...And out like a lamb

And just like that, last weekend became summer.

80 degree temperatures, sunshine, shorts, sundresses, flip flops, biking, strolling, running, outdoor tennis, basketball, soccer and baseball, packed outdoor sidewalk cafes, the unmistakable jingle of the white ice cream truck, which looks exactly the same as the ones I remember growing up.

The harbor came alive this weekend. Sailboats, small motor crafts and cruise ships joined the year around barges, ferries and water taxis, and the East River reminded me of Florida's inner-coastal waterway. I even saw my first kayakers right by the pier in front of my building. Looking at some J24's by the Statue of Liberty, I smiled to remember running aground during a sailing lesson during low tide a few years ago.

Late Saturday afternoon I went to the Chelsea Garden Center in Red Hook to buy some plants, and decided I wanted to grow an herb garden too (fire escape style!). I only put three of my favorite herbs in the basket to start with before I purchased the rest of the herbs and a nice planter to contain them as I wasn't sure of the 'full sun' potential I had in the afternoon that were necessary for these little Mediterranean sun worshippers. Standing in front of the herb display I was telling the guy helping me I was hedging. He said, "Well, its happened in May, but seems like we're past it. A lot of people bought plants this weekend."

I realized with a shock he was talking about potential for a late spring frost!

Turns out - full sun!

When you've been living in California for nearly six years, and the land of 'Endless Summer' for more than half of that time, you really take the sunshine for granted and the grey winter skies of the East become faint memories.

On the East Coast there can be some pressure around 'what are you going to do for the summer?' People plan vacations, trips to summer houses, maximize outdoor recreation every chance they can. People plan! It's much different in California as you're living in a climate that is beautiful most of the time, and most people I know resisted any type of planning other than the vague 'Maybe we'll have a barbecue next weekend' or 'Maybe we'll go on a hike.' If they didn't feel like it, there is always another beautiful weekend. In the East in the back of your mind you know you're living on borrowed time.

I saw Connor Carly and Logan ("Mr. Happy" above) over the weekend, and Logan said to me "You make cookies for me tomorrow." Since he's three, his questions come out as statements.

Last night they came over to watch the sun set, have cookies, lemonade and wine on the roof deck and enjoyed the mild evening. Six flights up you could hear birds chirping from Grace Court trees, and the occasional harbor horns. We watched boats glide home and enjoyed the lights twinkling all around on the bridges and buildings in Manhattan and New Jersey to the far west. My photos fall very short in capturing what a pretty night it was.

This morning the skies are grey again and we have morning rain. Though we have the promise, the first hints of the season ahead, and sometimes that anticipation alone can be enough.