My how time flies

Has it really already been four years since I graduated from the University of Kentucky?

So much has happened since this photo was snapped in early May 2007. I wonder what the next four years will hold!

Summer lovin'

I've heard people say of Lexington, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." Talk about truth! Over the last month, we have experienced temperatures near 85, temperatures at the freezing mark, torrential rain, tornado warnings, tornado watches, thunderstorms, sun, clouds and flash flooding. This spring has been so sporadic that it has me anxiously awaiting the glorious months of summer.

A taste of summer, a la St. Lucia

Don't get me wrong...I generally consider myself a spring/fall kind of girl. Not too hot, not too cold. I'm the first to admit that I don't handle extremes very well. But the last few weeks have made me yearn for bright sun, sprinklers, the sound of lawn mowers and stifling summer nights.

As such, I have been thinking about what I want to do this summer. Summer is the perfect time to let loose and kick back. Thus, my initial list of ideas to fill my summer of 2011:

• Hall's on the River. Think twilight, a drive out Athens-Boonesboro Road (past Bluegrass Christian Camp), savory beer cheese and an inviting porch.
• Summer Classics Series at the Kentucky Theatre. Summer in Lexington would not be complete without it. Perfect way to spend a Wednesday night--don't forget to sprinkle some of the special salt on the popcorn!
• Lexington Farmer's Market. Since I am now living almost a stone's throw away from the Sunday market on Southland Drive, I really need to take advantage of local farmers' fresh produce and other goodies. I see brunch at Winchell's followed by a leisurely stroll through the market. That sounds about right.
• Berry picking. Many local farms offer berry picking. How perfect would it be to pick berries all afternoon and then bake up a fresh pie or cobbler to enjoy that night? 
• New Orleans. Ok, so this is not local, but Jacob and I are considering an impromptu trip to the bayou this summer. So looking forward to beignets, strolls through the French Quarter and all that jazz!
• Paddle boating out at Jacobson Park. Jacob does not know this yet, but I am hoping I can talk him into paddle boating this summer. Haven't done this since I was 17! So much fun!
• Picnics. I'm thinking a cold bottle of Riesling, fresh chicken salad on dark rye, and a red and white checked blanket. Perhaps by the lake at Jacobson. Two birds with one stone.
• Summerfest at the Arboretum. This tradition began with Shakespeare in the Park in college...another local excuse for lounging outdoors with good food, good company and good entertainment.
• Concert at Riverbend. Haven't looked at this summer's line-up but Riverbend is one of my all-time favorite places for a show. It's been a few years since I last made it up there (Maroon 5/Counting Crows, anyone? HAHA Erin), but I would love to go back soon. Something about an outdoor open pavillion can really awaken the senses.
• Cookout. Being my first summer as a homeowner, I would love to host at least one major cookout. Perhaps around a holiday? Maybe the fourth or even Labor Day... What would really be awesome? A fire pit. Maybe we can create our own this summer in the yard. S'mores!
• Gardening. Jacob planted our garden last week. Lots of tasty herbs (basil, oregano, mint, dill, rosemary) and peppers and tomatoes will soon be making appearances in our yard. Cooking is so much fun in the summer! I really want to get out there and help maintain it (and some of the other landscaping Jacob has been putting his heart into the last few weeks). I just need to get over my fear of creatures that linger in the backyard (aka snakes).
• Stargazing. Not that we have anywhere in town that is ideal for a night of stargazing, but just the same, the thought of lying on a soft blanket in the dead of night looking at the stars screams "summer" to me.
• Flea markets. I want to spend an afternoon walking through a flea market. Haven't been to one since college...but it sounds like grand fun to me!
• Sit pool side. Wouldn't be summer without a few trips to the condo pool with my mother-in-law Debbie. Nothing as simple (or relaxing) as a stack of magazines, SPF 50 and huge sunglasses. She and my mom have instituted a pool day that we hold every August.

What are your plans this summer?

Celebrate we will...cause life is short but sweet for certain

It is amazing how many lives a single life can touch. It’s one of those things that you really never pause to think about until it’s time to say goodbye to someone who has made that sort of an impact on your own life.

Why is that the case, I wonder? If you think about…how often do you really slow down enough to realize how much someone means to you…let alone take the time to share it with them?

Must be human nature—we don’t want to think about a time when that someone won’t be around…but once they are gone, you’re left with the realization of how much they meant to you and the size of hole they filled in your life.

I was reminded of these realizations just a few short weeks ago when Jacob’s uncle passed away.

In honor of Kerry Van Humphrey. May he rest in peace.

Uncle Kerry (or “E” as Jacob and his siblings and cousins referred to him) touched many lives over the course of his life. Kerry was so much more than an uncle/brother/son to those who knew him—he was a friend. Jacob has referred to him as a best friend—someone he could always count on for a kind word or a smile.

Though I only knew him for a few short years (we first met six years ago when Jacob and I started dating), I have my own fond memories of Kerry. Beyond the holidays and Sunday family dinners, I think the memories at the top of my list were those summer nights that he and I would drive downtown to the Kentucky Theatre to watch the films of the Summer Classic Series.

These memories represent but a mere moment in Kerry’s life but they will always have special meaning to me. On top of everything, I know how much he meant to Jacob. And my heart breaks for him and the rest of the Kelly/Humphrey family members. Despite this loss, we can rest in the peace and knowledge that he is in a better place…and we will see him again one of these days.

Now that I think about it…maybe if we constantly thought about mortality we wouldn’t truly live. I’m not sure, but regardless, I want to make a more conscious effort to tell people how I feel about them; never leave someone angry; and take time to truly enjoy the moments/events of my life. And maybe Dave Matthews summed it up best when he said that “life is short, but sweet for certain.”