Summer Memories

Some of my friends prefer winter cold to summer heat. I don’t hate winter. I don’t mind cold and snow in moderation. 😊 But honestly, I prefer summer to winter. Here are my reasons:

I love opening windows and allowing in the fresh air.
I like going outdoors without having to dress in coat, hat, gloves, scarf, and boots. I’m not a skier or snowboarder, and I no longer ice skate or go sledding. Winter activities are not my thing, although I like to walk in freshly fallen snow on a moderately cold day.
I love seeing green grass, blooming flowers, growing gardens, trees with summer leaves, and taking walks.
The days are longer, so there’s more natural light.
It’s easier to travel during the summer season.

I know summer can become unbearably hot at times, and I’m grateful for air conditioning. Summer storms can create difficulties like power outages and wind and flood damage. But winter snowstorms are no fun either.

In an old photo album, I discovered some photos that brought back summer memories. I grew up in a farming community in rural New York and belonged to 4-H. Here I am with two of my projects (when I was very young).

The calf, Mary, was given to me by a farmer who was one of our 4-H leaders. The lamb’s name was Lolly, and she was born on our farm. Summertime meant exhibiting at the county fair and being together with 4-H friends from throughout the county. Prize winners at the fair won a small amount of money. I still have a collection of ribbons from my fair days.

And there are other summer memories.

Summer camp, at first at a church camp and then at 4-H camp, added to summer fun.

Vacation Bible School at church— I loved it. VBS is a fun time to get together with other kids and sing, listen to Bible stories, memorize Bible verses, play games, do crafts, and have yummy refreshments. As a senior adult, I still help with this ministry.

Before the beginning of school in September, my family traveled to visit relatives in Rhode Island. Our family vacation didn’t last for more than a week because my dad had to get back for work and the farm. Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State, so we had opportunities for brief visits to a beach. My father’s side of the family always had a family reunion when we were there. The summer I was eight, I stayed alone with my maternal grandparents for several weeks.