Summers Over — NOT!

Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
Labor Day 2009

Here in the United States we celebrated Labor Day this past Monday and for most residents that day is the symbolic end of summer. The weather is starting to turn cooler, kids are going back to school this week or next and as I travel around the blogland, I see Fall headers appearing on some of my favorite blogs.

This is not the case here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, as well as most of the state. Our weather is still hot, maybe not quite as humid as it was, but still hot, hot, HOT! The kids already went back to school on August 19th, our palm trees don't change color, and it is not the end of summer for us.

Instead, we are looking forward to our perfect beach weather returning, the Gulf of Mexico cooling off from bathtub temperatures to something cool and refreshing, and being able to venture outdoors without dripping sweat in a matter of moments.

On Monday Kelli Malfronte of our local Bay News 9 staff, a transplanted New Yorker, ask a few Floridians, what marks the end of summer here?

Well Kelli, for me I know summer is ending when I can once again turn off the A/C that's been running 24/7 since May and can throw open the windows without fear of climbing into soggy sheets when I go to bed at night.

Others answered Kelli's question as October, more specifically — Halloween. By then the air is cooler and you actually have to wear shirts with sleeves, usually short sleeves, but the tank tops I live in are usually put away by Halloween.

Then there are those who answered Thanksgiving marks the end of summer in Florida. Steve, who has lived here since the late 70s, says, "That is when the weather starts to mirror what the weather is like at the beginning of September for the northerners."

The most telling answers Kelli reported were, "…when the snow birds start to arrive, when the first cold front comes through, when the days are noticeably shorten and when hurricane season ends."

Yep, those snow birds arrive in droves to enjoy our almost year-round summer and when hurricane season officially ends on November 30th, we all breathe a little easier that we don't have to pay attention to what is going on in the Atlantic for a while.

So, while many of you were celebrating Labor Day as the end of summer, I was just celebrating another day at the beach. I left home just before dawn and headed down to Indian Rocks Beach, about ten minutes away. Of course, I had to snap a few photos to share with you before I settled in to relax and read a good book.

Moon In Clouds

See the moon just to the left of that large cloud mass? The moon was there one moment and gone the next. Sometimes you're looking in just the right place at the right time. You can click any of these photos for a larger version.

Great Blue Heron

Immature Laughing Gull

Note: This refers to his plumage, not his behavior.

Ruddy Turnstone
Sandpiper Family

Pelican In Flight

Beach Walkers

I call these folks beach walkers as opposed to beachcombers. See how straight their shoulders are? This is a dead giveaway! Beachcomber's shoulders are stooped from looking for shells and other treasures on the beach — I'm a beachcomber.

My Beach Chair

By 10:00 it was getting too hot and I headed back to The Hut and the A/C. I, for one, am looking forward to the end of summer, when I can spend all day on the beach again!

Hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day!

I've linked this post to Outdoor Wednesdays courtesy of Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer, Waterside Wednesdays thanks to Barbara @ The Book Blog and for the first time @ Watery Wednesday. Wednesdays are so fun and the links on all these blogs will lead you to fabulous photos from other participants!