Philadelphia Summers

Man, there's nothing like summer in Philly. The rainy season is finally over, and the days are blooming perfect and hot and sunny. I love it.

Ice cream trucks roar down the street all day, the twinkling music luring children of all ages to run towards the siren song.

Clean laundry snaps and twists on the line, stiffening as it dries.

My garden grows green and lush and fragrant, offering up peppers and tomatoes and green beans and eggplant and basil leaves for our summer culinary adventures.

Once a week I troll the farmer's market, stuffing my bag full of fresh produce and homemade breads and new plants for the garden.

We go to friend's houses and drink beers and watch baseball and leave all the windows open for the cool night breezes while kitties prowl the windowsills and doggies nap contentedly.

We drink ginger beer & rum with lime in the sun, play Scrabble in the park and set up cornhole games on the sidewalk.

I dry herbs and set out pitchers of sun tea in the kitchen windows.

We sleep with the windows open, enjoying the night air gently blowing the curtains and the slow stir of the ceiling fan.

We have picnics in the park with our friends, eating and drinking and laughing under the shade of giant trees.

We go out at night, sipping margaritas at sidewalk tables, people-watching and getting slowly warm and fuzzy from the tequila.

We get up early in the morning to take the dog to the dog park before the heat of the day. We sit and watch him frolic with other dogs, panting and sniffing and generally being exuberant before he settles in for his 12 hour daily nap.

So far this summer has been pretty much perfect. And it's only going to get better once Deb is done with her show...