I just got back from voting in the primary election, a civic duty made pleasant by the beauty of the weather: blue skies after many days of rain, big puffy clouds and a slight breeze that stirred the faint but unmistakable fragrance of decaying vegetation.
Yes, summer is on the wane. Wildflowers and gardens alike are dying back – hence the smell of plant life sinking gradually to earth. Birch leaves are falling like golden rain in my BFF’s back yard. Most of the fireweed has spawned out, although a few defiant pinky-lavender blossoms still show up here and there.
The sun’s angle and intensity have both changed noticeably. As I noted in the linked article, “August sun compared to June sun is like a social kiss: close enough to get its point across but far enough away to feel like display rather than true affection.”
I redirected the “waaahhhh, summer’s going away” thoughts into a positive affirmation: How lucky am I to be out walking on a beautiful day? Even if every time the breeze lifts I’m mighty glad to be wearing a jacket?
Lucky, too, to live in a place where citizens are allowed to vote — a privilege I think too many of us take for granted.
Voting for me! And two nice giveaways
Speaking of voting (nice segue!), I’m part of the Money Games 2016, an online competition from GO Banking Rates. A bunch of us have had articles nominated and we’re supposed to be out stumping for votes.
Mine is called “21 free or cheap date ideas,” and you can vote for it daily through Aug. 31 via the link above. I won’t get a medal, or even a bouquet of flowers, if I win; it’s one of those PR things, i.e., a chance to get one’s name out in front of new readers.
Finally, two chances to win FABulous prizes:
The giveaway at A Gai Shan Life continues through Sept. 4. It’s her blog’s 10th anniversary and she’s doing it up right, with hundreds of dollars’ worth of Amazon and Target gift cards. While it’s always fun to win this stuff, the fact that the holidays aren’t that far off makes this giveaway even more attractive.
In additiona, the giveaway includes books; among them are my daughter’s “Frugality For Depressives: Money-Saving Tips For Those Who Find Life A Little Harder” and a copy of my own about-to-be-published personal finance book. Also up for grabs: several online courses that should appeal to writers both published and unpublished, plus an hour of writing coaching from yours truly. Go win something!
My FinCon colleague Linsey Knerl is staging another delicious giveaway at her Lille Punkin website. It’s an assortment of Made In Nature Supersnacks products, made with certified organic and non-GMO ingredients.
Knerl and her six kids sampled stuff like dried mango slices, tart cherries, a pomegranate-ginger nut mix, Smyrna figs, dried apricots and a “super berry” fusion. But she saved all her mom love for the Italian Espresso Toasted Coconut Chips, which she described as a “delectable, crunch and bittersweet goodness” that tastes like “the best cup of coffee ever.”
Still not convinced? The giveaway also includes a $100 Walmart gift card so you can buy your own snacks. (Or some gym shoes and school supplies for your kids.)
Awesome Donna, thanks! I voted for you again and visited both of the other blogs and entered their giveaways.
Thank you! And if I can’t win Linsey’s giveaway, I hope one of my readers does.
Another life-affirming post! Thank you!
It’s so hard to imagine summer ending. We have had a heat index over 100 degrees for about a week now, ugh. Virginia has been hotter than normal this year.