Summer in Nebraska...hot times

How can a place have such extreme variations in temperature? 6 months ago it was below 0. I like the warm weather so much more than the cold, but come on... Let's hear it for the 80s, would love a little of that! My poor garden is suffering, the farmers are watching the crops shrivel and die. We have not had measurable rainfall in almost a month. Time for a little break, please...

Summer Noise

The cicadas are singing their summer song.

Not a 10, no beat and I can't dance to it.

They sing of heat, long days, longer evenings and air so thick it drips down the outside of my glass.

The neighborhood owl is voicing his opinion as well.

I feel more harmony with this group than the rain slapping against my windows in fall or the silent snow that falls in winter.

Summer noises remind me of happy times.

Bare feet on hot streets,

heading home as the street lights came on.

Cool pools,small bikinis, Beach Boys singing about California girls.

California hot days eased into fog cooled evenings.

The east coast, the south and here in the Middle, evenings are hot days without the sun.

Summer 24/7

I imagine Blanche Duboise fanning herself and dabbing the perspiration from her neck with her delicate handkerchief.

I hear Scout and Jeb running home at dusk.

Great stories of hot, humid summer nights.

Sweet Sounds of Summer

Just came in from the front porch. Listening to the sounds of this warm, humid, late August night. Everyone is out...crickets, frogs, cicadas, even a couple of birds up late. The wind is blowing the leaves into soft sighs and swishes. Easy tones from the wind chimes bring it all together. The cicadas came late this year. We usually notice their arrival in early August. One day you just are aware of this incredible noise. They fill the trees with their sound. We rarely see them, but we sure know they're here. It's one of those sounds that make me say..."SUMMER".
These are the sounds that call to mind Tennessee Williams and his stories of long hot sultry nights.

The nights used to include sounds from within. Babies crying, dishes being put away, music from the stereo. Soft voices murmuring from the porch swing, tinkling of glasses filled with cold lemonade.
Now the windows are all closed to keep in the conditioned air. People stay indoors to keep cool. I can remember my mother talking about sitting on her front porch when she was a kid. I sat on the front porch growing up. Lots of talk, lots of games, lots of fun summer nights.
It all comes back with the sounds of this warm ,humid, late August night.
Good memories, good times, good sounds.

New Home Office

Spent most of today out on the front porch. It has been raining, lots of thunder and lightening. Sitting out here as I write this. Humid as all get out, but lovely just the same. Nothing feels like summer as much as a hot, humid ,rainy , lazy, Sunday in August, Nebraska day.