Dunk

 

Sun tea

When I was a kid, I always knew it was summer when I saw a sun tea jar perched on the deck; slowly brewing in the morning sun. I didn't much care for the tea back then, it was just more of an icon of summer than anything else. Recently though, I have been craving a crisp cool summer beverage; something more than water, but not in the realm of the soft drink. So, I decided to give sun tea another chance.

I purchased a one gallon sun teat dispenser and some tea bags and I was ready to go.  The instructions were simple enough, I just put nine tea bags in one gallon of water and let sit outside in the sun for up to four hours.  Watching that tea brew on the back porch brought back so many memories for me.  After four hours, the tea was ready to drink.  I dispensed the tea into a cup full of ice, added a little simple syrup I had made for the occasion, and I was in refreshment heaven.

My tasty beverage was light, just sweet enough, and satisfyingly refreshing.  Tea was the beverage of choice that Friday evening, and it barely lasted the evening.  My only mistake was giving Emilie my cup because she wouldn't give it back.  I look forward to seeing many more batches of tea brewing in my backyard in the coming months.  What a wonderful summer drink!

End of Summer Party

This past weekend, Valta hosted the first annual 'Sunspot End of Summer Party' and it was a rousing success. After we got there, Valta showed us around and we immediately spotted the paddle boat peacefully floating next to the dock. Valta said we could take it out and Angela and I were all over it. Valta got some life jackets for the kids and we were off.
Ari got to steer and he even paddled a bit himself. We went all over the pond and then decided we had better let someone else have a turn. It was tremendous fun, and Ari and Piper really enjoyed themselves. As we were waiting for the food, the kids took advantage of the hill that lead from the house to the pond and played on it for quite some time.

Ari had a blast rolling down the hill; and watching him brought back a lot of memories from my childhood. This was the first time he rolled down a hill successfully; we tried to show him how to do it on the hill at Jackson Morrow Park last year, but he just couldn't figure it out. He got it on his first try this time, and it was hard to get him to stop so that he could come eat dinner. After we ate, we were treated to the musical stylings of the Eleventh Hour.

It was an awe inspiring, rocking good time! It's always fun to watch them, and they put on a memorable show. The kids were dancing, spinning, and running to the music; they were having the time of their lives.

It was a wonderful party, and I was happy to hear that Valta said she would like to host it every year. Looks like the start of a tradition to me!

September's coming soon...

"Nightswimming" is the eleventh track from R.E.M.'s 1992 album, Automatic for the People. It is yet another R.E.M. song that I enjoy singing to Ari & Emilie before bed; and a song that I feel is a fitting tribute to the end of summer. Enjoy!

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse.
Still, its so much clearer.
I forgot my shirt at the waters edge.
The moon is low tonight.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
I'm not sure all these people understand.
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water.
They cannot see me naked.
These things, they go away,
Replaced by everyday.

Nightswimming, remembering that night.
September's coming soon.
I'm pining for the moon.
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
Could not describe nightswimming.

You, I thought I knew you.
You I cannot judge.
You, I thought you knew me,
This one laughing quietly underneath my breath.
Nightswimming.

The photograph reflects,
Every streetlight a reminder.
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night.

Cheers for ears!

Ahhh...corn on the cob. Here in Indiana, it just doesn't get any better than that in the summertime. There is more than corn in Indiana, but there doesn't need to be. Biting those sweet succulent kernels off the cob one row at a time sometimes feels like a religious experience. Add a little butter, salt and pepper...mmm...no words can describe the flavor sensation.

Yep, the corn is finally in season this year here in Indiana. Pick-up trucks with their beds full of corn dot the intersections and it's hard to resist stopping to pick up a few ears. So easy to prepare, so fun to eat, truly a treasure for the taste buds.
Even Walter can't resist.

Lightning Bugs

(photo by Daniel Schwen)

One of my favorite childhood activities was catching lightning bugs on warm summer nights. I remember the joy I had when I spotted the first lightning bugs of the season in June. It was a sign that summer was definitely here. Catching the lightning bugs are carefully putting them into jars and watching them illuminate; it just didn't get any better than that. Such friendly creatures, those little beetles, always willing to land on an outstretched hand. What a perfect way to wind down after a busy day of playing outside.

Since Indiana has administered daylight savings time, the summer sun goes down one hour later than when I was a child. This has subsequently altered the prime lightning bug viewing, and sadly; Ari has not had few chances to catch lightning bugs since he is usually in bed well before the sun goes down. The first time he saw a lightning bug was when we were in Gatlinburg last month. He was up late with us one night when we spotted them from our deck. He was able to catch a few in his hand and he was mesmerized by their glowing bodies.

As suddenly as the lighting bugs arrive, it seems that they are gone just as quickly. Rarely do I catch lighting bugs in my hand anymore. Yet, the peacefulness of sitting back and watching the yellow blinks of illumination flitter across the landscape has a such a calming beauty to it. I look forward to the days when my children are blissfully running around the yard with a jar full of lighting bugs, playfully trying to catch more.

Summertime

Some see Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer, so I thought I'd do a summertime post. The way I feel about summer could not be better represented than in the above Calvin and Hobbes comic. Many of the activities that Calvin and Hobbes are shown doing are the same that I did growing up with my best friends. Digging holes, climbing trees, taking silly pictures, looking under rocks, gazing at the clouds, inventing games, lemonade stands, and catching lightning bugs are some of my most cherished summer memories of my childhood.

Calvin and Hobbes also hold a very special place in my heart. I remember as a child in elementary school, I would anxiously await the arrival of the Bookmobile. Whenever it came to my school I would always take a Calvin and Hobbes collection to look at. My parents started buying me the collections because I enjoyed them so much and I ended up owning every Calvin and Hobbes book. Being a kid, I didn't keep very good care of them, and some of them became damaged from frequent use and general carelessness. A few years ago, my dad bought me The Complete Calvin and Hobbes which is a hardback three-volume set containing all the strips. I was elated.

Since then I have enjoyed reading Calvin and Hobbes even more than when I was young. Rediscovering the strips and reading them as an adult further capture my imagination and make me appreciate the times I had when I was young. Ari really enjoys looking at the strips as well, as we often look at them when I put him to bed. I don't really read them to him, but just explain to him what's going on in a particular strip. I remember the first time I stumbled upon the above strip while reading to Ari; as I was explaining it to him, I kind of got choked up, it was so powerful for some reason.

Calvin and Hobbes encapsulate the best parts of summer. Playing outside, discovering, imagining, creating, exploring, and never letting a moment go to waste.