Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Summer meme

RevKim and QG have tagged me for this summer meme, that had to wait while we were spending a gorgeous summer weekend in the Texas hill country. More later (including deer pictures), but now to the meme!

1.) What first tells you that Summer is here?
The weatherman's prediction that temperatures will remain around 80 degrees overnight.

2.) Name five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs.

-grilling (I grilled chicken legs tonight, with Stubb's rub under the skin)
-baking blueberry pies and peach cobblers
-making ice cream on the back porch
(Why am I always thinking about food?)
-going to the beach (well, that's not really limited to summer around here)
That's all I can think of...summer is about seven months long here, so it's hard to think of a lot of things we can only do in June, July , or August.

3.) What is your favorite smell of Summer?
-a big bag of ripe peaches!

4.) What is your favorite taste of Summer?

-see #3!

5.) Favorite Summer memory?

I don't know that I have just one. I remember day camp and trips to the city pool as a child...YMCA overnight camp for a two week session...lemonade stands...walking outside in the early morning when there was still the slightest hint of a cool breeze (but not for long)...
Summer was my dad's busiest time of year (he was an agricultural chemical consultant, and spent his summer days walking the cotton and soybean fields), so I don't have many childhood vacation memories associated with it.

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
Extreme heat, since it's what I'm already used to. As long as the A/C works, I'm fine. I've lived in the Sun Belt all my life, and can't imagine life in a very cold climate.

7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?

Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana is next on my list. I never wanted to read her vampire books, and it wasn't until I read Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (highly recommended) that I realized how vividly she writes. Her descriptions of street scenes and crowds are almost cinematic. Frederick Buechner's Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons is waiting on the nightstand, too.

8.) How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally
?
Life does slow down a bit (at least at church), which gives me a little more time to think and read. I hope that I will take some contemplative time this year and allow the slower pace to be a spiritual ally.

I don't think there's anyone left to tag for this one! But if you haven't done it yet, be my guest.

8 comments:

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Ah, peaches. Here at least, it is so hard to find good ones. But my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Lori said...

Peaches and blueberries....yummmmmmm

God_Guurrlll said...

Anne Rice...hmmm. I tried to read her vampire books a few years ago but I got physically ill because of her vivid descriptions of blood and gore. Perhaps I'll give Christ the Lord a try.

Jody Harrington said...

I agree with you about Anne Rice. I liked Out of Egypt, too. Thanks for the tip on Road to Cana--I'll check it out.

And thanks for playing!

Rev Kim said...

mmm, peaches and blueberries, pies & cobblers! I wanna come hang-out on your back porch and help you with that ice-cream.

Out of Egypt is a read in progress for me, but I'm enjoying it. Thanks for recommending Road to Cana.

Jan said...

I agree with you about the air conditioning. I could not live in TX if we did not have air conditioning. Pies, cobblers, and ice cream make me drool, as I've been on the South Beach Diet for the past five days--nine more days to go!

Diane M. Roth said...

I can smell the peaches! great play!

DogBlogger said...

I posted the haircut pic, as you requested....