Saturday, June 26, 2010

What I love about summer


One week ago, my classes at ABC Adult School ended for the year, so now I have a lot more time for other pursuits, including this blog. So what else would I write about for this first entry than Idealia's summer highlights?

Here in this part of heaven, the food tastes better, the water is purer, and the children even scream louder than anywhere on Earth. This is especially true during the hottest season of the year.

Here are the five biggest highlights:
  • Picnics and family gatherings - Every family gets together to eat barbequed meats, watermelon, corn on the cob, potatoes, and bread, among other things. In Idealia, the feasts overflow with food thanks to the abundant family farms. After dinner comes music, storytelling, and other entertainment based on the heritage of their relatives.
  • Watering holes - Several lakes, many streams, and other bodies of H2O provide relief for the hazy, lazy days of summer. The Timber Lake has an endless supply of brill, the unique local fish that combines genetic elements of bass, catfish, and brook trout. The waterfall into Biddy's Pond is a favorite of children and adults alike. The fall provides a 150-foot drop from a scenic rock to the water below, a ride far more scenic than anything at a man-made waterpark.
  • Treehouses - With school out, children spend the day in complete bliss with the shelter and security of burrows carved into the trees. Here is a site to gather and read, sing, play games, and just spend the days.
  • Porches - In the days before air conditioning, going to a porch at night was the best way to beat the heat that lingered even into the night. That tradition has returned due to the willingness of the local residents to return to old-time ways. The biggest attraction is to look up and see the stars in the darkness.
  • Relaxation - This is the time of year when the farmers get the most rest they will get all year, a break from planting, harvesting, and taking care of the land. Typically, farms will close for about three weeks during this period. Some will pursue other interests; it's no coincidence that events like the Heritage Cup auto race and the Cultural Arts Festival take place every summer.

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