It is STILL raining in our little piece of Texas, and I’m still loving it. I checked the calendar, and we are officially past the middle of September, and the grass is green verdant.

This late summer blessing has made me a bit homesick for Illinois, where we lived when I was in high school. We lived in O’Fallon, and had the most wonderful property there. Our backyard was huge, sloping down from the house to a little creek at the property line. I remember how lush the lawn was, with strong blades of grass that you could just sink your feet in. I recall how the sunlight would trickle down through the trees and sprinkle on the perennial beds below.

I like brown, and the harsh edges of sagebrush, yucca and prickly pear that decorate my yard now. There’s a stark beauty to it. But oh, to have green grass in September. Every year.

Blech….it’s not quite fall, but summer is completely spent, and I’m completely discouraged disgusted with the entire process. Seriously – I’m fed up with being hot and sweaty. I’m ready for beef stew and other hot food, bread baking and sweaters. Summers are interminal down here in Texas, and it’s enough to drive a woman insane.

On the bright side – it’s raining! In fact, it has been raining steadily for three whole days. We’ve had more rain this weekend than we’ve seen all year, and it is blessedly, gloriously wonderful. Our trees are just gasping with relief as they pull themselves back from the brink of permanent dormancy, and the critters all seem happy and frolicsome. The possums and racoons have been sneaking into the garage. The kids think it’s because they want to get out of the rain; personally, I think they’re after the dogfood bin. Seriously – they leave the umbrellas alone, but scamper to tip over the bin and snatch kibble at every opportunity.

Today’s the day. My first baby turns 18 years old today. She can now vote, buy her own sudafed, have spraypaint in her possession, and sign for her own pass at the gym.

I remember the day she was born. Hubby and I were so awed by how tiny she was, and completely terrified that we would mess up raising her! We can thankfully say, that despite the fact that she didn’t come with instructions, we did an okay job with her, and the three children that followed. She’s beautiful inside and out, talented, well grounded, and getting ready for the independence of college life. We couldn’t be more proud of her. Happy Birthday, Katie-bug!