Wednesday, August 24, 2011

It Ain't Over 'til it's Over

I hear people say summer's coming to an end. I suppose that's true if you have kids or you're in school. Otherwise it's all conditioning, and I don't mean the artificial cooling of indoor air.

It feels like summer's over because it's supposed to end in August. It used to end in August. (Oh, nostalgia.) The shadows are long, the light is golden. When I was a kid I returned to school after Labor Day and pretty soon autumn arrived.

But I live in southern California now and this year as we approach September, temperatures are rising. I have to wait until 7pm to walk the dog and even then I have to carry extra water lest we both expire. All summer long the rest of the country's been suffering from record heat. Well, my east-of-the-Rockies friends, we are finally getting it.

Oh, I just love it.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I guess, but it puts a crimp in most of my hikes.

Petrea Burchard said...

One does have to get up awfully early in the morning to beat this heat.

Bellis said...

Oops, I'd better stop admiring your gorgeous photo and get out with the dog before it's too hot. Glad we're getting on well with the east coast by exchanging hot weather and earthquakes. But they can keep the hurricanes and tropical storms.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Oh, I love summer and warm weather. We are just getting to the best part towards the end of September and all of October when it drops below 80. My husband and I call it "California weather" with the blue skies and low humidity but I am not sure what part of California we are thinking about?!

Bises,
Genie

dive said...

It's raining here.

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh Bellis, I wouldn't mind a good thunderstorm. Maybe not a hurricane but some pounding rain.

It's a big state, Genie! We have everything from mountain skiing to sunny beaches (and all of that within an hour or two of Los Angeles). But you're thinking about Pasadena, of course.

Dive. See my note to Bellis.

TheChieftess said...

Ah heck!!! Summer just barely started up here!!! Thank the dear Lord that September and October generally have a generous proportion of our California Indian Summer!!!

TheChieftess said...

PS...love the photo!!! The essence of a warm summer evening!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Maybe it's time J and I made good on our threat to visit you, Chieftess.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Not loving it. I have a tendency for heat sickness, so it's all fans, hats, white clothing and spritz guns.

Petrea Burchard said...

Come to PDP and get coping tips! Thank you, PA. Sorry it's such a discomfort to you. I am so weird. I've just come in from working in the "garden."

-K- said...

Beautiful photo, Petrea.

Laurie Allee said...

I love this shot. Languid late summer heat and light. Makes me want a mint julep.

Steven said...

I hope the gin & tonic weather lasts for another month or two.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, K. Now if I could only figure out how I did it.

Laurie and Steven, you guys with the alcohol. Yeah, okay, not a bad idea.

TheChieftess said...

I'll have a mint julep, please...

Judy Williams said...

I'm coming by to swoon over your beautiful shot. It's so hot here, all of the trees are withering and I have to water my pots on the deck sometimes twice a day. The only thing that keeps growing is my basil.

Kathy invited me over for drinks. I'll have a vodka tonic if you please!!

Virginia said...

It ain't over down heah till about October. Talk about a long , hot summer!
V

Speedway said...

I keep waiting for summer. Since May it's been in the high 80s and 90s, rather than just nice warm days one could enjoy without feeling baked by a torrid sun.

I love that pink and gold picture and look forward to seeing that light in the mornings, even though fall and nasty winter lurks not far behind.

Petrea Burchard said...

All right, let's all just drink. I don't see any other way of dealing with this.

Welcome, Judy, it's so nice to see you here, and I'm pleased to hear your basil is doing well because today is the day I chose to plant basil in my back yard!

Virginia, I really can't complain. We're built for hot weather here. Some of the Midwest has really suffered this year.

Speedway, wouldn't it be nice if you had a mild winter, seeing as you've had to suffer all summer?

Laurie Allee said...

My poor Texas family has been sweltering with 107-109 temps for a month. I can handle this heat. It cools off at night and isn't swamp-like with humidity.

May I have another julep? One is NOT enough today.

Petrea Burchard said...

Help yourself. The bar's open, the liquor's free. I've had a fyoo too many an' I can no longer pore.

Katie said...

This is a wonderful summer photo! I would love to bask in this warmth. Bummer you're getting hot weather there; feel free to send some up north. It seems to me that July and August have been unusually cool and foggy in the SF/Berkeley area (and even East of SF where it's usually in the 100s for many days on end it's only in the 80s). Strange weather days indeed. If the bar's still open, I'll have a Moscow Mule.

Speedway said...

Kahluha or Bailey's with ice cream. I don't drink much but this stuff is great in a shake -- or not. Just slathered all over will be fine, too.

WV: busilypo = What Boz and P do with the little sacks on the trail.

TheChieftess said...

A Moscow Mule??? I think I'll stick with another mint julep!!!

Yikes...Judy...I feel your swelter!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

What on earth is a Moscow Mule? Sounds like a kicky stiletto with fur on it.

Yeah, I think Judy wins. She's one of the Texas family Laurie's talking about. That is HOT.

Ms M said...

Am I too late to request an icy cold margarita?
It's blazing hot here, too, but not as hot as Texas.

Susan Campisi said...

I love hot nights, but I wilt in the mid-day sizzle. Good thing I don't live in Texas.

That's a gorgeous photo. I came home from my trip back east to the tree on my front lawn bursting with pink blossoms. What a treat.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ms. M, you are not too late. We'll be drinking for the rest of the summer. That could be weeks.

Welcome back, Susan. It's like your yard said "Howdy!"