The end of July and the beginning of August is a very sweet time in Maine, and this year, with its warm days and cool nights, has been even sweeter than usual. It feels like an old-fashioned Maine summer, a welcome relief from the past few years where it has been blisteringly hot during July and August.
Clif and I have been soaking up this fine weather. On Friday, our friends Alice and Joel came over for drinks and appetizers on the patio. There were bike rides on Saturday and Sunday. We still don’t go far, but we figure it is better to go eight miles a ride rather than no miles a ride, and we feel as though we are gaining strength.
On Sunday, our friends Dawna and Jim invited us and another couple over for dinner. Dawna and Jim have a lovely home by the Upper Narrows Pond, which truly is large enough to pass as a lake. The Upper Narrows is no farm pond.
The food was terrific.
As was the view.
The company and conversation were, of course, superb.
I wish I could bottle these days and release them during the drear days of late February and March, when everything seems to be gray drizzle and hard, dirty snow.
Away with those thoughts! August, buzzing August, is just around the corner, and Clif and I intend to squeeze every bit of delight that we can out of this lovely month.
Why, on a recent ride down a back road, I even came up with a haiku in honor of this best time of year.
Queen Anne’s lace in bloom
White ducks waddling on green grass
High summer in Maine
Welcome, welcome, high summer!
Notes From the Hinterland 
A finest High Summer and such a lovely haiku to ‘bottle’ the experience! You can read it again and again during February and feel all this warmth once more ☺💜🌞
I’ll do that!
Terrific view, and that food really does look amazing.
Thanks, Britney!
It sounds like you are having a marvelous summer – exercise, great views, delicious food, good conversations, and gorgeous Queen Anne’s Lace. Life is good, friend. 🙂
It doesn’t get much better.
The only problem with summer is that it’s passing by so fast. And mosquitoes.
So true! And, as we live in the woods, you can imagine what the mosquito situation must be for us. However, we have citronella torches surrounding our patio, and they really do help keep the mosquitoes at bay.
I am loving this summer too. Not as much humidity as we usually get in July. It’s been beautiful. Glad you have been able to get out on your bikes!
Enjoy, enjoy!
Wonderful haiku. Yes – warm days, cool nights, friends, food fresh from the gardens, and being outdoors – it has been a terrific summer.
Thanks, Beth! Such a lovely time of year.
So pleased you are enjoying good weather; lovely haiku
Thanks, Derrick!
If we can’t bottle these lazy hazy days of summer, the least we can do is take advantage of each and everyone! Sounds like you’ve got that down!…..bike rides, dinners by the lake, cocktails on the patio. Go out and catch some fireflies in a jar, take a nap in a hammock, cook some smores over a campfire….ahh, summer!! happy, Happy summer days to you, Laurie!
And happy summer to you! Oh, August!
As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t get any better than this. Oh, if we could just bottle it up, though, wouldn’t that be sweet? We’re busy freezing fresh summer veggies, so doing our best to preserve some of this summer goodness. Here’s hoping you continue to squeeze every bit of sweetness out of these magical summer days.
We will, we will! And I’m sure the same is true for you and your dog buddies.
I love the photograph of the lake and landing platforms, with the ripples just spreading across the surface – beautiful!
Our friends have a beautiful view from their deck, that’s for sure.
Bliss!!!
It certainly is!
Those of us who live in these northern regions really appreciate summer, and know how to savor it! You’re doing an excellent job of just that!
Thanks, Kerry!
Your haiku is delightful as is the description of your high summer life, Laurie.
Thanks, Clare!