Summer?

Well, the kids are off school for the summer (since last Friday at noon), and it's been wonderful: bike rides, board games, card games, baking with helpers, movies, and occasionally eating breakfast or lunch out.

However, it has not been summer. Today I've been wearing jeans with a turtleneck and a sweater over it all day long (when I wasn't also wearing an extra layer of a lined raincoat zipped all the way up). I am still freezing. Actually right now I am tucked up in bed fully clothed, with a sheet and three layers of blankets over me, plus the laptop warming my lap a little more, and my hands are still chilled.

It's been mostly rainy or overcast since we can remember (although we had a few glimpses of the sun today now and then, so we know it is still there), and should remain so for at least the next five days.

So we thought we'd take advantage of this and go even farther north to how much less like summer it can get in Scotland. It's supposed to be around 43-63 degrees F up there (6-17 C). The high is only a couple of degrees different from here. Overnight train will be our method of transport - it'll be the kids' first time for both the new territory and the train bunks.

Still, despite the unseasonable weather here, I am really appreciating relaxing with the kids and not driving back and forth to school on a strict schedule.

Off to make a warming and hearty spaghetti bolognese for dinner...and maybe we'll get to summer salads sometime later.

Tightly wrapped rosebud from my back yard