Sizzling Hot
Monday, June 12, 2017 at 07:51PM 
Then the heat came, without any warning. Sidewalks sizzled like a Saturday night steak in the frying pan. Windows closed, shades pulled down, to keep whatever cool air remained in the house from the night before.
When I was young, back in the 60's, spring was graceful and pleasant, giving rise to slowly letting winter lose it's grip. It was welcoming and gentle, the temperature climbed at a slow, steady pace, preparing the earth for hazy, hot and humid. Steamy, like lovers at a drive-in movie.
Today, once again, we scramble for the ice tea, lemon chicken salad with raisins and walnuts. Cucumbers sliced in sour cream and dill. There will be no turning the oven on. Dessert, of course, lemon sponge cake with a heavy sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Pull up a chair on the porch, summer just rolled in.
A story, dogwood, hot, spring | Share Article →
Reader Comments (15)
This is phenomenal writing, Cheryl!
So descriptive yet suggestive too . . .
Beautiful image and imagery!
Love how you put this together.
I could feel the heat and now, am fortunate to sit in air conditioning!
Although watching a movie upstairs in an unaircondtioned room with a slight window breeze,
was heavenly!
Awesome description Cheryl! I adore the photo, soft gentle shades of muted color, and a feeling of sitting in the shade with a glass of lemonade. I'm wondering what the flowering tree is, because I found one last weekend, took pictures but have never seen one before. Keep the shades pulled, and the coolest air possible inside! A/C is on here, and there is a nice breeze outside in spite of the heat.
Lovely photograph and word images, Cheryl.
Forgot to mention that if this is a "dogwood" (which I believe it is), it's my favorite spring time tree!
Winter is birch!
xox
We've had the same here in NY, Cheryl, but today is cooler.
I remember summer's arrival in much the same way as you do.
But either way, it's arrival is SO welcome this year.
This dogwood is just beautiful.
Wonderful writing, Cheryl, very evocative. It sends me on a nostalgia trip to my own childhood and youth, of springs and summers in a very different place from this. And now I want to prepare that menu, too!
Thank you Antoinette. The heat was really getting to me...so this is what happens...my mind goes on a road trip and this was the results...Love you comment.
Beverly thank you for your lovely comment...geez, I wish my mind had picked up on the lemonade because, your right, that is a very summer drink round here. I took the photo of the dogwood a little bit ago, processed it and left it sitting on my desktop...and when I was trying to think of a photo that could represent this kind of heat that popped right into my mind. I love the tones also...which really came from the all the green leaves in the background. Enjoy your weekend my friend.
Thanks so much Shawna....loved that you stopped by. Always nice to hear your comments..💖
Yes, summer was very much welcomed this year...I do, however miss that slow, lazy spring that we don't seem to get much anymore...unfortunatley we are back to rain, and raw dampness. Hopefully summer will come again soon.
Leon thank you so much for your visit and trip down memory lane with me. I would be curious to know where you are from and what kind of spring you had...I know Maine can be a bit extreme and long upon arrival...someday we will need to meet somewhere in Maine and chat...perhaps in the summer with tea or lemonade...💞
Your descriptions are fantastic, a feast for all the senses with a lovely side of nostalgia! And those beautiful white dogwood blooms remind me of my parent's tree. We had some of our wedding pics taken in front of it. Gorgeous in every season!
Nice capture... And a good reminiscence of the past...
Thank you Susan for your visit and lovely comment...the dogwood is fairly new for us, we got it just a few years ago. Each year it gets a bit bigger. I like the little white flowers also and can see where that would make a pretty wedding shot...summer is finally here, enjoy every moment.'
So descriptive!