Weather

The weather this time of year can be quite changeable.  While the calendar says its fall, the actual weather feels like summer.  This is commonly referred to as Indian Summer.  Its almost Nov but the temps have been close to 80 degrees recently, with just a few 60 degree days mixed in, just to keep you on your toes.

People don't know how to dress when its like this.  You'd think they'd look at the weather on their phones and dress accordingly.  Just today I cracked up when I saw someone on the street wearing a quilted parka, hat and  gloves and someone else right behind them in shorts and flip flops!

But you won't hear me complaining.  I love summer weather, regardless of what the calendar says. I will do my best to wring the last drops of summer out before switching over to long pants and sleeves.  I don't think twice about putting the convertible top down on a warm winter day if the sun is shining.

I should live in southern CA where convertible drivers rarely put their roofs up.

(no) Indian Summer

I'm a summer person.  This is likely no surprise to readers, since my blog shows that I live at the beach, love going to the beach, drive a convertible, love wearing shorts and flipflops, and love sitting on my screened porch.  I should live in southern CA where the weather is like summer all year round.

One of the great things about living in the mid-Atlantic region is Indian Summer.  Its not unusual for us to have sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s well into Oct, of which I take full advantage.  I actually have a memory of sitting out on the beach the 1st Sun in Nov some years back, but I can't find it in my blog.  I continue wearing shorts and flipflops and driving with the top down as long as I possibly can, squeezing out the final minutes of Indian Summer every year.

But this year I feel like we're being cheated with no Indian Summer.  The month of Sept was cooler than usual and we've had rain and/or overcast skies much more than usual.  Now here we are in the 1st week of Oct and we've had cool temps, wind, and rain from Hurricane Joaquin for the last week.  Today it was in the 50s when I got dressed for work, although its supposed to go up to 66 today.  I had to wear long pants and socks and closed shoes to work - its depressing!  

I'm definitely NOT 1 of those people who gets excited about fall.  To me, fall simply means the end of summer, a reality I try to avoid as long as possible.  I don't even like shopping for fall clothes, since I find the colors almost as depressing as the passage of summer.

The 10-day forecast does show daytime temps creeping up into the low 70s during the day, but its just not the same as a good old fashioned Indian Summer.

Indian Summer

At the beginning of the month we had a very cool spell and I was really afraid we wouldn't have an Indian Summer.  It was only in the 50s for several days, so I had to wear socks and shoes to work instead of my Sanuk knock-offs, and long-sleeve shirts and pants instead of polo shirts and shorts.  It was a real downer.

But fortunately it was just a cool spell and here we are at the end of Oct with daytime temperatures in the 70s and I'm enjoying a gorgeous Indian Summer.  

Somehow it feels luxurious to have the convertible top down during the day at the end of Oct.  Once the sun starts to set the temperature drops pretty quickly, so I wear a lightweight hoodie at night when I walk Marvin.

I guess I am just wired differently than those people who can't wait for fall weather so they can bust out their sweaters, coats and scarves.  I couldn't care less about those things.  To me the arrival of fall simply means the end of summer and the casual sense I have then.

Weekend highlights

The weekend started as all good weekends do with Fri Night Dinner with 'the usual suspects'. Afterward a couple guys from dinner joined me for karaoke since my friend Trelynda was hosting karaoke in the lounge at Saketumi. It was fun!

One of the cost-cutting measures Spouse & I agreed to was to discontinue our personal trainer visits. (This alone will save us over $400. per month.) So instead of his Sat morning workout, Spouse & I got up at 8:00 and went for a 2+ mile walk on the boardwalk. It was lovely weather, sunny and 68 degrees. There were lots of other morning walkers too. It was top down weather so after our walk we went for a drive, then had lunch on the screened porch. A little later we decided to check out the clearance racks at the outlet stores. Spouse got some new clothes that actually fit, including a pair of dress khakis for $8. and a sexy Kenneth Cole v-neck t-shirt for $7. It was so pretty outside that I suggested a walk around the large pond near our house, which extended itself into a walk through town, and then to the bay and back. I'm guessing we walked at least 5 miles that day, but enjoyed every inch. Later that evening we met Steven and one of the Bobs for dinner at Cafe Azafran. I had baked goat cheese with roasted peppers, olives, and herbs with pita (YUMMM) and a fabulously seasoned lamb skewer over field greens. We had a great meal and a great time with our buddies.

Sun morning we met Steven for breakfast and wound up talking for nearly 3 hours! Time flies when you're gossiping. (Just kidding.) Afterward Spouse & I went grocery shopping. It was another gorgeous Indian Summer day, sunny and 78 degrees, so we went for another walk on the boardwalk, then returned home to do some housecleaning. (Another cost-cutting measure was to discontinue our housecleaning service, saving us $300. per month.) For dinner we made fabulous BLTs using bison bacon, romaine, and grape tomatoes roasted with red peppers and mushrooms in EVOO and balsamic vinegar. They were DEE-LISH!! Then we watched a movie from Netflix: Valentine's Day. It was chocked full of stars (Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift, Shirley MacLaine, George Lopez, Julia Roberts) so I expected it to be great, but it wasn't. It was okay; occasionally funny, occasionally romantic, generally entertaining, but not terrific. I did like that the very sexy Bradley Cooper and Eric Dane (both former Crush du Jours) turned out to be gay. That was an unexpected twist.

