1. I got carried away watching the heavy raindrops outside, but then I looked around and realized I wasn't the only one. It's been a blazing summer.

2. What was supposed to be »pick the one perfect book for that very special person and go«  extended into a long meeting with good old friends that I hadn't seen for a long time, only that they were all new and nicely exhibited or lined on the bookshelves.

3. It is wonderful to watch the girls have such a great time, with a friend sleeping over and another two playmates turning up in our yard to play in the sandbox, hula-hoop, skipping rope and homemade pizza breaks in the breezy late afternoon.