monique

Really Summer

The first day of August means, for me, that it is really
summer. August has the smells and tastes that mean it's
finally here--sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, cantaloupe,
peppers, and cucumbers from the garden, blackberries,
peaches and at the end of the month, apples and pears.
There is so much it seems never ending. It makes me feel
rich. It's the smell of the last of the raspberries coming
to a rolling boil for jam at the beginning of the month and
the pungent vinegar of bubbling kettles of bread and butter
pickles ready to be canned at the end. It's walking by
rose bushes lush with flowers with scents so sweet they can
make me swoon.

Later in the month comes the county fair and then, at the
end of the month, the state fair. There will be animal
barns filled with cows lowing and chickens clucking. I love
to look at the poultry, the sheep and goats, and the rabbits
best.It's the sounds of the midway, the music from the merry
go round, the happy sounds of those on the rides, the smell
of hot dogs and popcorn. I enjoy the flower arrangements,
the baking (oh, those fancy decorated cakes!), and the
quilts! I never miss the quilts!

The weather will be beautiful day after day with only a few
days here and there that are a little cloudy or have some
showers but it will be so lovely for so long it can lull me
into thinking it'll last forever.

Oh, there are a few clues summer is ending-- school
registration comes this month and sales for school clothes
and supplies, but school won't actually start until after
Labor Day so there's time yet. And one thing I've noticed
about Oregon--we're always one month behind weather-wise.
It's still cool and rainy in June and September is always
warm and clear and the trees don't even think about changing
color until mid-October. So enjoy summer while it's really
here. It won't last long!