Is it summer yet?

We visited a friend in a nursing home not too long ago and a sign up said "Weather: hot, Day: Friday, Season: Spring". I was shocked. Was it really spring still? It's been hot enough to cook an egg on the pavement for the last couple of months! OK, so I haven't tried it, but people here steep tea by placing it outside in a glass jar and one night we were going to roast marshmellows at a friend's house only to find that they were already melted in the bag!


Many people don't think Ivan looks like me, but apparently he's got my ability to tan. Which my coloring is what I call residual tan, so maybe Ivan will become darker like me too. Not yet "summer" when this was taken and he's already several shades different on his sandal tan!


There are some signs of beauty and life, no matter the extreme heat and parchness. Our flowers have come up, although they are not as breathtaking as we had hoped.

All but about 5 of the wildflower seeds came up and we had three packs of them, they are supposed to bring the beauty. These zinias that did make it were intended to be filler flowers, but they are the only things that came up. We have butterflies visiting.


Notice Ivan pointing one out as it flies away? And the most exciting part is that the bird house I painted years ago is not only occupied (for once) but is now home to a little litter of baby birds.

We can't see in, it's too high up in the tree, but Brian managed to hold the camera up for a birds-eye-view (ha, ha!) There are also nests in the trees. Other years, we've had nests in the front porch hanging baskets and have had babies hatch in them. It's so fun to see new life, whatever the species.

Our garden is trying to come up, but is languishing in the heat. We've had radishes and spinach so far. Friends have given us squash, so someone is doing something right. Ours have flowers and little squashes growing, but nothing mature yet!