Summer's Come and Gone--Almost

Wow!  It's been a long time since I've logged in to Blogger.  The whole interface has changed and it took me a minute to find my way around!   I guess I've been so busy enjoying not being busy that I took an unintentional, prolonged vacation from blogging.  But the kids are back in school.  The schedule has once again become routine, so I guess I should get back to real life as well.

I've enjoyed my summer even more than usual this year.  Two (quick) trips to NYC with the requisite shopping and dining.  A new job (that I love).  Lunches with my girlfriends.  Dates with The Mister.  Movie nights out on the lawn...  Snoasis, days on the lake, corn on the cob.  What's not to like?

Maybe the best part of this particular summer has been meeting new friends.  Neighbors in the new neighborhood.  Mom's of some of HRH's new dance friends in NYC.  Strangers on airplanes...

It might be the end of 2011--but I think this is going to be the start of a fantastic year!

Ready to Concede Defeat

Last week a lovely, young couple moved into the neighborhood.  It's obvious that they are completely devoted to one another.  They chatter happily as they work to create their new home together.  They never seem to squabble.  They are committed to getting their home in order as quickly as possible.

My adorable new neighbors are the Swallows...  No, not exactly Mr and Mrs Swallow--more like the barn swallows.  Yep, my new neighbors are a couple of birds.

So The Swallows (Mr and Mrs) decided to relocate to the neighborhood late last week.  I enjoy their lively twittering.  Their roost of choice is the temperature gauge right outside my office window, which gives me a prime spot for observing them.  I've noticed their pretty colors, iridescent blue wings, orange heads, yellow bellies...  And I thoroughly enjoy their animated conversations.  Their cheerful chatter makes me smile.  They are brightly colored, energetic, and very entertaining to watch.   

It was obvious from the first that the friendly little neighbors were some type of swallow; I decided to find out more.  So this is what I found out:  my cheerful neighbors are the same pesky little birds who love to build muddy nests.  I know, I know...  They will keep the pesky bugs out of my yard, and I'm sure they have other redeeming qualities, but here's what else I learned...

Barn swallows mate for life.  They will live four to seven years, and they will return to the same nest year after year.  They hatch two broods a year--each brood usually includes three to four hatchlings.  The first brood generally hangs around to help with the second brood.  This is all fine and dandy--after all, we encourage committed relationships and a tightly-knit family unit.  The next part is where things get dicey...

So, besides the messy, muddy nest, and the unsanitary droppings, these cheerful little chirpers are also territorial.  Especially when they have a brood in the nest.  So, basically, I'm looking at the young couple, and their first brood dive-bombing any guests who come to my door during the raising of the second brood.  Would you come to visit me if you know that you would be attacked by a swooping flock at my door?  No, I didn't think so...

So we've taken to discouraging The Swallows.  It's not that I'm opposed to them living in the neighborhood, but I'm not sure about having them as "live-in'" guests, so to speak, for the next four to seven years.  Every day we spray the mud off the eves of the porch.  Again, and again, and again.  The Swallows are nothing, if not persistent!  This has been going on for a week now.  And after a week of starting over with their nest-building every few hours, they just keep at it.

I'm about ready to concede.  The Mister, however, is holding his ground.  It is, after all, the house he is financing--The Swallows haven't even offered to pay rent for the pleasure of sharing our roof.  So, armed with a Super Soaker water gun, The Mister attacks, retreats, and attacks again.

It might be a very long summer...    

7-Eleven

Do you remember Summers spent in flip-flops and rainbow t-shirts?  Lying on the driveway to get warm after running through the sprinklers?  Tire swings, tree houses, and sand boxes?  Those things speak of my childhood Summers.

I grew up in a small town.  No stop lights, no grocery shopping on Sunday.  No fences between neighbors.  Backyards that were shared by all the neighborhood kids.  Block parties, freeze tag, and tubing down the creek...  Winget's for treats on the walk home from the pool.  Cluff's for Cokes, and the POD for dances...  But no 7-Eleven.  My Summers were filled with fun and excitement, but what I really wanted was a Slurpee.

