Summer's End

To be honest, our "staycation" has turned out to be more "stay" and less "cation" – when you try to vacation at home, the little chores just leap out at you. We knew we'd have to do the garden upkeep and laundry and dishes, stuff like that; but new things have kept coming up, like the yellowjacket infestation; the tree removal; and a small host of other etc.'s. On the plus side, though, we have had magnificent summer weather up here (barring a few days of drifting smoke as the firefighters quenched the "Lockheed" fire over near Bonny Doon). It's been much cooler than last summer's scorcher August, when we were madly unpacking and getting settled – but clear and sunny, and warm enough to sit on the deck most afternoons. We've done a lot of reading, some pleasant flower-potting, a little piano study, and lots of writing exercises. But, lovely as the location and the weather are up here, and much as we adore our house and surrounding grounds – we're really thinking of doing some sort of house exchange with someone next August, after the big Family Reunion in July is over. The problem for us is that we can't think of anywhere we'd really like to be during the month of August (except here!) However, if anyone has a suggestion, we'd be happy to hear about it.....