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Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Am I Cool or What? Part II




If you're not an early riser you probably shouldn't plant a garden where the summers are this hot. By early rising I mean about 5 am . This shot was taken at around 5:15 this morning. Not that it's easy. Not that it's fun. It's just that if you enjoy being outdoors, gardening, walking, running (a nod here to my son and daughter-in-law the marathon runners), or if you like having your devotions and/or breakfast outdoors, this is the only way to do it.




Don't hate me but I've always loved being up early.........everything is so fresh, so new-looking, and most importantly it's still so cool!






There's not an awful lot going on in my garden this time of year. Zuchinni is going crazy because it loves the heat, but everything else is to put it mildly, "languishing" , much like the proverbial Southern belle. I don't know why I even bother to plant anything in pots because it is so much work to keep them watered and shaded. My "Garden Guy" book is telling me its time to plant pumpkins for a fall harvest. I've always meant to......it's such a nice vision in the middle of July to see a lovely autumn garden overflowing with pumpkins! I have this vision every year, but so far I've never done anything about it........maybe I will this year......then again maybe I won't........it's just so hot!.





I'm alway grateful for my bouganvilla plants though.......they provide some of the few spots of color right now. Oh if everything were this easy.



The Pool Now when you have a pool you pretty much live in it all summer! Here I've pulled a couple of scrapbook pages from my archives.........


As I've said before, I like to keep my scrapbooking pages simple because I like the emphasis to be on the pictures.......add a few captions, a little humor......and you have a "cool" memory.






Night swimming can be a lot of fun too, with the added bonus that you'll sleep like a baby! On this page we had just gotten back from vacation and Christopher had some friends stay over that night. Always a full house in the summer.





 BONUS PHOTO!



Now, Joan, forgive me for putting this one in......I just had to.....look at how cute Stacey was!




The Lawn



I probably water the lawn around here too much. I just love to hear it I think! So refreshing.
Then I water the lawn some more...........
Of course I'm not showing you pictures of the front lawn right now.......the automatic sprinkler we have out front just broke.....and a little while without water around here and........well you don't want to see it! If we don't get it fixed soon I'll just have to resort to dragging the backyard hoses out front. Like I said, you don't want to see it. In the backyard it's different though. I have another dilemma. It's too hot for any of us to mow! Good excuse, huh? Yeah, I thought so.






Think about this though. Some days, when the sun is about to go down, if I'm lucky, it's cool enough to go outside, take a cool drink, and tackle that summer reading list. I love the sound of a summer reading list, don't you? Even if there's never enough time to finishing reading everything it's just fun to have one.





The Mountains Finally, if all else fails in the "keeping cool" department, we just might take off for the mountains............





................find a cool stream



...............and stick our toes in! Ahhh........


Keeping it cool.............





Take some time to go over to see Susan at Southern Daydreamer to read about lots of other outdoor adventures.
And for beautiful water photographs join them here!

19 comments:

Ginny said...

Your whole post was fun, but I really enjoyed looking at your scrapbook pages. Put some more on soon. I really like the simplicity and the humor!

iriegal said...

I love this post. It just captured the feel of summertime

Jana said...

I've been reading your blog for a while but just today decided to become a follower. Your blog is so much fun!

CailinMarie said...

what fun!
I love an early morning outside with a cup of coffee!
Your water pictures are great fun.
happy Outdoor Wednesday

YayaOrchid said...

Oh, my! You are a seasoned scrapbooker...is that how you say it? I love your pool pictures, they look so refreshing. Your garden seems to be holding up pretty well with the heat. We had 110F heat today!

srp said...

I would like to find a cool spring or creek or river or something... perhaps a pool... to get in too. I know we are close to the ocean but the beaches this time of year are packed.... shade and air conditioning... my heroes.

Aubrey said...

What a great summertime post!

Coming by from SITS! WELCOME!

Little Nut Tree said...

I really enjoyed this post. I love gardening but daytimes are too hot for me too (although I'm not in the States). Used to love early mornings but two small children have me longing to be back in bed...

Here from SITS to wish you a happy Thursday.

the wild raspberry said...

I am a bit jealous....I know that it is so peaceful and beautiful at sunrise but I rarely get up to enjoy it. I'm not a morning person....nor a night-owl....I'm really awake at 10 am but then feel a nap coming on after lunch!! :)
have a wonderful day.
chasity

Amy said...

What a totally lovely blog. I especially love your pool! Nighttime swimming looks so wonderful. Isn't summer just so much fun? Amy :)

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Elaine, I loved your post. It is just beautiful. I get up at 3:45am every morning, as I am off to work by 5am. I start work at 5:30 and then I get off at 3pm, still early enough to do a few things, if you can stand the heat. Our front is rock and the back has tiff, so I do a lot of work in the back, but it is so worth it. Your yard is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. You should try planting a pumpkin seed. Pop over to my sisters blog, There's An Angel on My Front Porch and read her story of her pumpkins. It is a few stories down, but you will love it. Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by and reading my Lemon Tree story. Country Hugs, Sherry

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a charming post. I love your photos and your attitude. have a wonderful day.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Geat pictures - thanks for sharing. When I worked I was up very early, but now days I seem to keeping getting a little later.
Glenda

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Elaine, I just love your posts. You always have so many great ideas... Your scrapbook photos are neat. I have lots of 'albums' but never was creative enough to get into scrapbooking.

I am NOT an early riser--but I will admit that I love it ONCE I'm up. Hubby and I have talked about getting up and taking a walk about 6 a.m. Talking is as far as that has gone so far!!!! ha

Having gardens and doing any outside work must be hard in your hot climate. We get heat and humidity here --but nothing like yours I'm sure. We are still able to work outside during the days.

Bouganvilla is so pretty. I remember that we had it when I lived in Texas.

Swimming is perfect on a hot summer day ---or evening!!!!!

Come on to the mountains ANYTIME.
Hugs,
Betsy

Trudy said...

I love your blog.

Come and see what's new at my blog at www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com

You can also check my 8 year old daughter's sewing blog at www.sewingsister.blogspot.com

Blondie's Journal said...

Elaine,

What an incredibly positive person you are!! I have been in a "not too nice mood" today because of the heat, because the air conditioning is too cold and there is no fresh air in the house, because the garage needs to be cleaned, because I have weeds in my beds, because I have gained a few (??) pounds...you name it, I'm on my horse!!

So to say the least, your post was refreshing!! I love to get up early, it's a nice slice of life you don't have to share with many. It is cooler but I refuse to believe I'm too old to stand the heat! LOL!! And I too think about growing pumpkins, especially in the Fall when they are being sold!!

Well, Happy Outdoor Wednesday!! I hope I am in a better mood next week! :-)

xoxo
Jane

Becca said...

Elaine.....I was just wondering what was on your summmer reading list. I always make one and I'm always curious about what's on other's lists.
By the way....love the little "series" you've got going on here!

Amber said...

Happy Saturday Sharefest!
What beautiful pictures! I love your scrapbook pages :)

Unknown said...

I love night time swimming - when I was younger we had a pool at home and on some of those very hot summer nights, you could find us out in it too.

Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day - feel free to come back anytime!