work. I don't think he would care for another cat because he is a lap sitter. But a puppy might be company, and Harry could set the rules early on.
And, Donna, thank you. I'm glad to hear my post resonated. I try every year to really love summer. But when the temperature hits the high 80s, I'm ready for autumn. So it's always that trade-off.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes; if you get a puppy, Harry will definitely be in charge. The cat is always the alpha animal in such an arrangement. It's amazing what good friends a dog and cat can become (especially during the intervals when they have to rely on each other for company). Go for it! (And fodder for your next book, maybe??)
ReplyDeleteAnna, I keep looking at puppies and thinking about it. I'm pondering housebreaking and crate training.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely fodder -- In my Lizzie Stuart series, Lizzie's guy, John Quinn, has a dog that he found on the highway and didn't intend to keep. I think George might soon be meeting the cat that turns up on Lizzie's doorstep.