Summer Solstice

A Great Blue Heron. 7/17/21 dm

 Summer can sneak up on a person, say, for example a summer solstice happening at 3:24 in the morning. That's sneaky, but welcome to summer! 

 I found this quote about Wisconsin summers attributed to Midwest Wanderings: "Midwest summers just hit different. The smell of sunscreen and bonfires, late night Culver's runs, sand stuck everywhere after a lake day... finding every excuse possible to spend time outside because you know winter is eventually coming back."

 Summer can be a succession of endless days and living out of doors, sun-up to sun down.

 Many of us like to control the climate inside our homes but I recall good memories of summer nights with the window open for fresh air and night sounds.

 In our house on Forest Park Boulevard, there was a ledge outside my bedroom window that was big enough to sit in the shadows as darkness fell.

Lower Yahara Boardwalk. 7/17/21 dwm

The solstice reminds me of my paternal grandfather, who was born June 21, 1898. 

Every so often, his birthday, the first day of summer, and Father's Day all landed on the same day. I remember a few of those time growing up.

I was blessed to spend a week with Grandpa and Grandma Mossner most summers while I was young. While he retired, he kept working, delivering print jobs for Tazewell Publishing in Morton, Illinois. He usually bought donuts at the start of the day and we'd often end the day with fishing poles in our hands.

It's the longest day of the year and the heat of summer is coming, good thing autumn is just 63 days away. 

Summer Thoughts

Long days still 24 hours long

It's not the heat...

It's the humidity!

 

Let's go to the beach

It's too hot, 

Let's go to the movies.

 

There's nothing to do,

I'm bored.

When does school start?

                         D W M  6/20/2026