You are such a chronicler of present time. I like to think I'm a keeper but you communicate it so clearly, succinctly and in detail. As I said before, you are an artist
Now that I’m rapidly approaching another decade marker, I’m so aware of changing light, evening walks moving earlier and dog dinner time also 🤣 A lovely tribute to the change in seasons and our awareness of them. Thanks, Maura. 💞
Thank you for the lovely narrative about the baby swallows. This is another example of how joy can come from something even as dirty and smelly as those nests if you take the time to look. Thanks for the reminder, Maura.
Perhaps the swallows left not because autumn is around the corner but simply because it is too d*#m hot?
Funny you should post this - just yesterday I woke up thinking, "well, that's it - winter is coming!" right out of the blue. Every year, that happens. I'm not sure how I know, but it's as if a huge world-shift happens, and my body just Knows.
The other thing that happens is that the water in the tap is suddenly colder. How cold it gets over the next month will tell me how cold a winter it will be. Everyone told me to especially bundle up last winter, but I told them no, it's going to be a warm winter - bcz the water table never got that cold. Guess who was right -
I love it that you have little critters to share the world with - how delightful they are! Thanks for sharing them with us - I don't have a place critters can nest, so it's nice to see you giving them a home.
Yeh - it's a little weird! But no matter where I live, it always seems to work. I've lived in NY, NM, NZ, Hawaii, Italy, and all kinds of places in between. The water table one is the most sure test, tho - if the water in the tap is colder than usual in July, most times it indicated a pretty cold winter.
It is such an enormous privilege to live close to God's creatures, especially the winged ones. I've taken special delight this year in a hatch of blue heron. There are three juveniles in our marsh these days. The Canada geese have also been prolific this summer. It's been such fun to watch them grow. I don't have a barn to sweep, but my car has had a few more splatters on it.
I love the barn swallows...getting rid of misquotes is worth the mess, yeah? It's like having a cat or two in the barn that pee on the hay bales, but at least keep out the mice and, heaven forbid, rats.
The last two nights I watched the Cincinnati Reds baseball games on TV, in the evening, I saw several Geese in formation heading North over the stadium. They rarely have a large gaggle unless this is migration for them. I hope they don't find that no matter how far they fly, this heat wave will still be there...where ever 'there' is....yesterday at my home, Robins were heading North. They too are seeking a break from the heat, I'm sure....so sorry little guys.
I love all the seasons including late summer. Its the time to prepare my iris beds for the new arrivals and divide the ones that need it, replant and give away those I no longer have the space for. I also enjoy giving away irises that are excess in my garden. A friend of yours and mine thought you might like one I have to share. Interested?
Maura, you captured perfectly my melancholy sentiments about summer at this midway point. I love this season. Humidity, schmudity. I track the sunset time and fading flowers with dread. But I’m trying to stay in the moment and appreciate summer in all its sweaty swagger. Come November, I’ll be questioning why I still live here!
I hated last winter so much that it's like the memory of a 4-month long toothache. There is something about growing older that makes me less and less patient with the grey skies, bare trees, cold winds, and I end up thinking, "Stop. Just stop."
You are such a chronicler of present time. I like to think I'm a keeper but you communicate it so clearly, succinctly and in detail. As I said before, you are an artist
Thank you, Ron!
Now that I’m rapidly approaching another decade marker, I’m so aware of changing light, evening walks moving earlier and dog dinner time also 🤣 A lovely tribute to the change in seasons and our awareness of them. Thanks, Maura. 💞
Thank you for reading, Mary!
Thank you for the lovely narrative about the baby swallows. This is another example of how joy can come from something even as dirty and smelly as those nests if you take the time to look. Thanks for the reminder, Maura.
Perhaps the swallows left not because autumn is around the corner but simply because it is too d*#m hot?
Ha ha! Maybe!
Thanks for sharing Maura.....mess vs. beauty....the creative dilemna of living.......whatever that all means.....
at the farm, for sure. Worth all the mess for the peace.
Thanks for your observations! My mother always proclaimed on July 4th: "Summer's over."
I see your mom was an optimist!
Me too!
Funny you should post this - just yesterday I woke up thinking, "well, that's it - winter is coming!" right out of the blue. Every year, that happens. I'm not sure how I know, but it's as if a huge world-shift happens, and my body just Knows.
The other thing that happens is that the water in the tap is suddenly colder. How cold it gets over the next month will tell me how cold a winter it will be. Everyone told me to especially bundle up last winter, but I told them no, it's going to be a warm winter - bcz the water table never got that cold. Guess who was right -
I love it that you have little critters to share the world with - how delightful they are! Thanks for sharing them with us - I don't have a place critters can nest, so it's nice to see you giving them a home.
I’m fascinated by your ability to predict the weather based on your own hunches and the temperature of the water! Where do you live?
Yeh - it's a little weird! But no matter where I live, it always seems to work. I've lived in NY, NM, NZ, Hawaii, Italy, and all kinds of places in between. The water table one is the most sure test, tho - if the water in the tap is colder than usual in July, most times it indicated a pretty cold winter.
It is such an enormous privilege to live close to God's creatures, especially the winged ones. I've taken special delight this year in a hatch of blue heron. There are three juveniles in our marsh these days. The Canada geese have also been prolific this summer. It's been such fun to watch them grow. I don't have a barn to sweep, but my car has had a few more splatters on it.
I love the barn swallows...getting rid of misquotes is worth the mess, yeah? It's like having a cat or two in the barn that pee on the hay bales, but at least keep out the mice and, heaven forbid, rats.
The last two nights I watched the Cincinnati Reds baseball games on TV, in the evening, I saw several Geese in formation heading North over the stadium. They rarely have a large gaggle unless this is migration for them. I hope they don't find that no matter how far they fly, this heat wave will still be there...where ever 'there' is....yesterday at my home, Robins were heading North. They too are seeking a break from the heat, I'm sure....so sorry little guys.
And here I thought it annoying when the Carolina wrens tried nesting in my dryer vent...
Those must have been in cooler days....
Lovely! Thanks!
Wishing you much success with your lectures.
I love all the seasons including late summer. Its the time to prepare my iris beds for the new arrivals and divide the ones that need it, replant and give away those I no longer have the space for. I also enjoy giving away irises that are excess in my garden. A friend of yours and mine thought you might like one I have to share. Interested?
I, too, mourn the loss of light. But I do like the cooler temps. Tell us more about your writing workshops!
Maura, you captured perfectly my melancholy sentiments about summer at this midway point. I love this season. Humidity, schmudity. I track the sunset time and fading flowers with dread. But I’m trying to stay in the moment and appreciate summer in all its sweaty swagger. Come November, I’ll be questioning why I still live here!
I hated last winter so much that it's like the memory of a 4-month long toothache. There is something about growing older that makes me less and less patient with the grey skies, bare trees, cold winds, and I end up thinking, "Stop. Just stop."