You know it is summer when… was a game we played as kids. No sooner would the weather begin to turn warm by the end of February, than we would begin all our sentences with “you know it is summer when…”
Some examples are:
You know it is summer when…
…the tap water from the overhead tank is always hot
…the geyser gets a vacation but the electricity bills escalate
…the woolens are packed off in trunks for the next eight months
…the quilts are stored away with the warm clothes
…we consume more water than seems humanly possible
…we wish we had a little tank with delicious juice attached to our back with a tube directly connecting to our mouth
…cold drinks are allowed
…ice cream becomes a staple
…lots of salad appears at the table
…coconut water is a must
…fruits like mangoes, musk melons and watermelons are everywhere
…seasonal fruits and vegetables are pickled
…vacation time is around the corner but exam time is already here and everyone is frantically swotting for the exams while fantasizing about the holidays
…trips are planned to cooler climes
…family functions are scheduled so that most of the members can attend. After all, do their lives not revolve around their school-going children’s schedule?
…skimpier clothes are out
…swimming pools are booked
…bath time is at least twice a day
During my childhood, because I grew up in my Grandmother’s house, summer time meant cousins visiting for the holidays. It meant lots of movies, indoor games, picnics and of course, lots of cooking in our ever-buzzing kitchen that started becoming active at 4 am and never closed before midnight. Oh yes, we all had duties allocated – many hands made light work!
Today, in some ways life is faster and in others, more relaxed. We don’t see as many house guests as we’d like to.
So, you know summer is here when we…
…spring clean the house and wash everything that is remotely washable because the sun’s heat is being wasted!
…cook stuff that needs to be sun-dried before it is fried (or microwaved)
…change our lifestyle and get out more
…change our food habits and wish we could subsist on a liquid diet, a cold liquid diet
…wear lighter clothes and are relieved to wear shorts and Tee-shirts
…do not feel worked up that we forgot to switch on the geyser in the morning. In fact, we have to remember to fill a couple of buckets with water so it is cool enough to use
…fill water bottles in the morning or late in the evening, or we end up drinking hot water
…love to hang out on our terrace and get to see gorgeous skies and birds
…plan trips for the vacation coming up, whether we actually travel or not doesn’t matter!
…feel somewhat lazy and want to sleep in every day, because mornings are cool.
…see the trees in our area turn into a riot of yellow and purple flowers
…develop a love-hate relationship with the kids in our building because they seem to scream nonstop from morning until night but don’t say anything because…kids will be kids eh?
I really could go on and on! So… here are some photos of what we see – only in summer!
You know it is summer when…the watermelon sellers dot the roadside and are a delight to see!
You know it is summer when…the neighbors are frantically spreading these on the terrace – to be packed in airtight containers and stored…and fried and enjoyed!
You know it is summer when…even my mobile camera can capture photos like these
You know it is summer when…the skies are a glorious sight and you want to stare at them for eternity!
You know it is summer when…there’s whipped cream in the sky…only we call it “clouds”
You know it is summer when… the fruit salads are waiting to be eaten… NOW!
Can’t wait for the mangoes, you know! So what if I am not allowed to eat ’em!
In other news, those of us signed up for the A to Z Challenge are busy planning, thinking, organizing for the month of April. But before that, we have the A to Z Theme Reveal Blogfest happening on March 21, when we announce our themes for the A to Z Challenge. Do stay tuned!
♥
Linking up with the gorgeous Unknown Mami, who graciously hosts Sundays In My City, my favorite meme. We travel the world together.
39 comments
What a fresh post! The colours, the vibrancy, the ‘coolness’ of summer captured so effectively, Vidya! Picturing all those moments out on the terrace in my childhood… what glorious days. And yay! April is almost here and so is A to Z. Can’t wait!
Shailaja V recently posted…In Memoriam- {Fiction}
two questions
geyser gets a vacation – don’t understand the connection with summer
What is spread out on the terrace?
Great pictures and all the fruit sounds tasty.
Geyser is the electrical appliance we use, to heat water, Lisleman. In summer we don’t use it as the tap water is naturally hot.
