This is written in a room with no air conditioning, at 82 degrees, and two fans going full blast toward me. We are in one of the hottest July's on record, and although it is difficult for most of us to withstand the high humidity and temperatures, for the crops growing in and around Southern Cayuga County - it is wonderful.

The corn is standing the highest ever for this time of year, and strains to grow even higher. Wheat and oats are full of mature colors and look to be bountiful. The alfalfa hay has been cut, cut again, and is making a rapid return for even more elegant fodder for next winter. Bright oat straw is worth its weight in gold, followed closely by wheat straw. Soybeans still appear iffy, but given heat units equivalent to the plains states it should make a very good crop, as should field corn.

I can't speak for the vegetable crops, as there aren't as many of those, but what I do see looks very appetizing.

All in all, it is a gorgeous summer for growing and keeping our great farmers happy and in business, and our county, one of the premier agricultural counties in the Northeast. It is also a great summer for just living and enjoying the natural beauties that we too often take for granted. Here's what I mean.

Last night, my wife and I had dinner with my daughter and a friend at her house. Cristy came to the house in her pride and joy, an earlier model Chrysler convertible. The top was down, she said for the first time since she had bought the used vehicle, a year ago. Picture a white convertible, top down with a bright red interior on an overly warm night. Does anyone sit home during a combination like that?

An expedition from Aurora to Cream at the Top, in King Ferry, was hastily organized and we soon set out. By the way, it is dusk, and the fields and woods are giving off the heat of the day, and a perfume that is heaviest during the early evening, gradually becoming lighter and sweeter as the darkness comes in.

For rational people, there is nothing quite like an open convertible ripping down a county road at dusk, when all the glories of fading sunlight, rising ground effect, and plant perfumes are available for the senses to enjoy. For the safety conscious challenged, of course there are motorcycles. But at my age, a square box of metal around my body gives another whole dimension of satisfaction.

Anyway, we get to Cream at the Top, and it is full of customers who stop what they are doing and stare as this apparition from the past pulls into the parking lot. Talk about an arrival. And another reason convertibles were so great when younger folks were still courting.

We finished the unbelievably good ice cream, and pile into the jitney to head for King Ferry and Route 90 back to Aurora. It is now pitch black. The moon is orange because of heavy clouds. There are no stars. You can smell the great odors from the road and fields along Route 90. Then, about three miles along 90, a few drops of shower, then it opens up to tropical downpour. No place to stop, some traffic, so we pull in the next house driveway, under ungodly rain.

Jump out of the car, rip off the tonneau, hit the switch. No that's the wrong way, other way please. The top comes up groaning to an apogee, then snaps down to the windshield top. The next five minutes are spent using strong language, because the latches won't seat. By this time, the storm front has passed and we put the top back down and continue, very wet, not caring, back to Aurora.

Only in Cayuga County.

Bill Dugan is supervisor for the town of Ledyard