If you step outside, squint your eyes and hold up a magnifying glass, you might notice the first few glimpses of green that seem to be appearing on the bare, lonely branches.
Now that the Buffalo population is emerging from hibernation, summertime means the return of hot sunny day favorites like watermelon, lemonade, and a warm meal cooked on a charcoal grill.
"My favorite thing about summer is a good old-fashioned barbeque with hot dogs and hamburgers," said Maureen Finn, a junior business major. "Of course you need to have roasted marshmallows too."
There are certain dishes and drinks that only have a window of opportunity during the months of June, July and August - you most probably wouldn't find yourself drinking a Mohito and eating barbeque ribs out on the back porch on Christmas Eve. In order to fully indulge those summer taste buds, here are some ideas to enhance those typical mid-July meals after a long day out in the sun.
The Backyard Barbeque: Hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and corn on the cob usually define the perfect barbeque.
"My roommates and I had a barbeque last weekend when the weather was really nice," said Craig Hightower, a senior finance and marketing major. "We got fresh Polish sausage from a meat market, hot dogs, hamburgers and baked beans, because baked beans are crucial."
Hightower suggests adding a crab dip to the menu. By combining two large bars of cream cheese, three packages of imitation crab meat and a jar of cocktail sauce, crab dip can be made in less than five minutes.
He also suggests serving guacamole and tortilla chips in place of the usual Lays potato chips or Doritos.
Another favorite to be sure and include is a frozen dessert.
"Orange freeze pops are my favorite thing about summertime," said Matt Foster, a junior mechanical engineering major.
Throw in a $20 volleyball net from Target and maybe an ice cold Corona with a lime and you've got a backyard barbeque the neighbors will be envious of.
The Perfect Picnic: Whether it's out in the front yard or at the local park, a casual picnic lunch in a scenic environment can make for the perfect romantic moment.
You don't necessarily need a red-and-white checkered blanket and a picnic basket, but if you're trying to impress a date or Grandma, it might help. Some of the usual items to throw in the basket are turkey sandwiches, pretzels, fruit and chocolate chip cookies.
Others go for something a little more extraordinary.
"When my family and I have a picnic, we make our own ice cream," said Jen Myers, a senior biomedical technology major. "It's so much fun and homemade ice cream is so good."
Other people like Kelly Duval, a freshman environmental engineering major, take extraordinary to an entirely new level a unique meatball sauce consisting of grape jelly, meatballs and chili sauce.
"It sounds really weird but it's actually really good," Duval said.
Wash the meal down with some frozen margaritas or iced tea, and top it off with some Frisbee or badminton.
