That may be because you've never spent a summer panting like a rented donkey in the parched mountains of the Douro Valley. Those who have the sturdy Brits and Portuguese who grow port wine grapes understand the appeal of a cold aperitif combining the texture of velvet with a snootful of melon and summer flowers. Though we don't see the full range here, back in the Old Country white port comes in a variety of styles, from light and just off-dry, to golden and honeyed. There's no better messing about than messing about in a boat you've built yourself. Chesapeake Light Craft has a veritable fleet of small vessels available in kit form for aspiring shipwrights.
Kits come with epoxy, fiberglass, hardware, precut marine plywood parts and, of course, plans.
Customers supply their own finishes and time. Slender Threads Cashmere isn't an obvious choice for summer. Yet think how much time you spend in air-conditioned spaces, your teeth chattering in an office or on a plane while it's hot as blazes outside. Superfine cashmere, which is light enough for all but the stickiest days, yet warm and comfortable indoors. Along with its cashmeres, the company also makes knits in cotton, silk and an unusual, heat- deflecting ceramic yarn.