Slurpees--the epitome of Summertime treats.  The one thing (besides grape Mike & Ikes) that I craved while pregnant with HRH.  That cold, refreshing, burst of icy, sugary syrup.  That drink that leaves a tell-tale sign if your teeth aren't freshly brushed.  That supreme creator of Brain Freeze, served with a spoon-bottomed drinking straw. That was always my wish for the perfect Summer treat.

Last week I noticed a change on the corner of 1200 W Center.  The Sev was still there, but where did the gas pumps go?  It's not like I make a habit of stopping at 7-Eleven to fill my tank (I prefer the prices at Costco).  But if I were to be in need of a little topping-off, I would certainly consider The Sev as a great place for filling the car (while fulfilling my own snacking and beverage needs).  But now, without the gas pumps, I'm not sure I will ever stop at 7-Eleven...  I just don't see myself needing the calories and caffeine enough to make the extra stop for snacks.

After noticing the removal of the 1200 W Center pumps, I saw the thing that actually gave rise to this post...  There is a new shopping center going in on State Street.  There is a sandwich shop, a scooter store, a restaurant, and something new going in.  For days, every time I passed by, I tried to figure out what the new business would be...  I was stumped, as the colors looked like a 7-Eleven, but it seemed like such an odd location for a gas station...  That's when it occurred to me, The Sev is no longer a gas station...  And, although that is how I have always seen it, maybe it never really was just a stopping point for refueling.  I'll be interested to see how many people stop in for a Slurpee after going to The Chev or Costco for refueling.

A Rainy Day

It was a little drizzly yesterday with intermittent bursts of sunshine. Lots of heavy clouds passing through, but just a little moisture. Isn't it amazing to see what a little rain can do in a high desert? Just look at these flowers flourishing in my yard!


I'm not even sure what these flowers are... A week ago I was growing straggly looking bushy things...

These pretty blooms just seemed to burst from the leggy stems of my mystery plants over night...

The blossoms were an unexpected surprise... A pleasant surprise... I will be waiting (expectantly) for them to return next summer.

And btw--these shot are all SOOC. I'm getting better! lol

Definitely Not Winter--But What?

HRH is moping around the house, listening to the thunder.

This is soooo not Summer!

The clouds are hanging heavy, but they have yet to drop their watery cargo. The hillside is green and beautiful with new growth... But the mountain tops are white with a fresh dusting.

I have to agree with The Princess... Somehow it just doesn't seem like summer.

So, this is summer?

I know I've discussed my seasonal confusion before, but apparently I'm still suffering from it. Is this summer? Or is this spring? Do we decide based upon calendar, temperature, length of daylight? I'm leaning toward it being spring... But I don't base that on anything logical. So, I guess I'm open to suggestions about appropriate terminology.

My kids are equally confused. JJ is still insisting on wearing long sleeves for fear of getting cold (with shorts, of course). I can't convince him that it's unlikely given the 88* forecast. Of course, the snow forecast for the mountains this weekend doesn't really promote confidence in the warming weather, does it?

But Max is a little more confident of sunshine and cloudless days. He started things off with a splash when he fell in the lake yesterday. (Don't worry grandma! The Mister rescued him promptly and was wearing a life vest!). He was dumped out of the tube... He can't wait to have another go at it!

Zeke just asked me (for the umpteenth time) if he has school tomorrow. I responded (for the umpteenth time) that he won't go back to school until after the summer vacation... A vacation that will include swim lessons, tumbling, music lessons, trips to the cabin, picnics, afternoons at the park, and the inevitable trip to the ER for stitches (best case) and/or x-rays and plaster (worst case)... As a side note--remind me why this is called summer vacation... It doesn't sound exactly vacation-y to me...

Anyway! Regardless of whether this is spring or summer, it's starting out well. The weather really is beautiful. The flowers along the roadside are cheerful and friendly. The crickets were chirping up a chorus last night... And, maybe best of all, we picked up the Volvo yesterday, and today I enjoyed cruising with the sunroof open. It is in much improved condition, aside from a misaligned headlamp which still needs readjusting.

We've been giving the grill a workout, and I bought marshmallows yesterday. I can almost taste the S'mores! Spring--Summer--doesn't matter. I'm loving it!

Remember the Sunshine?

I just found this photo on my computer...

Now I'm daydreaming about hot summer days.

I'm wondering if we'll ever see the sunshine again...