Summer Day 2

June 22, the second day of Summer and I am loving the hot Summer!

One thing I really like about Summer in Lakeland is the Crepe Myrtles. They start blooming about this time of year and normally bloom until September or so. I like the fact that they keep their blooms so long and look so pretty.

According to the dictionary, a Crepe Myrtle is a "shrub or small tree". I am surprised they didn't settle the argument and call it either a shrubOR a small tree.

The weather has truly been "Summer" weather, anywhere from 81 to 87 degrees when I get up in the morning. It is still cooler than the rest of the day.

Summer!

Summer is officially here and this is the "longest day of the year". While I love Summer, June 21 is always a little bit sad because the days (hours of daylight) will become shorter, which means Winter will return!

CMA Fest

Just got back from our 5th "CMA Fest" in Nashville. We really enjoyed it, in spite of Aliene having to walk around in a "boot" resulting from a sprained foot.

What makes the CMA Fest so much fun is the range of the performers and the range of activities. Performers range from beginners trying to break in, to the experienced performers who are now well past what many people consider retirement age (and still great performers).

One of my favorite places is the Exhibit Hall, where performers sign autographs, post for pictures, and businesses and performers have booths with freebies and information on products etc. I'm not really into getting autographs but I like to get pictures.

Also in the Exhibit Hall they have the "acoustic" performing area where you can listen to both beginning and well know performers. I especially like it since many of the acts have fiddlers who are excellent.

Heat continues. Most mornings when I get up it is in the mid 80's already and forecasts fare for 100 degree temperatures. Actually, I love it and I hate to think of it ending.

I will probably note on June 21, how much I hate to think of the days getting shorter and the coming winter!

Birds are back!

The birds have returned, at least until the next time we are away for several days! All of them came back, including the yellow ones, the blue ones, the red ones, the stupid woodpecker (who scares off the other birds) and the squirrels. It is good to have them back!

Summer is here, or at least the spirit of Summer. I always think it is such a shame that June 21, the official start of Summer also marks the beginning of the end of Summer with shorter days etc!. I have learned to enjoy Summer because it is so fleeting!

It seems like this was a long hard winter, and a long cold Spring, although it has been a lot better here than other places-it is all relative! I EXPECT it to be warm here so am disappointed if it isn't.

It has really been busy, although it is always busy. Taxes are over, the budget is complete and other major projects are underway. Some time I am going to have to tackle the squeaking door problem in our house. I understand the best way is to take each hinge off and soak it in motorcycle gear oil. It sounds strange enough it probably actually will work. One of these weekends, I will get after it.

We built a new addition to City Hall, which is nice, but is also means I have spent a lot of time moving and trying to decide what goes where! I have a larger office, in fact it is a wonderful office, although I wish it had a few more windows.

Angela and Kali and Katherine went to to Orlando to see Disneyworld and related attractions. They report they are tired, but they had a lot of fun. (They are back in OKC).

Aliene twisted her foot, so isn't walked well, although thank goodness she didn't break anything or hurt her back. Her back is hurting again, although in a different way, so the Doctor is starting "pain management" with her.

We don't have a lot of plans this summer other than to enjoy the summer. We are going to the CMA Fest (in Nashville) and maybe a couple of trips to OKC and then to the Courter Reunion. Angela is going to an acting school in Las Vegas (it is free, she won it) for a week. Unfortunately it is the week before the Courter Reunion so she will miss Friday night but be there for the reunion Saturday morning. The good part is we are going to pickup Kali and Katherine and have them visit with us for a week prior to the Reunion and take them to the Reunion.

I'll get this posted. I guess between Facebook, Twitter and my normal writing, I didn't realize it had been over a month since I posted!