Happy summer everyone! Congratulations to all our Summer Solstice basket winners!

If you are in Colorado, I pray you’re safe from the wild fires. If you’re in the east, prayers for those affected by the storms that yanked the power from so many. It’s been a strange season here in Oklahoma this year. Spring always brings tornadoes and here in the central of the state we had one to mention. It was scary though it was a good ten miles from our house, my husband was only a half mile from where it touched down. We’ve had rain. Now when I say we got rain it usually is accompanied by house-rattling thunder that sends hubby’s little dog into panic attacks so those are bad. Very bad. Strangely, we’ve had just one or two mild ones. The rest of the spring we got two to three days at a time of much needed no-fear rain, downpours. I like those. Feed the earth without scaring my pants off me—I can handle those storms.

They were saying to expect triple-digit heat by the end of April and that, too, didn’t happen. I think we have had one or two days and it’s already July. By this time last year we were well on our way to thirty days straight of 100%+ temps that began in June, totaling 63-100%+ days by the end of summer, without a break for even one day of less than 100%. As I said- odd weather this year. But I can’t help wondering—for all our calm spring, lack of severe weather/tornadoes—what’s in store for us come fall?

borrowed from http://goldenretrieverforum.com

I think for now I’ll enjoy the nice weather and not let what may come spoil this beautiful summer for me. I hope you have a nice and bearable summer. While you’re here, why not share your weather with us here at ABM? We’d love to hear what  other parts of our country and the world are having in the way of a normal/abnormal season.

Happy belated Independence Day!

Happy summer! The kids are home, the pools are open and parents are already asking when’s the first day of school. *grins* Summer isn’t so bad around here if you don’t mind living in the cooler side of a broiling hot oven. We usually manage some small trip or family thing. This year, we’re hitting the coast for a couple days.  I love the beach. Grew up just hours from it. We’re also going to Houston for a few touristy-type things. The hard part will be the drive (Did I mention the boy just turned nine and has whining down to an art?), but we’ll manage.

Then there’s all the barbecueing. Yes. It’s the time for the man to actually cook. I know. I’ll wait for everyone to get over the shock. Though, just because he’s playing with fire, it’s still my job to do everything else, from help him prep, to make the sides, to clean up his mess x10. How he manages to use eight dishes to make barbecue chicken when I can do it in two… I’ll never know. We’ve been married for *mumble* years, and he still asks me where the barbecue tools are. The same drawer they’ve been in since we moved in, honey.

Another thing summertime holds is Story Time with Soldiers, a wonderful cause that helps brings families closer together when members are stationed overseas or across the continent. If you’re a member of PaperBackSwap.com, it’s very easy to donate. If you’re not a member, it takes nothing to sign up other than an email. I love this site for many reasons, one of the largest being all the wonderful books, but also because of the programs and services they provide. Story Time with Soldiers is one I donate to every year.

From their website: Their mission is to unite families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading together.  One of the most difficult things a child can experience is having a parent deployed for an indeterminate period of time.

More can be found on their website here: http://www.paperbackswap.com/donations/military.php

I don’t personally have anyone in the military, though the DH was Army for eight years. I do have a lot of friends with spouses who are deployed, and many of them have young children. This has nothing to do with any war, any conflict or disagreement. It is to help the children stay connected with their parents. And that I wholeheartedly support.

I hope everyone has a wonderful start to their summer.  See you next month!