pushing Aug. or pulling Oct.

[jensarlou]

You guys need to send a little of the cooler weather down here.  Florida is just so humid this time of year.  It is oppressive.  I sure do miss the dryer kind of heat.

[Teresa]

I bet you do.
I would love to visit the 'wetter' states, but I would not like to live at any of them.

[Wilma]

Sorry, jensarlou, there isn't enough cool air yet, to send any to anyone else.

[Diane Amberg]

 RJT, That's Kennett Square Pennsylvania, down in the SE corner of the state, near Del.  It's where Longwood Gardens is, if you have ever heard of it.

jensarlou, I've been to Florida, have friends and family there and have been many times.... I love to visit, but would never want to live there. Where are you?

[Wilma]

No more hot August days.  This Sept. morning is cool.  Won't stay that way and I will probably be complaining about hot September days, but no more hot August days this year.

[Diane Amberg]

 It's 73 here and the humidity has dropped. Beautiful... brunch on our back deck this morning!

[Wilma]

The cool didn't last long.  First daughter and I started on a flower bed that has needed cleaning for some time now.  Lasted about an hour and a half and old sun drove us in.  Temperature in the shade is 75 but the flower bed is in full sun.  I'll think about it tomorrow.

[emptynest]

I awoke Saturday morning to a pounding sound that made me think my neighbors must be building something, but it was my own son, Corey, out on my deck fixing a broken step.  I loved it! I walked out onto the deck in my "jamas"---you can do that, you know, whether or not your yard is all fenced in ( mine is) because as long as you can't see anyone else, I don't think they can see me.   Anyway----it was cool!  Cool enough to scurry back inside and grab a throw to wrap around myself and sit on the deck and watch him work.  It is so good to have him home.  I have missed my kids this summer something fierce and just his presence reminds me of his dad----and to see him using the tools and going back and forth into the garage---well, makes the heart ache a little.  Such a handsome young man........

[Rudy Taylor]

In my next life I will do nothing but mow grass.  I love doing it that much.

It's my getaway. And as we move into autumn, I find myself living in ecstasy because
the grass is starting to get thinner and dryer. Of course, most of my mowing is accomplished while
riding a lawn tractor so it's not the physical labor that it once was.

But once I crawl onto the seat of that mower and start the engine, my thoughts are released
and for at least two hours I find myself dreaming dreams. Rethinking my tomorrows. Getting
excited about the simplest things in life.

As the little tractor drones its sound, I feel the fall breezes as they whisper words of love in
my ears. Starting in October, I will experience the most beautiful sight in the world --- seeing
colorful leaves fall to the ground, forming creative designs as they gently arrange themselves
in an array of shapes and hues.

I don't know about Howard, but in Caney were I live we can no longer burn our leaves, and
I miss that.  There's something sensual about the aroma of burning leaves and the sight of
neighbors leaning on rakes as they talk across back fences.

Sometimes I find myself apologizing for rural Kansas because we don't have mountains, oceans
or big-city entertainment. Then as I buzz along on my little red lawn tractor, especially in the autumn,
I kick myself for ever questioning why the good Lord placed me here rather than in Chicago, London
or Tokyo. It's a nice fit. Folks are gentle here. Flint Hills sunsets are just a tad more golden than
elsewhere. And life is just a little closer to the earth than I might have found in some distant city.

So, I'll pour another cup of joe this Sunday morning, sit on my back patio and browse the pages of the
Tulsa World. I'll know that Diane is doing the same thing in Delaware and enjoying an equally
beautiful view, and that other forum members are partaking of their own natural beauty whether it
be in New Zealand, Canada, Missouri or other points where the new day has risen with unique
freshness.

And, I'll know that all is well.

Cheers.

Mmmm.  This is good coffee, folks.

[Diane Amberg]

 You got that exactly right. It's beautiful here today too and very calm and quiet.  My boat neighbor popped over to tell us about a lady he saw when he was out yesterday, who landed a 24 pound flounder. That's two pounds over the world record.  But it may not count, because where it was weighed was not an official weigh station.  They had put it in a big ice chest on the back porch and the dog got into it and ate a few bites before they saw him!  Heartbreaker.