We are in the middle of our first TN summer and things have been heating up since my last post!
I am use to my NW "granola summers" that slowly saunter in with a smooth transition from Spring rain to long summer days. . .traditionally after the 4th of July. Well, my experience this year in the land of grits has been quite different. I never knew four seasons could happen in just one season. . .Summer! It started out warm with nice evening cooling, June. Then went directly into HOT with days topping out at 112 degrees (record heat wave) and not cooling below 80 degrees at night, and this is only the end of June. The heat wave lands us in "water restriction" to bring in July. The monsoon rain came dumping 5 inches of rain in 3 days taking care of the water problem, which brings us to mid July. I will call this season humidity! If I thought the sweltering days of 112 degrees were bad 90 degrees with high humidity is so much worse! One thing I had never imagined use for, in the NW, are those window visors that you put in your car window when you go into a store. Nice, but not needed. They happen to be super beneficial here, if you don't want to fry an egg in your car. . .or melt your lipstick!
I have had many of my "grits" friends so apologetic to me regarding this weather. . .I wonder why??
Sunny day in the NW equals running outside, eating on the patio, going for a bike ride or enjoying a concert in the park. Humid day in South equals a dip in the pool, shopping in the AC, eating lunch in the AC, going to a movie in the AC, followed by a dip in the pool after dinner, and resting under the super high velocity fan in combination with AC.
Honest confessions from a NW girl, I don't mind seeing the sun everyday, the vitamin D has been very beneficial during this transition. I have had to sit at the pool almost everyday, regardless of what the "Dad" says or thinks. . .it's real rough. .sipping away on iced tea, chatting with new friends and reading many a books pool side this summer. The "Dad" admits to a tad bit of jealousy. . . .but someone has to take care of the kids!
Even with all the hot weather, we have been adjusting well and I don't even mind grilling on the BBQ a bit in the heat!
The crazy thing is, as my beloved NW is heating up for summer BBQ's we are having our last summer Cook Out's before the kids go back to school in a few weeks. I don't think they are quite ready to quit these lazy summer pool days. They have succeeded in becoming amazing swimmers, all three of them! My daughter has always wanted a pool party and with a birthday in the middle of July it's the perfect remedy for a 95 degree summer day! She is beyond thrilled! Even though the kids will be back in school in a few weeks, the pool is open until September and I am sure I will be able to get a few more books checked off my list!
I will end with a short story retold by "The Dad" regarding his trip to the "wine and spirits" store in our neighborhood. (side note to my NW peeps; no wine or liquor sold in grocery stores, only beer)
He was at a wine tasting a few weeks back and was told he was sampling "a good NW wine from the WILLAH-met valley". He chuckled and kindly told the young man that it was actually pronounced "will-AM-it Valley", much to his dismay the man argued back that he had been told the correct pronunciation was "WILLAH-met", "Well", the Dad (proudly wearing his UW shirt) smiled and said, "I am from the NW,and can guarantee that it is not pronounced that way". The man than thanked him and said he would share that info with the manager, and the all knowing sales guy! Ha!
So thankful we can enjoy our famous NW wines, even here in "Gritsville"! That said, I raise my glass to you dear friends far and near, may your days of summer be as lazy as sipping a good NW wine on your front porch, may your AC never go out!
While life is not always luxury living in the Four Seasons, or peaceful living with Vivaldi's Four Seasons around every turn. I pray God reveals himself in the little joys of every season in your life.
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