Late Summer Daydream
A gentle breeze, sometimes even a strong gust of wind, is a timely and welcome gift from God on a hot summer day. Yes, the relentless heat of summer still lingers after Labor Day. Many folks in our part of the world attempt to latch onto the idea that fall is here, but they are mistaken. It has yet to arrive. That wonderful day, September 23, the beginning of one of my favorite seasons, will be here before you know it. Will it be hot or will it be cool? God only knows. Nope, fall hasn’t arrived on the calendar yet, and one only has to take a step outdoors, away from the comfort of air conditioning, to experience the sense that someone left the oven door open.
In the midst of this late summer daydream, a breeze is indeed blowing, leaves are falling, falling down from the plethora of sweet gum trees in our woods. Our sweet gum trees provide a wonderful foliage barrier around our property, blocking the sounds and view of the highway. Would these be our tree of choice if given the opportunity to start over with the propagation process? Doubtful.
While we are thankful to have this canopy of sweetgums mixed with oak, hickory and other native trees, we could certainly do without their offspring, the endless spikey balls. Thousands upon thousands of spikey balls, sharp to the barefoot walker, challenging at times when walking about. It is as if you were walking through a room full of large marbles at times, ready to take you off balance and bring you to the ground. Oh, and watch out when the mower is going! Should you happen to be a victim in the vicinity of the mower, you may feel some shotgun-like spray of spikey-balls as you hear the thump, thump, thumping sound of them whizzing past your head.
Yes, our nice little patch of woods has served us well, having been the wandering place for hogs and chickens, goats and sheep. Mysteries are buried there under the cover of honeysuckle overgrowth, briars, cedar trees and the like. During this dry season there isn’t a drop of water to be found at ground level, but this thicket of trees is the home for what we call ‘the swamp’ around our place, a low place that creates what appears to be a bog of sorts. The hogs loved it and an occasional pair of wood ducks would visit in the wet months. In the springtime frogs abound, singing their happy, endless songs of praise for the ample moisture they abound in.
Today it is dry as a stick. The ground is dry, the pond shrinking, the grass withering.
Yet this season is ending, it will pass. Summer is coming to a close soon, moisture will return to our ground, coolness will prevail for a time once again. Not only will cool mornings be our new normal before you know it, evenings huddled around the outdoor fireplace is on the horizon. We will soon be roasting hot dogs and marshmallows and telling tales of yesteryear as sparks exit the chimney to meet up with the stars glistening in the darkness.
Soon, it is coming! Change is coming!