Friday, May 29, 2009

Getting Ready For Summer

Oh, winter is just something we bear to get to the spectacular springs we have here on the east coast. I do love snow before it turns to brown slush, and the way cardinals polka dot against it but that’s about it. We live in an old house with low ceilings and smallish rooms and being cooped up here all winter with the family on top of each other can bring out the worst in all of us.

Our house was built in the 1700’s and it takes about 250 gallons of oil a month to take the bite out of the winter air. We have wood stoves but they are a lot of work and create a big mess with all the wood. We still wear long underwear inside and scream every time we have to sit on the cold toilet seats.

It’s quite the jubilation when winter’s boring grey skies, and grey and brown everything else gives way to the lush greenery and flowers that spread over Pennsylvania like an emerald carpet covered with pink, purple, and white jewels.

Everything ugly has been made pretty and the smell of the flowers is intoxicating The promise of summer smiles up ahead. People literally come out of their winter shells, are happy and even strangers smile at each other.

Now is the time to get ready for summer. It’s just wonderful that we have a swimming pool! It’s basically a big cement hole in the ground that came with the house. We feed water into it from the spring house on the property so it’s clean and requires very little chemical attention to stay that way. I am constantly inviting people to come over to use the pool because it must be enjoyed!
Here's a picture of Pat rolling a fresh coat of paint on the pool walls before he fills it up with water.


2 comments:

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

I think you appreciate the summer more when you live up North! Our winters have gotten so much milder the last 10 years, hardly any real cold weather anymore.

Art4Sol said...

Yes, same here,I thought the winter would never end. So, quick fill up that pool...your warm season is too short !