Only in August

Only in August do mushrooms greet me on my walk. Dew makes my shoes so wet. Everything changes just as I turn the page on my calendar from July to August. I was noticing that the light has changed as well. The light becomes more golden and not as intense. As I walked this morning I wanted you to see the changes I see.

 

We have clouds. We even have a chance of rain. If we even get a tiny bit it will break a record. We just don't get rain this early in August. When I was a kid, I remember riding my bike and it would be so humid and I would begin to ride through hot air and cold air. Now when I walk I notice the same thing.

 

The leaves are falling. We are on day 35 or something of over 100 degree temps with at least another week for sure, the trees are tired by August.

I try to keep my eyes open to changes that happen. I am noticing that my hens feathers are looking worn and tired too. The heat has been hard on them this summer. My flowerbeds next to the porch have just become the favorite dust bath holes. I have just looked the other way and I will clean my flowerbeds when it is finally cool again. The hens ate my rhubarb to the ground, and my comfrey is just a nub.

 

It seems like my zinnias are even tired. I hope to collect every single seed.

 

The finches are hard at work. The are so happy to have sunflowers to devour. I had one faithful finch that never left. I noticed that there are now three. I imagine by the time all of the sunflowers are ripe there will be a flock. No parrots have found them yet. The parrots are greedy and take the whole flower. The finches take one seed at a time.

 

My tomatoes are out of control and growing every which way. I can't believe how much has changed with them in just a week.

 

I finally got a Mexican sunflower. Tithonia. Its nice to see it growing in among my pumpkins.
My pumpkins are not doing good. The over hundred days have taken their toll. I didn't take their picture this morning because it makes me sad. I will be taking them and the cucumbers out soon. I am planning a fall garden so all is not lost.

 

 In August my hydrangeas. are tired and brown. These are the last of my blooms. The front tree that has protected them from the summer heat begins to loose its leaves. Each week after Ron mows the lawn, the leaves falling from that tree litter the ground almost immediately. That tree, as the kids have always said, " Is sad because we have to go back to school." As the first day of school nears, the faster the leaves fall.

 

 August is a time of reflection. A time of getting my fall cleaning done. Getting the flowerbeds cleaned one last time. Washing my very dusty windows. Getting my freezers and my pantries organized. I still love walking down the school aisles in the stores I visit. I love looking at the new lunch boxes, the backpacks. I love seeing the paper and the pencils and pens. I love that when I go outside in the morning, the smell of school starting is outside. Its a little sad too. One more summer to say good bye. I will start my new August to August day planner today.
As I greet you today August, I hope to enjoy you a bit. When I admit, I really like September and October better.

I hope your have a lovely first day of August my friends. Thank you so much for stopping by today.

~Kim~

“August rushes by like desert rainfall,
A flood of frenzied upheaval,
Expected,
But still catching me unprepared.
Like a matchflame
Bursting on the scene,
Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.
Like a dream
Of moon and dark barely recalled,
A moment,
Shadows caught in a blink.
Like a quick kiss;
One wishes for more
But it suddenly turns to leave,
Dragging summer away.”
–  Elizabeth MauaTaylor