Summer 2020: Don’t let the door hit you…

Goodbye, Summer 2020

I may be in the minority, and that’s perfectly okay, but I am NOT sad to see Summer 2020 hit the road. In fact, if it would have helped, I was available to help pack its bags.

The days were beastly hot, the nights rivaled a tropical forest environment with the level of humidity I had to endure. Add to those annoyances the lack of rain and That-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named…

… along with a deep depression regarding losing my sister, and the overwhelming sadness for all the other poor souls filling the night sky, and Summer 2020 became a bushel of turmoil, despair, and unhappiness.

In a word, it sucked!

Oh, and included on the above list was Harlee ripping out his stitches and his paws getting infected.

I thought socks would keep him from the stitches. I was sooooooo wrong.

Black Lab. — His expression mirrors my feelings.

I feel much better getting all that ranting off my saggy, elderly lady chest.

Thank you.

Now let me see if I can find some joy from what was really a s@#t summer.

For starters, I had bluebirds and I truly am grateful for that.

Male Eastern bluebird with mealworm in his beak.

And along with the adults, I had young bluebirds.

Two juvenile Eastern bluebirds with adult male.

I had a Baltimore oriole stop by now and then.

Male Baltimore oriole songbird. — Male Baltimore oriole.

I had a plethora of Ruby-throated hummingbirds, adults and juveniles alike.

A red-tailed hawk kept me company.

True, it also chose to sit on one of my ducks. https://concordriverlady.com/2020/09/03/poetry-corner/

Red-tailed hawk sitting on one of my ducks. GET OFF MY DUCK!

The Rose-breasted grosbeaks were here.

Male rose-breasted grosbeak songbird. — Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Now and then a muskrat wandered through my yard.

Muskrat in grass. — Muskrat love (If you don’t know that song, Google it.)

And I had ducks. Lots and lots of ducks.

That’s my friend, Bob, with my ducks; lots and lots of ducks.

My gardens held their own, despite the dry, hot, humid conditions and the crazy old lady who refused to tend to them and instead sat in front of her air-conditioner and complained about the dry, hot, humid weather.

Chris and I spent some time in the somewhat cool basement bracing the old insulation back into place. The other option was replacing all the insulation with new product. NOT!

On July 19 I found a four-leaf clover and on August 2 I purchased a new solar statue and wind chime for my hydrangea garden, so I guess the clover worked.

Ahhhhhhh, nirvana.

Actually, now that I’ve looked back, there were some good things about Summer 2020. However, it was still a long, hot, humid, dry, sad, frustrating, depression-filled, season of turmoil and despair.

Welcome Autumn 2020.

A Carolina wren has been spending time in my yard. Maybe this is a sign Autumn 2020 will be more gentle than the summer was.

Carolina wren singing outside my front door.

Most of the ducks are gone. When I drive along Pond Street I can see a large flock on the shore of Richardson Pond. Perhaps those are my ducks or maybe they belong to another crabby old lady. No biggie, I’ll stick with the four I have at the moment; less beaks to feed.

Mallard ducks lined up on retaining wall. — Remaining Mallards chilling on my retaining wall.

It’s still terribly dry in my little corner of the Concord River and the water level of the river is low enough that the Rock is visible once again.

You might remember the Rock from my October 12, 2016, post. https://concordriverlady.com/2016/10/12/the-hawk-and-the-rock/ Well, the Rock is once again a popular place to bask in the sun. I might give it a try. I could sit in the lotus position and dream of a kinder, gentler future.

While I was working on this post a gusty wind came blowing through the yard. A remnant of some weather system I knew nothing about. Anyhoo, it took a large branch from my dead oak tree and brought it crashing to the ground. Just missed taking out my lacecap Twist-n-Shout hydrangea.

The Universe was smiling on my hydrangea.

I found a Wooly Bear caterpillar while out walking the other day.

Based on the width of his middle band it’s going to be a mild winter. I’m down with that, less snow to shovel.

The anniversary of my sister’s passing is fast approaching. Try as I might I can’t slow the passage of time. Losing her shattered my soul and I’ve yet to figure out how to put the pieces back together. I do find some comfort in knowing she is shining down upon me when I look at the stars in the inky dark of the night sky.

And for all the people who have lost loved ones, my heart is very sad for you. Perhaps you too will gaze to the stars and find some peace. I hope so.

So, in closing, I wish to say farewell to Summer 2020, don’t let the door hit you where the Universe split you.

Blessed be :}

Mi manchi, mio immortale.