101 degrees

outside. I am eternally thankful for the lack of humidity and the presence of a nice breeze.

Since we don’t know anyone with a pool, I splurged on a giant inflatable pool. It’s 22 inches deep and big enough across for me to completely stretch out and rest my head on the side wall. It just fits on our gazebo, so it can be in the shade. And, it has three cup holders.

It took two evenings to get it inflated and almost an hour to fill. I spent nearly three hours in it today, in as close to total bliss as I think I can get. I hung a sheet up across the one side of the gazebo to block the sun, I filled my water bottle with lemon slices and ice water, I had my mystery novel and absolutely no responsibilities for the entire day. Best $30 purchase I’ve made in awhile.

I have a feeling if you need me over the next few weeks, you’d better look in the backyard!

It’s not a raft tied to the boathouse dock in the lake, but if I close my eyes the sound of the traffic a mile away almost sounds like boats and the bees buzzing around the catmint sound like the crickets in the grass. It isn’t precisely where I want to be, but it’s a damn fine substitution!