High Summer is Here

All around town, Hollyhocks are in bloom, lending an old-fashioned charm to our somewhat old-fashioned city. Our back border this year yielded these dark, dark purple flowers. Last year they were kind of stubby, but being biennials, this is the year for them to shine.

Other signs of summer: the cicadas are in full voice from afternoon until after sunset. And last week, tree frogs started calling in the trees along the back fence line. Fireflies still wink and the moon is at first quarter phase. The weather turned a little cooler and less humid after a stormy frontal passage yesterday, so we are enjoying a quiet evening on the porch.

Today Norm preached at our church as a favor to our vacationing pastor; his sermon title was "Motorcycles are Everywhere" inspired by a sighting on our June trip to Kansas. We also attended a wedding shower for an engaged couple (Norm said it was his "first shower" ) and then we went to a wake, which is what they call funeral visitations in these parts. We were away from home in our Sunday duds for 10 hours, unusual for us. Clearly we could arrange to get out more! The coming week promises to be busy with appointments, errands, exercise and housecleaning! We have to be ready for Stanley Steemer when they come next week. We are enjoying having an in-tune piano, if only for a little while. An 86-year-old Story and Clark upright with a small crack in the sound board does its best, but as Barry the Tuner said on Friday, nothing is guaranteed. Of course, when you live in an 86-year-old house, nothing is guaranteed either. But for tonight, we are grateful and content.

We wish good travels to Don and Kay as they will return from Guatemala this week. And also to Cousins Mike and Debi who are heading to Las Vegas for a little R&R. With stressful jobs in education and medical care, they deserve to beat the house a couple of times.