It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
- Henry James

   In my humble opinion, today should be considered a national holiday. The summer solstice for me, marks the absolute best time of the year. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am perpetually cold. I kid you not when I say I once climbed to the top of the Wright Brother's Memorial on a day when it was 110 degrees with the heat index.....and I was comfortable. So you can imagine why this season is my favorite time of the year. What's not to love?

• Flip Flops, bare toes, painted toes, cool air rushing over feet that have been crammed inside of heavy socks and bulky boots for far too many months.
• Patios, Decks, Stoops, and Porches.....add a few friends and a drink or two for instant fun.
• Along those same lines....restaurants with outdoor patios. Buffalonians loooove to eat and in the summer months the restaurants that feature an outdoor eating area, are crammed to the breaking point with customers.
• Driving with the windows down, singing along to an amazing summer tune...May I suggest, "Summer in the City", "Saturday in the Park", "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and my all time favorite "Cruel Summer."
• Hot cement under your feet, as you head for a pool....God bless our neighbors for being so generous with theirs. :)
• Watching everything grow....Basil, Rosemary, Patio Tomatoes, Coreopsis, Dahlias, Rosebushes and Astilbe. 
• Hot summer nights, sleeping with an old fashioned box fan in the window. Love that white noise....and for those of you who suggest air conditioning to me; please refer to the section of the blog that refers to my issues with cold.
• Reading/napping in a hammock on a lazy afternoon....if you do not have one, I HIGHLY suggest that you invest in one. Your happiness may depend on it....
• Summer Food...watermelon, strawberries, clams, corn on the cob, basil and tomatoes, ice cream cones that could feed a small village and of course a burger straight from the grill with all the fixings...(this was dinner tonight in honor of the soon to be national holiday.)
• A Great Thunder storm (Let me preface this by saying the storm should not cause any damage.) Sitting in the dark, watching the sky light up from the heavens, can be a pretty amazing sight....
• Getting to be a kid again....running barefoot, playing frisbee, watching for fireflies, picnics, and blowing bubbles! Yes, I said blowing bubbles. I realize I'm 30......something but I dare you to get yourself a bottle of bubbles and not end up grinning from ear to ear. Seriously a simple pleasure in life...and those are the best.

So as we close out the 1st official day of summer, Happy Holiday to you and yours....... :)
     ~ Adrienne

PS - Go get an ice cream....:)