I absolutely adore Indian Summer weather like we had this weekend. I think of it as Mother Nature's way of saying 'I'm sorry' for the chilly weather we had in Sept. when it shouldn't have been that cool. Regardless, I hope for more such weather before I need to pack away my shorts.

Crush du Jour: Ben Pamies

HA!!!

Just after Labor Day I expressed my dismay at how many people kept saying that summer was over. The summer tourist season may end at Labor Day, but technically today, Sept 22, is the last day of summer. And although the summer may be over tomorrow, here in the mid-Atlantic region there is still plenty of summer weather left.

Today the temperature reached 90 degrees! Everyone was back to wearing shorts and flip flops (except me, but that's a whole 'nother story), and driving with their convertible tops down. (That was me.) I wanted to offer a great big collective "HA!!!" to all the people who have been trying to rush us into fall for the last 2 weeks.

Its supposed to be warm (mid-to-upper 80s) the rest of the week and this weekend, which is just fine with me. Although the calendar may say its fall tomorrow, I am always enjoying summer or looking forward to summer.

Crush du Jour: Romulo Arentes Neto

Its still summer

Living in a summer resort area as we do, there is a lot of emphasis on the beginning and ending of summer. Around here the summer tourist season begins Memorial Day weekend and ends Labor day weekend.

Not only do we get folks on their week's vacation, but we also get lots of 'weekenders' who spend some or all of the summer weekends here at the beach. Since we are located within 2 hours of 4 cities, lots of folks own 2nd homes or condos here, which makes it convenient to come every weekend. Spouse & I were 'weekenders' for several years before moving here full-time.

Personally I don't mind the huge influx of tourists. Yeah, they clog traffic and create waits at restaurants, but without them the local businesses would go bust. Resort areas with little to no local professional employment NEED tourists to keep businesses afloat. Plus, I enjoy the energy these folks bring to the area. They're happy, they're on vacation, they're enjoying the beach. That creates a lot of positive energy.

It amazes me to hear so many 'locals' and radio/TV personalities who should know better make statements around Labor Day about summer being over. While the summer tourist season may end on Labor Day, officially it is still summer until Sept 22. And without question there is still plenty of summer weather in Sept and early Oct. It was 90 degrees today. Sept is my favorite month of the year.

Sometimes we have summer-like days in late Oct and early Nov called "Indian Summer". Although well into autumn, indian summer days are like gifts to this beach bum.

So until Sept 22, please do NOT say that summer is over because you'll be wrong if you do!

Crush du Jour: Stephen Leonard

Fall

I keep reading on other blogs about the subtle or not-so-subtle arrival of fall.

Many have talked about the crispness of the air, the changing colors of the leaves, and the cool temperatures. Some have posted gorgeous photos of the colorful spectacle of fall.

But here in southern DE, it does not look or feel like fall at all. The leaves are still green. Yesterday's high temperature was 80 degrees. There's only the slightest hint of fall's imminent arrival in the air at night. Everyone's still wearing shorts and open footwear. Photos taken today could easily be confused for May.

But I'm not complaining. This is what is referred to as Indian Summer, and I absolutely love it. It sort of feels like one is 'cheating' fall. Technically its fall, but it still feels like summer.

What's with this obsession with summer? Really, its the freedom I feel in summer, more than the actual weather. In summer I feel free to throw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and run out the door. I feel free to leave my convertible top down. I feel free to go places after work in the evening because daylight remains so much longer. The actual arrival of fall changes these things and temporarily steals my feeling of freedom.

But there's lots to enjoy in fall, so that makes up for having to wear long pants and socks in the house, and a jacket or coat and shoes when we walk the dog. Plus, I know summer weather and my summer freedom will return again next year.

Oh - our new bed arrived yesterday. Wow, its big. Upon Spouse's strong recommendation we upgraded from queen to king size, so its quite a bit wider than our old queen.

Spouse has gotten it into his head that the king is not as long as a queen. I suggested it just seems that way because of the king's width. Its almost square, as opposed to the queen's rectangular shape. But he's convinced they make kings shorter than queens to save money. After a very long pause I simply said "Okay. You're free to think that if you'd like." I looked online and confirmed that the queen and king are both 80" long. But as my favorite former boss used to say, "Sometimes the juice just isn't worth the squeeze".

Crush du Jour: Lucas Kerr

Holiday weekend highlights

Finally, I've got some time to share our holiday weekend highlights!

