Tags
200 words, Calgary, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Henry James, living in the moment, summer
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~ Henry James
I love summer. When it’s not summer, I count down the days until summer. I have more summer clothes than winter clothes. I live for summer.
The latter half of July and beginning of August are typically the hottest days of summer in Calgary. This year this hasn’t been the case.
We’ve had quite a few ‘below average’ temperatures – I feel betrayed!
Summer is so short already. Is it really too much to ask for several straight weeks of sun and heat?
Then again, maybe the questions I should be asking myself are, why am I not enjoying the summery days we ARE getting? Why am I focussing on what I’m not getting?
Yesterday was sunny and 23 degrees – a perfect summer day and rather than freak out about the type of summer we’ve had on the whole so far, I decided to take a walk and capture the colours of summer. I hope you enjoy these photos.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Are you enjoying what you have?
or lamenting what you don’t have?
talktodiana 
It’s been similar here. A number of times I’ve had to fight the urge to turn the furnace back on, and at least twice I’ve resorted to turning on the fireplace. IN JULY!! I mean, W.T.F?
The flip side is that winter seems to be starting later, so maybe September and October will be nice?
I’m with you on the countdown… I always slightly regret Summer Solstice, because, although it signals the technical beginning of summer, it’s also the point the days begin getting shorter again. The sunlight is going away!! And I love Winter Solstice, because it means the sun is coming back (the sky dragons didn’t eat it all, and it’s re-growing).
LikeLike
me too! Just last night it was dark earlier than in June. Because of how far north I am it is still light at 10:30 or 11 pm in June. Last night it was already dark at 9:30. I never turn the heat up but I bake when it’s cooler in the summer. The oven heats up my little space quite nicely!
LikeLike
I’ve had a little bit of experience with that, so I know what you mean. Many years ago, some friends and I went camping on the Churchill River in northern Saskatchewan. We were so far north, many maps of the state don’t bother printing that part.
It was kinda weird… as you say, the sun set at 10:30, but it never got completely dark. There was a sunset glow that moved from the north west, through north to the north east. And then it became the sunrise glow and the sun came up again.Plus we had prominent northern lights directly overhead every night. And on top of that, the fishing was awesome!
One of our more memorable “Annual Canadian Fishing Expeditions”!
LikeLike
So, you’ve been to Canada eh? 🙂
LikeLike
Every summer for a “fly in” fishing trip from (IIRC) 1985 to 2000 or 2001. Usually to a known and much loved lake just over the Minnesota border into Ontario, but sometimes we’d explore other options. I went along mainly for the camping; my buddy is the big fisherman. One of his dreams is to fish Great Slave for Graylings!
I stopped because it had gotten old, and I’d rather (A) do something new every vacation, and (2) go somewhere with palm trees and rum drinks, and (iii) not have to hunt down and prepare my own meals!
LikeLike
I’m with you on 2! But there’s just something about familiarity that I love! I could go to same tropical trip every year and the social aspect of getting to know new friends (staff) over the years just adds to the whole experience for me!
LikeLike
Sure, hey, to each their own!
I know tons of people who love the idea of living in an old house, but I looked for as recently built a place as possible when looking for condos. And I have friends who love antiques, but to me they’re just old furniture (the antiques, not the friends, I mean).
I guess I have no sense of history. 😕
LikeLike
I wouldn’t say that Smitty. We’re just all different and unique with a variety of tastes like your old friends…I mean antiques. 😉
LikeLike
True dat! As the old saying goes, “Diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks!”
(But it’s still true: I have no sense of history… to me it’s just all stuff that happened a long time ago. :lol:)
LikeLike
And that’s OK 😉
LikeLike
Totally. In fact, it’s part of what makes the world such an interesting place!
LikeLike
I am lamenting that I don’t have your weather! But once I get past that, I’m all good! 😉
LikeLike
haha! Isn’t it funny how we want what we don’t have sometimes?
LikeLike
I never lament what I don’t have… While I may not always being content with what I do have, that just makes me hungry to do something about it.
LikeLike
hunger is a good thing…like vision and passion…
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
LikeLike
We’re having the same weather. Disappointing not to have great beach days, but like you, I’ve decided to enjoy the beautiful, clear days we are having, AC off. Love the pics!
