August Days

August days are here.

Schoolchildren return to classes, the days now eerily quiet.

County fairs are in full swing, fun, food and frolic.

Summer days seem noticeably shorter.
Brilliant sunsets, light up the night sky.

And the ebb and flow of seasons continue.

Red Sky At Night

A peaceful sunset this evening.

Cooler temps, after a warm and breezy Summer's  day.

Peace.....such a lovely thought.

Bee-ing Busy

The garden is all abuzz, with bees, and butterflies, lightning bugs and ladybugs.
All so very busy dutifully distributing the pollen amongst the flowers.
I thank them more than words can say.

 

 

 

 

 Like trains of cars on tracks of plush
I hear the level bee:
A jar across the flowers goes,
Their velvet masonry
Withstands until the sweet assault
Their chivalry consumes,
While he, victorious, tilts away
To vanquish other blooms.
His feet are shod with gauze,
His helmet is of gold;
His breast, a single onyx
With chrysoprase, inlaid.
His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!

~ Emily Dickinson : The Bee (1830)

 

 

 

 

Summer's Gold

                                                      

" Oh, the summer night 

     Has a smile of light, 

And she sits on a sapphire throne".

Barry Cornwall

Respite

Summer days are slowly waning.

Thankfully we've been graced with rainfall this past week, the flowers and humans are grateful.

The deer have been drinking nightly from the birdbaths, a little respite from their daily trek to the nearby pond.

I'm looking forward to cooler days, as with so many others.

 

 

Seeing Spots

Moma deer, decided it was safe to share her new fawn with us this week.

A sprightly little thing, all bouncy and full of energy..
She'd been keeping it hid amongst the wildflowers, running any other deer who came close, off up the field.
As you are well aware, I moan a lot about the deer eating everything in sight, but I must admit, seeing these spirited little creatures, so full of life,  stirs my very soul.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

The Rose of Sharon (Althea hibiscus syriacus) has bloomed it's heart out for close to a month now.

These are the hardiest of bushes, withstanding heat, drought, and even a barrage of Japanese beetles this year.

This particular bush was a volunteer, a single seed or two carried by the wind or possibly a bird.

It is also a second generation plant, the original bush belonging to my husband's mother who shared it's propagated beauty from her garden to ours.
Oftentimes they are considered an invasive plant, because they tend to spread so easily, but not to this gardener, we enjoy those endless blooms throughout the months of July and August, year after year.

Gone But Not Forgotten

 

My handsome Oliver has been gone two years today, I miss him with a passion. 

Rest easy my sweet boy.

💓

Donkey Love

My daughter's little farm is home to four miniature donkeys and one regular sized donkey, J.D.

J.D. is in his late twenties, his age is approximate, we think he could be older since he was a rescue from a local farmer.

He's the King of the Castle, his girls adore him.....

The Dog Days Of Summer

Dog Days defines a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant, or marked by dull lack of progress. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, was somehow responsible for the hot weather.

Either way, we seem to have hit that mark.

As with most of the country we are under a heat advisory for the next week, 97 degrees and 115 degrees plus with the humidity factor figured in.
If you can avoid staying outside especially for long periods of time, then it is best to do so.

Even the birds have taken to their nests...……