The Slow Death of Summer

 This summer has been intolerable. For weeks the air has been hot and thick with moisture. Walking outdoors a supreme effort, after even a few minutes,  as if trying to walk through a thick jar of Molasses. 

The Java chickens find refuge in In the dark shadows of the woods, and the Angora Goats spend their days loafing in front of two large fans in their Barn. Thank goodness they were sheared in July!

My day starts early with the outdoor work and watering. Watering has been a challenge and odious task,  with the overshadowing worry that the well will go dry. We are in a severe drought without rain for several weeks. The soil, although watered deeply, when turned up, is dry powder below the surface.  

By midday, drenched in sweat, hot, grimy with tomato gum on my hands, manure on my shoes (and other places), the early hints of red bug bites, and sweat dripping from the end of my braid, I take refuge in the cool house. There, I focus on the farm business (aarrrg!), art projects, and general housekeeping. Life feels better when things are in order – even if it is only a neat pantry shelf or crisp folded kitchen towels in the drawer. 

Lately I have felt that I am being, "beaten up by mosquitoes". Do you ever feel like that?

Lots of small things: the dryer is squawking loudly; the car with signs of water in the headliner and floor when it rains; the Java roosters creating chaos, requiring one to be quickly rescued. He now reside in the yard, enjoying the company of the barn cats; A 125 feet tall Red Oak steadily leaning more every day, Looming over the garden, house and  pavilion. It must be taken down by a company with a CRANE; deer jumped the rose garden fence Rose and ate the roses down to nubs, AND have taken over the pastures (they can transmit disease). The doe and older fawn act as if they own it, Barely looking up when I run out to shue them out; and  on top of these,  there are issues with a return of a pricey item and a company that does not want to give a refund-requiring hours on hold and  conversations with various departments – none of which seem interested in actually helping. All of this, with unresolved business issues and you can see why I have felt a bit overwhelmed of late. 

These are only annoyances. 

Nothing serious. 

No one is dying, no one has cancer, no one has had a heart attack, no one is in the hospital. 

Everyone is happy and healthy. 

Does anything else really matter?

These are all minor things. Temporary and transient. Even the summer heat will go away and the air will become light, crisp, and cool. The rain will come. The dryer and the car fixed and the tree taken down. 

The page will turn. 

Summer will turn into Fall and the rain will come. The cold wind will clear my head, and the open fire, with its hickory smoke perfume, will soothe my soul again. 

There will be a new chapter. 

There are wonderful unimaginable adventures, just around the corner.