Typically, the first Wednesday of the month is when we write a welcome post, sharing what we’re excited for,reminiscing about previous years, and looking at what’s changing in the natural world. Basically a little bit of looking ahead, looking back, and looking out.

Yesterday I couldn’t come up with the words for a post. We’ve said it before, and we could say it a million times more. We love all seasons, but there’s no doubt that summer is our favorite. And the start of summer is filled with so much anticipation.

• The gardens will eventually burst, and we’ll be ready. Hopefully most of those meals will be eaten outside, and a good fraction cooked over the grill or open fire.

• There will be the sunny and salty days at the beach. Hopefully we’ll skip the sunburns, but we won’t skimp on the popsicles.

• There are going to be so many hikes and jaunts into the woods, followed by plenty of mosquito bites.

• I won’t be able to take enough deep breaths when we drive past freshly cut grass.

• I’m ready for a good book on the screen porch. And a cold beer.

• An afternoon on a boat is good. If it’s a sailboat on the verge of tipping, that’s even more thrilling.

• I would love a drive-in movie; it’s been too many years since the last one.

• What about the sight and smell of steamy roads after a thunderstorm? And the rainbows, we didn’t have enough rainbows last year.

• And the fireflies. I’m hoping they indulge us and let the boys catch a jar-full like last year.

There aren’t enough summers. What will we do.