Not much to say but I wanted to document the first Lynne Swim of the season. Today. Outside air temp around 81F degrees under sun-behind-clouds-sun-out from behind-clouds weather. Humidity around 77%. Water temp in the pool, fighting to hold at 70F.  I struggled with getting in. First I sat on the edge and put my legs in about halfway up to my knee. After I felt comfortable I decided to just slide off the edge of the waist-deep (for me) part of the pool. After a few gasps at the cold water hitting me mid-body it didn’t feel too bad. I walked around acclimating myself to the cool water.

I stood at the edge of the drop-off where it goes from waist deep to 9 feet for a long time. The sun taunted me by dipping in and out of clouds. When the sun was out it felt great and I was ready to take the plunge. Then the sun went behind a huge cloud and I wasn’t so ready anymore. Finally I had a firm talk (out loud) with myself. Just do it Lynne. Just do it. So I did.

It was cold, but at the same time refreshing. I did a few laps. Rick watched from the cabana.

I now have a “first.” Usually Rick is the first one to swim but he was not willing today. I splashed around for quite a while before he dipped the first half of his body in only waist deep. And no further did he go.

Ah, I will relish in my “firstness” for a while. It felt great.

dad… i know you’re still in China tonight and all and you’ll be home tomorrow night this time, but I just wanted to let you know what’s going on at home ...

Notations from mom: outside temp today: 82 F; pool temp upon opening 59 F

There is something special about the quality of light at this time of year. It’s soft. Golden. The sun dips lower and lower and barely makes it above our trees. In the morning the light sifts through the trees creating glorious sunbeams. It shines through droplets of water leftover from the previous night’s rain, and a spider’s web.

The pool, now closed for the winter, never makes it into the full sunlight.

The hours of sunlight we can count on having each day get fewer and fewer. Night falls faster and faster. The sun is reluctant to wake up. Prepare to spend more time inside it seems to be saying.

The moon takes over the sun’s job and also rises through the trees, bathing the yard in its pale shimmery light.

I don’t know about you but I am taking in all of this golden light that I can!

Whew! Who turned up the heat? I guess I should be careful what I wish for. Temperatures soared this weekend into the high 80’s and with the humidity of 99% to 100% it felt more like the 90’s! Our good friend Carolyn was down visiting us from Rhode Island this weekend.

Even with the predicted heat we dressed up in our medieval garb and went to the Renaissance Faire. As you already know, I love dressing up for the Faire! Just a wench at heart I guess.

I don’t know how they wore the clothing they did back then and not keel over from heat prostration! We managed to catch a few shows, have some libations and lunch and walk around a bit, but four hours was about all any of us could take of the sun and heat.

I’m not sure why this guy they pulled out of the audience to assist Dextre was smiling. I don’t think I’d be smiling with a guy tossing fire brands over my head while squatting on my shoulders, would you?

Then we came home and went to a resort where the three of us bowled; Rick and I played nine holes of golf and a game of table tennis; Rick went wake boarding on a ski-doo, participated in a bike race and played frisbee with a dog; and Carolyn flew an airplane around the island. Pretty cool, huh?

On Sunday we went to the Warwick farmer’s market. It was the most crowded I have ever seen it! What was strange was to see the varieties of apples and even a few pears showing up already. The summer-less summer has everything confused. We bought everything we needed for our pear salad for lunch right at the market. These plums looked yummy but we didn’t buy any. I just liked the way they looked.

The rest of Sunday was spent floating around the pool. Heaven.

And, oh, in case you’re wondering about that great resort we went to on Saturday, you can check it out here:

We never had to leave our comfortable air-conditioned home!

Had you going, didn’t I?

I lay on my float, belly down, fingers and toes dangling in the cool water. The warm sun beating on my back is turning my flesh and bones to the viscosity of jelly. I feel my internal self flowing outward from my body. Letting go. Releasing tensions and worries. It’s difficult to resist the temptation not to nod off. I turn over to toast the other side.

I hear cicadas (!) in the treetops, there is a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (!) drinking nectar from the poolside flowers, hawks ride high in the sky on thermals, and a dragonfly (!) whirs by.

Can a day be any more perfect?

Yes, actually it could. Rick leaves today for nearly a week on business. We’ll all miss him!