Laden with happiness and tears.

I’ve been through many tough summers; summers where I shed endless tears. Like the summer after my mother died–boy did I cry that summer. I remember it rained a lot; always dreary and wet outside.

Then there was the summer of 2020, after my sister died. Another fountain of tears filling my little corner of the world.

The years pass.

Happiness and tears sweep us along with them as the tune plays out.

Well, even though there are tears in my life right now, they are not from seeing Summer 2022 in my rearview mirror. My tears are from depression and the darkness that surrounds me on a daily basis. But I don’t want to blog about depression because depression sucks and I’m tired of life sucking.

Let’s focus, instead, on saying goodbye to one truly sucky season–Summer 2022.

Goodbye Summer 2022

The season clung to my corner of the Concord River with a feverish intensity — hot, sticky, and bone dry; like a layer of plastic wrap had sealed in the humidity and blocked out all else–including the rain.

I spent my mornings watering as many of my plants that I could while keeping to the restrictions the town’s water department had put in place due to the drought.

A few of my plants died, some wilted because I was unable to water them to the depth they needed, and some languished then perished slowly due to fungus or bacterial wilt.

The heat didn’t keep the spiders from doing their things, though.

Here are some other highlights from Summer 2022.

An Abundance of American Goldfinches helped to brighten my gardens.

My zinnias didn’t stand a chance.

A cool assortment of birds hung out along, and on, the river.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds didn’t miss a beat when it came to gracing my yard.

Alas, they leave so very soon. It seems as if they were just heading my way and now they’re flying south.

Leave the nectar feeders up until at least the end of October. We have to make sure the stragglers have nourishment for their long flight.

Be safe, little ones.

I had an assortment of lacy insects flutter through my yard.

During one of the rain storms, my water-collecting buckets also collected frogs.

Seriously, I hang the buckets to catch water from my down spouts, as a way to gather water for my gardens, and I ended-up with frogs!! From my gutters?! I thought when it rained frogs we were in big trouble?

The ducks behaved like odd ducks. They took a liking to the top of the oak slag.

So had the Cooper’s Hawk.

As did a Mourning Dove.

And a Merganser.

And a Common Flicker and Carolina Wren shared the high perch in search of delicious insects.

Imagine all the sad wildlife I would have if I had cut down the tree all the way to the ground. Good for me for keeping the slag. If you’re taking down a tree, leave a portion for the animals who live nearby. The Universe will send you Karma chips if you do.

Summer 2022 was a difficult gardening season. Keeping the plants watered while conserving water felt like I was juggling air and smoke. I wish I had the mindset of some of the local residents in town who were watering their lawns everyday. Lush, green lawns that need lots and lots of water.

Sigh.

I’m not sorry to see Summer 2022 end. She wasn’t kind to the planet and she wasn’t kind to my little corner of the Concord River.

Listen up, Autumn, pull it together and be nice to me or…well, I don’t know what I can do but I won’t be happy, that’s for sure.

May the bounty of the season be yours. 

And my you have cool nights, crisp mornings, and gentle rain to lull you to sleep.

Happy Autumn. 

Blessed be :}

Mi manchi, mia amata immortale.