Hello? Fall?

Hello? Fall... it's me, Lisa.  Remember me?  We've met before.  There were a few years when we were really good friends, back when I lived in Toronto. Where are you?  The calendar says you should have arrived by now.  I left you in Nova Scotia a couple of weeks ago and I thought you would be on your way down here by now.  I know it takes you a little longer to get down here but what is taking so long?  Your stubborn sister season, Summer, is wearing out her welcome.  She is still really hot, I thought she'd let up on us by now....but noooo. She decided she would add a lot of humidity because heat feels so much more miserable with a lot of humidity. I am beginning to think she is never going to leave. I need your help!

I promise to plant your favorite flowers when you get here.  You know...the cute purple and yellow ones?  I know they are your favorite colors. The leaves on some of the trees think you are here already because they are starting to drop their leaves.  The squirrels are getting ready for your arrival, they are hunting and gathering like you are right around the corner.  I have to believe they know what they are doing. The stores in town are ready for you too!  There are boots in the shoe stores and sweaters in the clothing stores.  The only problem is that we still need to wear tank tops and flip flops.  I love Fall clothes and I can't wait to comfortably wear my jeans and boots.  Send me some cool days and nights so I can finally put away my tired summer wardrobe.

Fall, I'll bet you are economically minded aren't you?  Just think of all the electricity you can save us by cooling off the south.  Being green is very important, help us be green by letting us open our windows and turn off our air conditioners.  The world will be a better place if you just get a little more aggressive and blow through sister Summer.  You can do it!  Stop being such a wimp!  Don't let that huge body of water, the Gulf of Mexico, keep bullying you back up north.  Push your way down here....for the environment!

I am looking forward to visiting you this weekend in New York state.  I sure would love it if you would jump into my suitcase and come home with me!  Think about it.

Your Sweaty friend,
Lisa

Just a Word About Smiling

Do people smile at you on the street where you live?

When we went to Budapest we were told not to smile at people. Really. TJ sat next to a local on the flight from Frankfurt to Budapest, she was a very cute young thing and he seemed very interested in conversing with her....hmmmm should I be worried? Nah, I sat in another row and slept soundly for the entire flight. Anyway, she gave him some valuable information about the city but the most curious information was not to smile at people, "they will think you are a bit loony in the head." Seriously? Must be a hold over from all of that communist repression, the only people who could smile were the crazy ones. As a result, when we were in Budapest I dutifully walked all around town with a serious, unsmiling, look on my face as to not appear loony. I would catch myself similing or wanting to smile at complete strangers and remember her advice and put on my serious face. How sad is that? I am sure there are people in Hungary wondering right now where that loony lady came from and where she has gone.

Tonight I went to our church bazar. I smiled at lots of people and I don't think any of them thought I had lost my marbles. They might have though that I looked like I was having a lot of fun and most of them smiled back. I have definitely noticed that people in the south are much friendlier than people in almost any other place. You really can't appreciate this until you leave and come back. So chalk one up for coming back to the south. Smiles are allowed.

The Good, The Bad and The Vet

Crepe Myrtle in our front yard

One of the good things about summer in the south is crepe myrtles. These trees wait to bloom until June and the flowers are spectacular. They are a truly southern thing and bring to mind French Quarter courtyards and Savannah sidewalks.

The trees outside my kitchen window
These trees line the common area behind our house and they provide the view from my kitchen table, where I am sitting as I write this, and they are in full bloom now. What is not to love about hot pink?! Makes me happy just looking out the window.



And in the backyard

Another favorite summer thing for me are caladiums. They love the shade and apparently they love the heat because they are growing like weeds in the back yard. How do they do it?

Which brings me to the bad.....

It is wicked hot and humid down here! I am remembering the words I said a few months ago about embracing the weather. Well, I'm not sure I'm embracing it, let's just say I am tolerating it. The only reason I am tolerating it is because I know that in 2 1/2 weeks I will be migrating north to a kinder gentler climate! I can do anything for a few weeks, even survive in this climate. No need for that hot yoga class, just walking the dog I sweat as much as I did in a class. Want hot yoga? Just go outside and pull a few weeds... bending, squatting and sweating all at once.

Speaking of the dog....
Today we went in for the annual shots, check up, etc. Sadie needs all her papers in order for her big flight to Nova Scotia. Has anyone ever noticed that vets are some of the nicest people ever? My sister once said that she wishes she could go to a vet for her medical treatment, they have great bedside manner. So true! Today was no different. So, after being injected with about 10 different things in three different places, poked and prodded and given a lovely pedicure, Sadie got a dog treat. Yup, and she was thrilled. Should I give her some baby tylenol and put her to bed now? After buying the flight kennel, getting all the shots in order and the health certificate for travel and paying for the flight to and from Nova Scotia, Sadie better have the time of her life and maybe wash a few dishes when she is there to chip in around the house.

Time to go do some garden yoga.