Bright, Bright, Bright Sunshiny Day

As I relaxed in my neighbor's pool after a morning's work in the garden, I found myself thinking what a perfect summer day it was. Although the temperature was in the mid-90s, low humidity and a light breeze made being outside almost pleasant. All right, go ahead and call me fickle, I deserve it ... yes, it was just two days ago that I was whining about how much I hate summer. And, indeed, August is my least favorite month of the year: not only is it usually the hottest month, but we've already suffered through two or more months of high temperatures by the time it gets here and frankly, my dears, we've had enough!

So a morning like today's is a welcome respite ... a brief break from reality ... and when I closed my eyes, I was transported back to the carefree summer weekends of my early twenties when I'd drive over to Austin to hang out with a friend there. We'd spend hours lazing in the pool ... settling into an inner tube, I'd hook my heels on the pool's edge, make sure a cool drink was at hand, grab my book and relax. Some kind of sense memory took me back there today and I sat for a long time with my eyes closed, savoring the feeling of being my younger self again.


And when I opened them, and looked around at my current surroundings, I was still as happy to be here in the now as I was to be there in the then. I heard a cardinal calling and spotted a handsome fellow feeding his mate. I saw a Hamelia rustling and heard the swish of an anole lizard as he leaped from one hiding spot to another. A screaming pink Zinnia was blooming in the rock bed by the pool and the profusion of delicate pink blossoms on the 'Katie' pink Ruellias lining a fence almost made me reconsider my NIMG position (Not In My Garden).

All of the pictures were taken in my neighbors' back yard. There's been some serious interest in the property over the last couple of week so I suspect my days in the pool are numbered. Think they'd consider not closing on a sale until the temperatures drop????