Nearly Summer

Summer must be near.

The heavens have cried themselves dry and the sun has appeared. Today the temperatures soared and I drove with my windows down. The pool is opened and the bleeding heart is heavy with fuscia hearts.

Summer must be near; it must be nearly here.
Things are blooming, the air is sweet and the lilacs are quickly wilting. The grass is growing - so are the weeds - and as soon as it's cut - it needs it again. The fridge is stocked with watermelon, strawberries and corn on the cob. 

I'd say is summer is almost here.

Socks give way to barefeet and sandals, and long sleeves to bare arms. Sunscreen is slathered, insect repellent sprayed (sparingly and only in desperation) and sunglasses perched upon pink noses. Dogs parade their owners, the jingle of the ice cream truck is heard regularly and the aroma of grilling meat tempts the senses. I drove through the car wash, singing hits from the 70's and then opened my sun roof wide. 

Summer is here - there's no mistake - it's really, truly, absolutely here.

Summer tastes like fresh berries.

Cottage bound!

Missing

I seem to have misplaced my memory; you haven't seen it, have you? I'm not sure when it went missing ... for obvious reasons, but  it was fairly long and vivid, covering approximately 49 years. But it's the short term version that I miss the most ...

My list of mishaps is growing. Last week I awoke with a start, glanced over at the over-sized glowing numbers on the clock radio only to find that I was already running 6 minutes late. I am on the job by 7:30 AM so I get an early start to my day. I bolted into the shower and lathered with the shampoo suds. I managed to pull it altogether and get out the door on time. I pick my daughter up on the way and after waiting for almost 10 minutes out front,  I called her.

HER: (groggy and confused) Mom?
ME: Where are you? I've been waiting for 10 minutes.
HER: (Panicked) What time is it?
ME: (glancing down at my radio clock) It's 5:35.
HER: MOM! What are you doing? 
ME: (Annoyed) I'm waiting!
HER: Mom -- look. What time is it?
ME: 5:35!
HER: Go home Mom. Eat some breakfast.You pick me up at 6:30. 
ME: (in complete disbelief) Cr@p! What the... ??

It all made sense ... I had noticed that it was darker than usual and that there weren't any cars on road. Geesh. "Embarrassed" doesn't even begin to cover it!

Then tonight as I sat watching the last 15 minutes of The Voice, I could hear water running - what I thought was hubby filling our swimming pool (he was opening it today). When I heard hubby yell that the tap in the kitchen was running (thank goodness for the overflow valve) it jarred me back into reality. I had started the dishes and while I was waiting for the sink to  fill with hot soapy water, I stepped out of the kitchen to watch one of the singers perform. All recollections of the activity that I had been fully engaged in just 5 minutes prior - were MIA. Double geesh.

Lately I am drawing alot of blanks, dropping lots of details, losing my word retrieval skills and all in all - missing my memory. Am I losing my mind? Women who have travelled this path are quick to reassure and comfort -- it'll come back.  Cripes, I hope so or label me nuts!

So for now, I am flying without a net - and short term memory! The upside is that I can re-watch movies and enjoy them like it's the first time. : )

Give a Little Safety Net Against Malaria

Kidlet is on a mission trip in the DR right now and she is finding the heat and humidity close to unbearable. She doesn't do so well with heat - must be all that ice hockey she played. And when some rainfall finally comes to offer some much needed relief from the heat, it's an open invitation for mosquitoes. Lucky for her, she has a treated mosquito bed net with her to protect her from the bite -- and potentially -- malaria.

This week for my Give a Little commitment and in honour of Africa Day - May 25th - I donated to Spread the Net, the Canadian campaign to raise funds for and awareness of the prevention of malaria. They work with partners on-the-ground in Africa to purchase and distribute bed nets to some of the most malaria endemic countries in Africa.

It amazes me that a $10 piece of netting can be the simple but effective solution to protecting people, especially children, from contracting a deadly disease. It was a small gift, but one that can make a big impact - and perhaps save a life. Tonight when I go to bed in a comfortable bed, swaddled in covers in a cool, mosquito-free room, I will give a silent prayer of gratitude.

Read about my Thursday's Give a Little Challenge and other posts. I have to give ongoing props to Wendy Smith for her inspiring book, Give a Little. Consider giving it a read.

Wordless Wednesday: Cool Hause Options



Next best thing to sailing there ... Vancouver, Canada



Floating house in Vancouver marina

Blossom

The persistent rains have left lush in their wakes and a freshness in the air. Today the air is heavy with the perfume from the lilacs that have newly bloomed. Lilacs are my most favourite ... along with the apple blossoms. The slushy hues of lavender and pinks that line the street for just a few days are spectacular eye candy. And that the blooms last for such a short time makes them that more special ... like precious gems... to be enjoyed immensely, intensely and fleetingly. 

A perfect reminder to live presently, fully in the moment. 

Long Weekend

It was the first long weekend of our summer season. Who cares if it poured buckets and that the paths at our cottage were a veritable mud fest. Who cares if four adults and two dogs (who barely tolerate each other) were sequestered in a 750 sq ft cabin without cable TV? It was a long weekend ... three days in which thoughts of our jobs and our busy minds were silenced by the music of the forest and the lapping of the lake. Here is the weekend in pictures ...

Bunkie make over

Sun came out long enough for a canoe ride.

Up and Away

I dropped Kidlet off at the airport at the crack of dawn this morning. She is off again, this time to the Dominican Republic for a 3 week mission trip. Equipped with her bug net, Kraft dinner and a few random anxieties along side the American money in her pocket, she is hoping to learn about the culture and gain insights into the issues, help out where she can and practice her Spanish. She is planning to blog about her adventure so I'll keep you posted once I see her first post.

As for hubby and me, we're headed up to our cottage to give the upcoming summer a proper reception. Saturday is supposed to be hot and sunny but even if it isn't, I will still awaken to the chirping of birds, fresh woodsy air and maybe even the rhythmic tapping of a woodpecker. It's the first long weekend of the summer for Canadians - a preview of what is to come. Peace.

So Kidlet is away and we're headed up North. Oh the places we will go ...