A few of my favorite things
Despite the still chilly-ish weather, I’m in a summer mindset. Summer equals walks around the neighborhood, or if we have time, walks along the Mississippi River.
I love wandering down dead-end streets holding Jason’s hand and admiring everyone’s landscaping. I’m compelled to hold a running commentary of the flowers I see (“They’ve got peonies! That’s a whole YARD full of hostas! How come their daylilies are already blooming?”) while pointing out wildlife like a seasoned guide: (“Cardinal. ‘Nother cardinal. Bunny. Squirrel. Deer. Baby fox! Mole* that is creepily staggering down the street in broad daylight.”).
We walk past sidewalk drains and listen to the white water rapids rushing below. I cannot identify bird calls for the life of me. Baby birds peer quizzically at us from the street, still sporting their old man tufts, their mothers hovering nearby.
The sun sprinkles through the tall maples to splash onto the street, while lazy lawnmowers buzz in the air and the tck-tck-tck of sprinklers greets us on every block. Tumbleweeds of pollen float in the air and collect in piles along the curb. The temperature is perfect, neither warm nor cold. The flap-flap sounds of our sandals follow us like baby ducklings. People wave at us; we wave back.
We return home to our neighbor’s apple tree, which looked like this a few days ago:
Then we stop by a large hedge of lilacs to stock our vase at home:
And then we look forward to doing more of this during our next camping trip:
Aw, summer. It’s about damn time you got here.
* We saw a mole last summer walking unsteadily down the middle of the street one morning. It probably had rabies.
That apple tree is FABULOUSLY GORGEOUS! We have no flowers in our yard because I can’t keep anything alive. Not even my aloe vera plant survived in my care. Sid jokes that we practice Darwinian gardening! Glad warmer weather has finally found its way to where you are. Enjoy! (and remember to wear your sunscreen)
Comment by Julie — May 29, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Oh my god this post SCREAMS summer and I LOVE the photos. Especially all that purple in the first one.
Comment by Jess — May 29, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Wow! That apple tree is totally gorgeous. I have never seen anything like that before. I don’t think apple trees grow in Texas. Probably because it is too hot.
Comment by nonsoccermom — May 29, 2008 @ 10:38 am
I LOVE that tree picture.
Is that YOUR dog? Do you have a DOG?
Comment by Tessie — May 29, 2008 @ 11:15 am
Oh,the sound of the lawnmowers in the distance and the tapping of the sprinklers GOT ME. Oh, summer.
I hope you guys get out camping very, very soon.
Speaking of rabies, apparently there have already been four cases of rabid skunks in the neighboring county. GREAT. (Also, poor, poor critters.)
Comment by Artemisia — May 29, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Tessie, that is Jason’s parents’ dog, Tobie. She is a stray they found: part boxer, and part who-knows-what. She is the best dog EVER. And she loves camping. I just love her.
Comment by Shauna — May 29, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Artemisia, we did go camping over Memorial Day (the hammock picture is from that weekend). But we were kind of wussies and stayed in Jason’s parents’ camper. In a few weeks, we’re going on our first tenting trip – yay!
Comment by Shauna — May 29, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Trees? Nature? What’s that? I live in Dallas. Cement city.
I can’t see the pictures!
Comment by slynnro — May 29, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Moles are the bain of my husbands exsistance. He has all out battles with them a few times a month. It’s awesome.
Also, Welcome Summer for sure! It’s about time!
Comment by banana — May 29, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
holy crap, that tree is UNREAL. so gorgeous.
i think i’ve got a camping trip coming up in about a month… AW YEAH. although wtf! no one in my group has a CAMPING HAMMOCK!
Comment by Alice — May 29, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
So pretty!!! I love the smell of those flowers.
Comment by Penny — May 29, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
Alice, you NEED a camping hammock. Seriously! It will improve your camping experience by 1000%.
Comment by Shauna — May 29, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
I’m in the summer mindset too, which means I have a list of outdoor projects a mile long. That apple tree is gorgeous. My parents have a couple in their backyard that are full of pink and white flowers. I’m always amazed by other peoples’ gardens… I aspire to garden greatness.
Comment by LoriD — May 29, 2008 @ 1:05 pm
That tree is amazing! Awesome pictures, too.
Comment by Shelly — May 29, 2008 @ 1:08 pm
Lilacs beautiful, tree lovely, etc etc, but most importantly: where did you get that fabulous hammock? Must have for next camping trip! (Heck, must have for smallish deck off our apartment…)
Comment by pseudostoops — May 29, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
Pseudostoops, we got it as a wedding gift. It’s a Kelsyus portable hammock and you can find it at Target, REI or other camping stores. Here’s a link: http://www.target.com/Portable-Hammock/dp/B0007Z2BIW
It was easy to put together (a little tough to stretch it enough to hook the first time, but fine after that). It swings a bit and is SO comfortable.
Comment by Shauna — May 29, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
I love lilacs. To me that is the smell of summer coming.
Comment by My Buddy Mimi — May 29, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Wow – I loved this post…your descriptions are so perfect! YAY summer!! I’m glad warmer(ish) weather is finally getting to you guys. And that hammock looks comfy – I’m thinking…will it fit in my cube??
Comment by LA — May 29, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
Or it was on its way home from a kegger. The mole, that is.
Beautiful apple tree. Makes me want one… except for all the picking up rotten apples from the ground part.
Comment by JMC — May 29, 2008 @ 5:02 pm