Summer has finally arrived

And it seems to be all about eating outside, not to mention the dramatic change in temperature. On Monday we had to wear sweaters and have both propane heaters on to be comfortable with pashminas, fleeces, and blankets at the ready. Our Arizona friends, Malcolm & Peggy (in down vest), found it decidedly chilly.

Wednesday we decamped to ranbow Park in Esquimalt to what we consider to be "our" picnic table, again with Tweedies, and Forbes' this time who are off to Hong Kong on Tuesday. It was a perfect evening and warm there for a change. There often is a 10 degree temperature difference between our house and this picnic table site.

The Arbutus trees at Rainbow Park were the inspiration for a pair of paintings that weren't painted as a diptych but turned out to be one. They are looking very stressed this year and we have noticed a decline in them for the last few seasons.

Last night we didn't eat until well after 8:00 as it was pretty darned hot, not that we are complaining having whined about the cold for the past 2 months. These thermometer photos were taken at 8:30pm. I don't know what the temperature actually was at the front of the house in the sun because the thermometer only registers to 50C (120F) and that's what it was reading. The back of the house in the shade was a comfortable 31C (88F). This morning we finally got around to digging out the window aircon for our bedroom.

 We are looking forward to going on a water garden tour this weekend, anticipating some exciting new ideas as Jim is getting antsy about our pond which needs to be cleaned out. If that isn't an excuse and opportunity for a renovation I never heard one. Someday soon we'll go kayaking and I believe we are going camping next weekend ...

Summer in Victoria is dry; we will have weeks of clear blue skies with no rain and low humidity now that we can finally say summer has begun. Long may it last!