I'm the kind of guy who likes it chilly in the house (which is quite the opposite of how my wife likes it, so it can be a bone of contention). But I'll tell you this...I can't even remember the last time I turned on the air conditioner. The days have been very pleasant for the most part and the nights have been great for opening the windows and letting the fresh air flow on in.

I even like the sound of crickets at night! And when morning comes, the sounds of birds chirping and dogs barking in the distance are very soothing.

As a matter of fact, this meteorological summer (the months of June, July and August) in Sioux Falls came in tied for the seventh coolest ever. According to the Sioux Falls National Weather Service, the average summer temperature in Sioux Falls is 70.4 degrees. This year our average temperature was 67.5 degrees which ties us with the summer of 1951.

So, if you've been thinking that your utility bills have been lower this past summer, you're absolutely right. Let's just hope this cooler than normal stuff doesn't stick around into the winter!