Fri afternoon our friends John & Marty came over to show us the landscaping plan John designed for our yard. Wow - it is amazing! John currently works as a florist and has a seemingly limitless knowledge of plants and flowers. He took our desire for a low-to-no maintenance yard, our favorite blooming plants and flowers, our desire for year-round color, and the soil and climate, and converted them all into a beautiful, casual garden.
There are some hardscapes, a water feature, outdoor art work, and a meandering path - all the things we said we liked. I was expecting a hand-drawn sketch with lots of notes, but John delivered a professional landscape plan made with computer software, and a list of what to buy. Needless to say we were extremely happy and impressed. I want to hire someone to purchase and install everything now, while Spouse wants to have it done in stages. Fortunately we agree that it will need to wait until the house in VA goes to settlement and we have time to meet with a landscape company.

Marty & John joined us for dinner with 'the usual suspects'. We had our largest dinner group so far with 16 people! In addition to John & Marty, there were 2 other visitors. Olivier & Francois are 2 French Canadians vacationing from Montreal. They were nice guys whose English was much better than my French. Occasionally I tossed in a word or simple phrase in French in an attempt to make our visitors feel welcomed. I asked them if they liked Poutine and they seemed a little surprised I knew of it. One of the Americans asked what it was, and I felt slightly superior since I was able to describe it and pronounce it correctly, thanks to Tornwordo.

We had such a fun time on our 'night out on the town' with Doug & Jim a few weeks ago we decided to do it again, sort of. As we drove into Rehoboth Beach it was quite apparent it was Labor Day weekend. The little seaside resort town was absolutely packed! We drove around for nearly 40 minutes looking for a parking place. We decided to skip cocktails at a bar and have them at the restaurant instead, while we (undoubtedly) waited for a table. Sure enough, there was a 30-40 minute wait, so we squeezed into the tight bar area and ordered cocktails.

After a brief conversation with these 2 guys from Pittsburgh who looked like Sopranos caricatures, we were eventually seated. Lupa di Mare is a great restaurant, as are the rest of Matt Haley's restaurants we've visited. The 4 of us had exceptional dinners and desserts.

Sun morning Rick & Nick came over for breakfast. Spouse made blueberry oatmeal pancakes and scrambled eggs with cheese and sausage.

We enjoyed chatting with them about vintage cars, politics, and made plans to meet at the beach the next day.

That afternoon Spouse & I went to a BBQ at George & Steve's in Dover. They are sweet guys who invite us to their BBQs every Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day, only we are never able to go because we always have company on those holiday weekends. So our company cancelling actually allowed us to finally join these friends for their famous BBQ.

Upon returning from Dover we fed and walked Jordan the dog, then walked to the canal where the charter boats are docked. Doug & Jim and Rick & Nick met us there for a evening boat cruise at 7:00. Until Doug suggested this, I didn't know they offered an evening cruise. I thought they only took fishermen out for saltwater fishing. The evening cruise was just $15. and lasted an hour and a 1/2, which we all agreed was a terrific bargain. We enjoyed seeing the Lewes canal and Delaware Bay from an entirely different perspective. We saw several lighthouses and the breakwater, which controls the tides from entering the bay from the ocean. And then there was the sunset. It seemed like one of the most beautiful ever, with its hot oranges, peaches, pinks and salmons against the steel blue-grey watery horizon.
After the cruise Rick & Nick went home and Doug & Jim asked us to join them for dinner at Beseme, just across the canal from the boat. I remembered a kumquat and soba noodle dish I'd seen the last time we ate there, but I ordered something else because I was afraid it might not be enough to satisfy me. But this time I wasn't as hungry so I thought the kumquat and soba noodle dish would be perfect. Unfortunately they were out of it! Guess I'll have to go back. A guy was playing the guitar and singing, so that was a nice treat with our meals.

On Mon Spouse & I met Rick & Nick on the beach around 12:30. It was a beautiful day, with a gentle breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Not surprising, there were a lot of people on the beach since it was Labor Day. We had a great time and stayed until 3:00. Spouse & I had angus burgers and Deitz & Watson hot dogs cooked on the grill for dinner, which we ate on the screened porch while listening to Bette Midler sing the Peggy Lee songbook. Delightful!

Spouse watched TV and I watched a Netflix DVD called 'Love Affair', the 1939 film starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. Its about 2 people who meet and fall in love on a cruise ship, only both of them are engaged to other people. They decided to meet at the top of the Empire State Bldg in 6 months, after they've dis-engaged themselves from their respective fiances. But Irene Dunne's character is struck by a car on her way to meet her true love. I liked the film and Irene Dunne a lot. I don't recall having seen her in any other films, although she made a bunch of them and was nominated 5 times for an Oscar.

And finally, I must plead with everyone to STOP SAYING "summer is over" just because Labor Day has passed. I lost count of how many people I heard say this over the long weekend. I love summer and am not ready for it to be over yet. Our a/c is still turned on, I'm still driving with my convertible top down, and people are still coming to the beach. Here in the mid-Atlantic region we usually experience Indian Summer well into Sept. Last year we were still going to the beach in early Oct. You may begin saying "summer is over" when the leaves are changing colors, and no sooner.

Crush du Jour: Anderson Cooper