Signs of Summer

There are many things that we use to mark the passage of time.  We countdown until the last day of school (3...for the record!), celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and use advent calendars for Christmas.  I have many friends posting various things on Facebook about the coming of summer from pictures of the kids walking to the neighborhood pool to getting summer haircuts.  For us, in East Texas, summer is welcomed by the opening of snow cone stands!  At least one on every corner...seriously not kidding!  We take our shaved ice very seriously! 

In my neck of the woods, Snow Joes is the place to be in summer!  Cameron even braved White Oak Road last summer to ride his bike for a Snow Joes treat!  They offer hundreds of flavors and even a variety of sizes...small, medium, large and the Yancey!  32 ounces of shaved ice heaven!  It is so named after one of our state champion basketball players!

This past week we visited Snow Joes twice and I feel as if summer is already here!  So, while I may still be sitting at my desk at school contemplating the final I still need to write and the ones I am going to be grading, summer is in my heart!  Days to relax...sleep in a little more...read a book(or 2 or 3 or 10) for the sheer pleasure of it...laze around at the pool...drive to Lawrence to spend a week with the Jayhawks...and eat snow cones! 

Thank you Snow Joes!  That "Open" sign spells summer!