Summer Reconvenes

Now, where did we leave off? Oh yes, now I recall. Cool temperatures, much below normally anticipated highs for summer. And rain, torrents of rain. Daily events, multiple daily events, saturating everything beyond belief. Oh yes, sun too, and enough of it to ensure that growing things developed as indeed they should. It was only yesterday, come to think of it, that despite growing humidity and heat, we were graced with repeated rounds of thunderstorms - every one of which was appreciated.

However, now that we're finally (too soon!) well into the second week of August, nature appears to have relented. Today was hot, and sunny, with the grace of a number of sun-shading clouds from time to time, and no rain. Imagine, no rain. Our granddaughter, off on a tour with a group of other children (and her best friend) visited a water park in Quebec and had a wonderful time of it, as children are wont to do.

And as we personally are wont to do, our quotidian schedule took us off to the ravine, a tad earlier in the day than is usual. And we found there a truly benevolent breeze, and as well, dipping deep into the ravine, cool spots. Which we very much appreciated, all of us, including our two little dogs. Things are drying up in there, although some portions of the trails are still heavy with muck.

But there's countless views of wildflower landscapes here and there, on the flats. Where we still see fleabane, plenty of goldenrod, asters; white ones and purple; cornflowers, Queen Anne's lace, and sunflowers. For a bit of a change, there are lots of lichens growing on tree bark, fungi popping up here and there, and Indian pipe colonizing new areas. There is strangle-vine having a ball, and bitter-root sending its vines over tree branches.

Squirrels, some red, some black ones and grey as well, are everywhere anticipating our arrival, patiently awaiting their daily treats. Treating us to the sight of their triumphant retreats, peanut firmly in their little jaws as they rush off. The birds, finished their nesting, appear to have deserted us. There are no butterflies in sight, or dragonflies. Mosquitoes, alas, aplenty.