LikeLike
I don’t even have AC but I have a big floor fan that I used a couple of times in May and a couple of times in June before the flood. It is currently collecting dust…
LikeLike
Oh, the fan is going constantly here, even will these cool days. The concrete holds the heat. 🙂
LikeLike
and it’s humid there right? Pretty dry in these parts…
LikeLike
Humid today, looks like it will rain again, but the previous few days were lovely. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m enjoying the mild summer, last year we topped 100 F 45 times. This year we have been loving the mild temps. A day in August without the air conditioner on is a rare treat in the Ozarks. Hope it warms up a bit for you. Great set of pics – that first one is intriguing
LikeLike
Thanks Lorri, took the photos with my blackberry Q10 so they just turn out however they turn out. 🙂
LikeLike
Well – the best camera is the one you have with you 🙂
LikeLike
(smiling) That statement is awesome and so transferrable to other situations!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Great photos! It may be cooler than average there, but it’s rained nearly EVERY SINGLE DAY here this summer. It’s crazy! We’ve already had more rain so far this year than we did ALL of last year! I’m ready to see the sun again!
LikeLike
Yikes, we’ve had lots of rain too, but not every day! Where do you live??? England??
LikeLike
Had one of those summer afternoons yesterday…..ahhhhhj
LikeLike
And Sunday is a perfect day to do so, don’t you think?
LikeLike
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Oh, Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take to the sky
But until that morning
There’s a’nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
LikeLike
Sedge, I love this song! It was writen in the 20’s or 30’s. My favourite version is by Janis Joplin!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Now my thoughts have been with your comment on my post of “at -1 we don tee shirts and shorts..” … question, what do you wear above -1? Nothing?? I know your lumber jacks cut down trees using their finger nails and use branches of those trees to pick their teeth… but what do you wear above -1???? LOLOL
LikeLike
haha! Ok so, I exaggerated a wee bit but seriously we acclimatize to our areas don’t we. I remember going to California in February for a fundraising conference. It was 68f (20c) The locals were wearing jackets, some had hats, scarves and boots. Us Canadians were in our bikinis and swimming in the outdoor pool! Mind you, Calgary was -60ish with the windchill when I had left. It was a freakishly cold winter that year.
LikeLike
Much like our Coastal people .. we go down to the sea in the middle of Winter and swim.. they’re all tucked up in their jerseys and jackets… thinking we’re mad…
LikeLike
Yup I still chuckle at the memory of the looks we got!
LikeLike
Very strange summer here as well! Yesterday we were able to spend the entire day outside….in the 70’s F….typically it is 100 PLUS! Yes….I will take it! Thanks for sharing your summer pics!!!
LikeLike
Weather is weird everywhere! Glad you enjoyed your day outside yesterday!
LikeLike
🙂 yep. weird. strange. changing. but we just deal with it, right?
LikeLike
Yes I defiantly continue to wear shorts!
LikeLike
For at least a couple of more months around here!
LikeLike
I love summer and I love winter but most of all I love spring when it’s not to hot or to cold and when I am less likely to have a cold and a nose that is driving me around the bend and keeping me awake at night…………..
LikeLike
Yes, I don’t blame you there! I know it’s much hotter down under and I’d probably feel the same way you do if I lived there. ❤
LikeLike
I know that you have been waiting for true summer a l-o-o-o-o-ong time so hopefully you will get the hotter days you crave.
Great point though, to lower expectations and then you will not be disappointed.
LikeLike
I don’t mean lowering expectations as much as I mean enjoying what you do have! Often we can be right in the middle of something great and our minds (well mine) goes to this won’t last, or it’s too good to be true instead of being present in the moment of joy and relishing it. Know what I mean?
LikeLike
Great minds……
I was going to put a ‘PS… about lowering expectations ….’ but then thought it would take me longer to write than your post.
Needless to say, I get your important point of the difference between ‘accepting and making the most of things’ compared to ‘striving for the best possible outcome’ in our own goal-setting and other important aspects of our life.
LikeLike
haha, I typically write shorter posts so commenting longer would not be hard to do. I always love your comments Elizabeth, they are thoughtful and wonderful.
xo
LikeLike
We’ve had the best summer weather here in DK…very sunny and almost too hot (I’m spring gal), I’m guessing average has been 26-28 C. I don’t know but maybe, the trick is to expect less…it’s always raining here (also a lot during summer), so this year as usual we expected rain…but weather has definitely surprised us. Have you ever considered moving to exotic country, run a location independent business, while drinking exotic cocktails? 😀 Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.
LikeLike
Have I ever considered it??? Yes, I don’t expect I will be able to afford retiring in Canada. I would love to buy a business in a tropical locale, hire locals and entertain tourists!
LikeLike
Diana…I am a summer girl, too, through and through. So, when you say, “We’ve had quite a few ‘below average’ temperatures – I feel betrayed!” I totally get it! I hope you have lots of warm summery days before we start to head out of this blissful season! -B
LikeLike
Thanks Bonnie! Last year we had hot days in September and warm days in October – fingers crossed!
LikeLike
Well said! We can’t control what we get so we might as well enjoy what we are given!
LikeLike
Thanks Ian, when we look for good, we find it, don’t you think?
LikeLike