The Last of August

Okay. I'm going to try not to be too melodramatic here. Today was a beautiful, somewhat muggy summer day. After a foggy a.m, the sun came out just before noon with nary a cloud in the sky. We got out the wading pool (though with only an inch or two of water in it, that barely qualifies for puddle-jumping, I guess) on the back deck, the boys frolicked merrily with their toys, and after less than five minutes in the warm sun I was "glowing."

Yet.

This is the first really "summer" day we've had in a week or so, with some cool, cloudy days giving us whiffs of a change. The tomatoes are coming in, which is always delicious, but also imminently telling. AND the flies are getting slow and fat. Yes, that's a rather gross observation. But they're not only annoying when they're like this; they're bearers of news that I'm not ready to accept.

We still have twenty-three days of summer left. Technically. After five years in Minnesota, though, I know that the next three weeks could change our encounters with the outdoors fairly significantly. Don't get me wrong; I love autumn. (Check out this quick overview of the solstices and season changes; so interesting!) I always think summer is my favorite season until gorgeous, melancholy autumn arrives. But after last winter, which seemed to last forever--okay, so it wasn't six months of winter. It was closer to eight.--I don't want to let these warm days go.

So, as a fond embrace of the glories of summer, I give you this; a glimpse of our simple afternoon in the sun. So many days like this; so many sweet moments of spilling lemonade, squabbling briefly over toys, getting dirty and WET, and generally having a gentle, lovely time watching two boys enjoy warmth and sun.