oldworld30

[oldworld30]

THE LAST REMNANTS OF SUMMER

Its the last day of August and it has already begun to feel like fall. This past week’s rain brought a chill to the evening. It cooled enough to open the windows and put in our fans. Some ruckus in the tiny room stirred in the early dawn. Squirrels quarreling in the crawlspace of our attic bedroom. I woke to a dim, overcast morning to the sounds of cicadas and squirrels. Dot was ready at the kitchen window, begging for it to be opened so she could sit and watch the birds. I replaced the feeder in hopes to be greeted by the many finches that have been flocking to feed at our fire escape all summer. Although I am quite fond of the Starlings who have nested in the siding of our apartment, I was happy to see some new birds come to visit.

The first signs of fall have begun sprouting in our neighborhood. Along my walks I’ve spotted little white mushrooms popping up all over the lawns. The little cricket who dwells in our basement popped out to greet me yesterday evening. I joyfully hops about the basement whenever I do our laundry and I always feel as if he brings me luck. Marigolds, Coreopsis and Black Eyed Susan line the yards of brick houses and the bits of red produce cling to their vines. The air is still warm but the sweltering humidity has dulled. The trees and shrubs shake with critters and insects as I cross towards the path. The rattling of cicadas humming in the tree tops.

I spooked a young buck who was crossing the path, the same I’ve been seeing all summer. Hes a small fellow and I mistook him for a Doe until he climbed the hill to peer down at me from a distance. He watches me with interest and the curiosity of a dog. His knobby little antlers have grown some, poking out between his flickering ears. He watches me for some time before causally skulking off through the trees. It worries me that he is so unafraid. Each time we’ve meet he braved to stare at me in awe, no signs of fear of man. I have seen him across the street near me at Sacred heart, frolicking in the parking lot with his little Doe in the early hours of morning. He was unafraid then as he is now, and I feared for his bravery. I feared for him crossing that busy rode as cars fly into the hospital at sunrise.

Many a deer have perished on the busy street, crossing from the meadows to graze while the city sleeps. Just this week I came across a poor young fawn who had been hit. It’s coat still dappled with white spots and its face quiet as if it were sleeping. There were many fawns born this spring and already we’ve seen many lining the sides or roads. What makes a deer so young wonder into traffic? Perhaps they have brown braver since the calm of the pandemic and are now unprepared for the surge of activity as things go back to normal.

Again, in the forest the leaves have began to turn yellow. Little flicks of gold litter the forest beds. Fallen tree trunks are riddled with fat tawny mushrooms and soft black soil from the heavy rains. Gnats and mosquito still linger in the thick morning air. The path is quiet and still as I run through, sending birds into flight as I make my way through the rocky and rooted ground. I took the Sun Delight path up to the cemetery and passed the field of flowers we’d taken Dot to explore earlier this summer. The most colorful flowers had all been battered by the storms and only the heartiest golden wildflowers remained. Bees still buzzed and the black butterflies bobbed through the weeds. The gardener's shovel stuck smack in the middle. I ran down the hill through the cemetery and past the little cabins that I always dream of moving too someday. How I would love to live in one of those little red houses with a big deck and small yard beside the cemetery, hidden from the rest of the town.

With the joys of welcoming fall comes the mourning of summer’s end. It always feels as thought time was spent wasted on the last hot and heavy days. There is always more I wish I would have done. No swimming, kayaking, or even rubbing this year. Only my sad attempt at swimming in the river that resulted in an ugly bruise. Never enough bike rides or hikes. No fire pits or barbecues, and I have yet to visit Grimm's in the summer to see Sunflower Fields.

But still this year was a success, as I found many new activities to add to my summer itinerary, even if I did not travel far or do some of those big desires.I went for many bike rides and explored a new trail. I discovered new hiking trails that are walking distance from our apartment and began trail running, which I am starting to really love. I’ve gone through many runs through the neighborhood in all manners of weather and am getting kind of good at it.  I went on a road trip to Knobles with Nigel, a tradition that we missed the past year. Over all, I had a fulfilling summer,which was much needed after a difficult winter.

A FOND FAREWELL….

The warmth of summer lingers into September, the last month of green and sunshine, I plan to cherish the remains of the season while its treasures remain. Here a few simple pleasures I plan to enjoy to celebrate the finale days of summer.

END OF SUMMER BUCKET LIST

READ OUTDOORS

MORNING HIKES

RUNNING IN THE RAIN

SUNNY TRAIL RIDES

END OF SUMMER PICNIC

GO CAMPING

DRIVE THROUGH MOVIE

WATCH THE SUNRISE

HAVE A BONFIRE

HIKE TO HAWK MOUNTAIN

EXPLORE A LOCAL CAVE

RENT A PADDLE BOAT

WATCH THE FIRE FLIES

SWIM IN A LAKE

STUDY SUMMER INSECTS

LANDSCAPE PAINTING

GO FOR A WALK

NAP IN A HAMMOCK

LAY IN THE GRASS

WATCH THE CLOUDS

Although I am excited for Fall, my eternal favorite season, I am always a bit sad to see summer go, and know that I will miss it when the forests are cold and bare. I look forward to enjoying these final days of warmth and sunshine before Autumns gentle arrival. I hope to knock at least a few of these activities off my bucket list before packing it away for next year.