These Summer Days

It’s mid-July.

These are full-on hot summer days. We’re on the other side of a heatwave that, with the humidity, has been tough even for us heat-loving Kamloops folks to appreciate.

These are stormy days. Saskatchewan weather has been, shall we say, interesting. One evening, as we settled in to eat dinner and partake in a snippet of local news, our phones startled us, blasting out a tornado warning. We’ve had impressive thunderstorms but, as yet, and hopefully for the duration, no tornadoes or hail here. Other places in the provinces haven’t fared so well.

These mid-summer days are sweet ones. The garden is doing respectably well—some things not as well as past years, but that’s all part of gardening. Every year is different. That’s keeps things interesting. Thankfully, we’re not reliant on the carrots that failed to germinate.

These are salad days. The cool, wet early spring has resulted in radishes the size of beets and an abundance of pretty lettuce. Tossed together with a light raspberry vinaigrette, we remember what summer tastes like. Cold suppers with a favourite quinoa salad, cold ham, and cherry jello.

These are fruit-filled days. Oh, the fruit! B.C. cherries and blueberries. The freezer is already starting to fill. Watermelon. And the first raspberries from Gerry’s backyard jungle.

These are guilt-free reading days spent in my favourite deck chair on the deck.

These are pesto-making days.

These are days spent appreciating the changing flowers blooming in our front yard thanks to my husband. It’s lily time now—and they are already lovely.

These are slow days with pockets of time for reflecting and remembering.

These are Saskatchewan-canola-in-full-bloom days.

These are cut flowers from the yard on the dining table.

These are wander-in-the-garden days. Pulling the odd weed. Watering. Marveling at the miracles.

These are days filled with peace and gratitude.

This is summer.

We waited for what seemed like a long time, but the truth is that it showed it right on schedule. As always.