Summer will be here sooner than expected, as can often be said of every season, of every year, in every decade. Does the calendar reveal this simple fact? Or the weather?

Calendars merely state sterile numbers on a chart, and the weather is totally unreliable now, what with global climate change . . .

What provokes me to claim (with authority) that summer is arriving ahead of schedule?

It's the synergy surrounding the events taking place throughout the day in my kitchen!

Heavy winter fare--thick, murky, heart-warming soups, bone-strengthening casseroles, dark baked breads, and steaming hot, rich sauces have been placed on the backburner. (Well, actually, in the freezer awaiting the return of autumn, much later in the year).

Raw salads, drizzled with my special balsamic dressing, fluffy rice and steamed veggies served with simple cheesy sauces, and tangy-sweet lemon bars now grace the table.

The main cooks and bottle washers are wearing shorts and tank tops, having traded in their heavier sweatshirts and jeans. Bare feet adorn the linoleum!

It's time for an early evening walk . . . all we need is a light jacket.