What is it to be "summer in Maine"? (Bucksport: neighborhood, school)

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by Mainer61

Summer to me is falling asleep in the sun , hanging out laundry, walking out my front door to the beach so my dog can swim. Just hanging out at our house with the warm seabreeze.

Sounds like heaven...sigh

[Elcarim]

All sounds like a dream to me!!!.......a dream life, that is!

[Maine Writer]

I stalled on answering this because summer is my least favorite season. I dislike the heat, though today is gorgeous at 79* and windy. Summer usually means "too hot" to me. But, here goes.

Summer is swimming at the swimming hole. It's fishing, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries and today, it's cherries as soon as I climb the ladder a dozen times to pick them from my three cherry trees.

It's sitting in the bench swing reading a book loaned to me by a friend. That's in this afternoon's plan since it's too windy to fish and I need some down time.

Summer is chicken and summer squash on the grill and maybe a cherry pie for dessert. We'll eat at the picnic table since there will be no mosquitoes because of the wind. It's coffee on the swing first thing in the morning and cold drinks after supper.

Summer is baby birds begging food from their parents, robins chasing bugs in the garden and hawks hovering over a field while they hunt. It's baby rabbits on the side of the road, fox kits playing in a field and bear cubs scooting up trees when you startle them (but watch out for mom, she has no sense of humor).

Summer is when my skin darkens but my hair lightens thanks to hours in the sun.

[Eastport4me]

This is my first summer in coastal Maine and I love sleeping with the windows open instead of air conditioning;waking up to the sound of the foghorn, birds singing, the smell of cut grass; planting vegetables and flowers without dripping sweat from heat and humidity and watching my garden grow; the beauty of wildflowers and meadows in bloom; buying fresh vegetables at the farmers market; riding in the country and stopping at yard sales, meeting people and making new friends; anticipating the joy of each new day; and best of all, having lunch with the yaya's.

[Siobjuan]

Oh, Some other Summer things;
~ when being wet (in the lake) means you feel warmer than dry (when you get out).
~ getting to know your neighbors by what kind of dog they have
~ getting your calluses (sp?) thick enough to walk on pavement barefoot
~ driving the highways and byways of Maine and thinking of the beautiful bouquets of wildflowers you could pick at any point on the side of the road
~ pick up games of frisbee in my back yard
~ Cousins visiting my kids for weeks on end
~ kitties sunning themselves in the windows- squashed up against the screens

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Siobjuan

~ driving the highways and byways of Maine and thinking of the beautiful bouquets of wildflowers you could pick at any point on the side of the road

until recently ... they just took the brush hog to the roadsides here in Milo. I will never understand the logic behind that. Now I will have to hunt FARTHER afield for my flowers!

[Mark S.]

After the past couple of weeks, I have to admit I'm counting the days till October. Today was the first in many days that I wasn't outright miserable from the heat. I'd probably enjoy summer a lot more if our home had A/C. But when it is pushing 90 degrees outside with 90% humidity, that means it is pushing 100 degrees with 95% humidity inside the house.

My favorite thing about Maine summer: It's short.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

After the past couple of weeks, I have to admit I'm counting the days till October. Today was the first in many days that I wasn't outright miserable from the heat. I'd probably enjoy summer a lot more if our home had A/C. But when it is pushing 90 degrees outside with 90% humidity, that means it is pushing 100 degrees with 95% humidity inside the house.

My favorite thing about Maine summer: It's short.

Not sure where you are but I will have to say my favorite thing about Maine summer is that it cools off at night here in Milo! ...even here in a this tin box with nary a shade tree and almost nothing but dirt around it, yeah, it gets DARN hot inside when it gets into the high 80s outside, but so far, the fans do the trick, on account of the fact that we KNOW once we make it to sundown, the breeze coming in the windows will be cool enough that I pull up a sheet, maybe even a light blanket some nights, to sleep.

There have been a few days that K -- who has health issues -- would have appreciated having a window unit to cool one room... but so far even he is doing ok without.

In comparison to the coast of NC, Maine summer is a dream!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by starwalker

until recently ... they just took the brush hog to the roadsides here in Milo. I will never understand the logic behind that. Now I will have to hunt FARTHER afield for my flowers!

The logic is that if they let the grass grow and get brown when someone pulls off the road with a breakdown their hot catalytic converter can easily cause a grass fire.

[Siobjuan]

Originally Posted by Maineah

The logic is that if they let the grass grow and get brown when someone pulls off the road with a breakdown their hot catalytic converter can easily cause a grass fire.

I just look at it as a necessary evil. It gives the next generation of plants a chance to grow...survival of the fittest flowers!