What is spread out on the terrace? It is made of rice and sago, soaked and ground and then cooked to a batter like consistency. This can be flavored with lemon juice, green chilies and salt. Spoons of the batter are then poured on to a huge sheet of plastic and left to dry in the sun. After it is completely dry, it can be peeled off the sheet and stored in a container. A handful of these – microwaved or fried in oil makes a great accompaniment to food. Like chips 🙂 Tastes great!
Good to see you here!
Vidya Sury recently posted…The Things We Take For Granted
in our area, in summer, it would be chillies and other veggies / fruits… in coastal areas, people will dry fish this way and sell it that way too. a kind of dehydrated version, if that makes sense 🙂
but yes, this is the season when cold drinks n squashes disappear off the shelves quickly… 🙂
Roshan R recently posted…Off to Malaysia? Check out these awesome places.
What a summery post! I grew up in Shillong so there was not really any concept of Summer…We had an extended spring followed by a full blown raining season and always had to have a light sweater around… So initially when I moved out I found it hard to adjust to Summer…But now I love the summers of Banaglore…It reminds me of colours for some strange reason!
nabanita recently posted…Of Going The Distance For Love
Mmmmm…watermelon! We’re supposed to get more snow tonight so summer is definitely still a ways off here. What was drying on the roof…chilies?
Dorothy recently posted…Simple + Beautiful = Simply Beautiful = Slovenia – Sundays in My City
Now I want summer to come soon.
Delightful post n I can’t wait for the mangoes too! 🙂
Love the sky and puffy white clouds! It is pretty much always summer here, but neat that today was the first day it was warm enough to put the boys back in the pool for the season and you are celebrating summer, too 🙂 Watermelon looks gooood!
Julie Barrett recently posted…A Three Year Anniversary Walk Down Memory Lane
Beautiful photos, wonderful skies! rich watermelons!
Oh Wow! Here in the American South, watermelon is a great sign of summer, as well. I had never seen the rice and sago before.
Lovely!
🙂
Traci
Star Traci recently posted…Sundays in My City #94 — A Walk by the Water
Such a refreshing post indeed! Great description of An Indian Summer and lovely photographs. My favourite part is about whipping clouds wrongly named as clouds! And yes, watermelons too. In our area we have already been enjoying this heavenly fruit for a few weeks now. Wishing you and yours a happy summer, and I hope some of those travel plans do turn into an actual vacation 🙂
Beloo Mehra recently posted…That Long Wait
Lovely post, Vidya. Summers are beautiful in Bangalore. I so loved the skies and the papads drying on the terrace :). But more than summer, I love Bangalore’s spring.
Rachna recently posted…Distance makes the hearts grow fonder!
You know it’s summer when streets are filled with the aroma of sweet mangoes… 😀 What a nostalgic post… As I read each line I was reminded of my childhood … brought a smile on my face 🙂
Rajlakshmi recently posted…A Cupful of memories
hi Vidya – the sky pictures are simply divine! And love the hundreds of watermelons on the street – makes me thirsty for watermelon juice right now:)
Vishnu recently posted…When did God become a dirty word? 7 ways God trumps cheap medication and the mafia.
Aaha 🙂 your post just reminded me of amma’s N varieties of pappadams / aplams…. she would grind literally anything and everything and spread the batter out as aplams for drying… potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, beetroots, sago… and also the dried vegetables ‘vathal’ – bitter gourd, brinjal, potato ( again), tomato ( again), elephant yam…. 🙂 🙂
Summer is also the time when watery buttermilk tastes like nectar 🙂
Sreeja Praveen recently posted…Some Women’s Day Thoughts !
Summer looks so beautiful and inviting in this post, Vidya. Different colours make the place vibrant and bring memories of school vacations and separation from friends.
LOved this post on various levels – memories, food, colours, tastes and above all enjoyed seeing the pics that are a sight everywhere.
Joy always,
Susan
As always Vidya your post is alive and shining this time with the summer sun. And your pics are delightful. We have in warm in Fl most of the year, but right no it’s less humid which is nice. When summer comes…back comes the humidity. It might be good for the skin but I can live without it!
