Shorts, sundresses and flip-flops. Popsicles (we’re a Firecracker household here – although I persist in calling them Bomb Pops.) Water balloons & water guns. Sun tea brewing on the front porch, huge jugs of tap-it-yourself lemonade stashed in the refrigerator.

White wine replaces red, vodka gets added to the ‘must-buy’ list (only New Deal, of course), and morning coffee pots are quickly emptied into the pitcher that holds my iced coffee supply. Time to check the outdoor pool and summer concert schedules. Time to find the water bottles, stock up on swim towels, and drag the Neat Sheets out.

Windows are flung open, bringing smells of freshly mown grass and someone’s cookout wafting through the house. The pop up tent is already on the front porch, and the board game stash might soon move there as well. The season-long litany of ‘close the front door, please‘ has begun.

Summer’s finally here – and not a moment too soon, either.

Updated: b!X reminds us of fresh picked blueberries, and homemade strawberry shortcake in the comment below. Which reminded me of the cherries in my own refrigerator. What are the local sounds, smells, sights or tastes of summer for you?