Swan Song of Summer

Happy September! Or maybe I should say Bittersweet September. I am looking forward to autumn. It's beautiful here with vibrant foliage and a rosy-cheeked chill in the air, but I hate to say goodbye to summer. There are so many things I'm going to miss...

• lazy mornings cuddling with Pipsqueak in bed and talking;
• fresh peaches and local corn and strawberries;
• the smell of sunscreen;
• relaxed evenings with a cocktail on the deck before dinner;
• fresh vegetables from the garden;
• the sounds of frogs and crickets;
• the smell of fresh cut grass;
• grilled meat;
• salads;
• walking out of the house without outerwear;
• riding in the car with the windows down;
• sleeping with the windows open;
• watching the bats and deer at dusk;
• fireflies;
• dragonflies;
• thunder storms;
• taking showers outdoors; and
• hanging clothes to dry outside.

But there are a few things that I won't miss...

• the smell of insect repellent;
• mosquitoes;
• slathering sunscreen on an impatient child;
• bikini-line hair removal;
• having to shave everyday;
• having to give the dog a bath almost daily; and
• the fact that it almost always rains as soon as I get laundry hung on the line.

Let's face it. There's a lot to like about summer, and not much to dislike.