Elle recently posted…26 Key Truths You Need To Know To Create A Bright Future
What a refreshing bright sunny post
Ananya recently posted…Celebrate the WOMAN in you – IWD
Thank you Ananya!
And thank you for voting for my post on Indivine! 😀
What a nice, refreshing post and I really like those beautiful photos. Right now, I’m enjoying the sunny and warm weather and it feels like as if summer is already here.
Robert recently posted…How To Bend Your Reality
I loved this. I could use some warm days and a little summer here. So tired of snow, cold, and winter. You always make me smile!! ♥
Kathy Combs recently posted…Level Haiku
Loved the pictures, Vidya and the list of course! As much as we might grumble about the heat, summer is always a special time – such a load of wonderful memories too of childhood summers!
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…Anything Goes on Sunday – 2
Great photos!
xox
Digital Pixelita recently posted…I Wish I Were a Daffodil
And you know it is summer when all you need is sugar-cane and watermelon juice to quench the thirst. And eat endless rounds of amras and poori’s!
Pratibha recently posted…Make Your Own Soothing Headache Relief Balm {DIY}
Exactly it happens word by word! same happening in my home too! 🙂 Loved it!
Nibha recently posted…Will It Be Good Enough?
Summers have just arrived here and I am loving it, especially the ‘spring clean the house and wash everything that is remotely washable because the sun’s heat is being wasted” 😀
Loved this summery post replete with fab pics 🙂
Shilpa Garg recently posted…A to Z Challenge 2014 : News and Views
Summer is just around the corner, and winter is just preparing himself to say bye, here. So next month definitely I’m gonna write a post similar to this… Loved the post! <3
Sheethal recently posted…I Don’t …
That many watermelons, slurp.
In Malaga it’s only spring but feels so gooood, warm and sunny. In Helsinki it’s -1 right now…brrrrr….
Have a good,tasty week!
BLOGitse recently posted…I can feel the spring…
Two long, comprehensive lists!
I know summer has started when I wake up ahead of my morning alarm.
Proactive Indian recently posted…Be the change
Oh Vidya how you have made me long for spring and summer days!
Your photos are lovely.
I wanted to stop by and wish you the best of luck for the A-to-Z Challenge and to let you know I am looking forward to reading your posts.
Doreen McGettigan recently posted…Calling all Insecure Writers…
Welcome, Doreen! Thank you so much. I am looking forward to staying connected with you long, long after the A to Z 🙂 ♥
Lovely, refreshing, awakening post.
You. Are. Spring. My dear Vidya!
Love you more than lemon tulips. xxxxxxx
Mmm Kim! I love the idea of lemon tulips. I love you!
as a child Summer never ever bothered me.. but today its a different story all togtehr!
Meena Menon recently posted…Slice Of Life: AtoZ Challenge Theme!
Vidya,
What an absolute joy to read and for the wonderful memories your words and pictures bring back! Thanks for reminding me of the happy times at my gran’s home, the papads drying in the sun and the ‘masala ladies’ who used to come and pound all the spices to be stored for the entire year. 🙂
So looking forward to April and the A-Z!! It does make me smile. 😉
When I started reading I thought it was an illustrative post but found to my glee it was an exhaustive one!!You had left nothing.
It brought memories of my childhood.I remember playing cricket on every weekend during May and June in the hot sun and never felt the worse for it.
Sorry I did not join A to Z challenge as I felt I was not equal to the demanding job
KP recently posted…The mysterious power
Lovely signs of summer. Beautiful.
Claudya recently posted…The Sun is out @SFJapantown (Sundays In My City)
Vidya, this post drenched me like cool rains in the midst of summer. Enjoyed it .. and the pictures are so reminiscent of the best of summers.
Meanwhile, have also tweeted you, here is another brilliant contest that ends TODAY .. so hurry .. Rs.8 K Gift card up for grabs & the topic is brilliant .. My Most Memorable Memento.
Lakshmi G recently posted…The Art of Hatching! My most memorable Memento ..