A Farewell to Summer

This hot, dry weather has created a desert landscape across the farm like no other.  The temperatures rise during the day and have an unending effect on everything in sight.  Droopy plants, brown grass, sweaty, irritable people walking around everywhere.  As the leaves fall from the trees due to the lack of rain, I am reminded that cooler days are just around the corner.  Once again, color will appear in the form of red, yellow, and orange.  Our landscape will spring to life with this colorful display and prepare the trees to go dormant. The rains will come to help relieve the heat of summer and the dry days will end.  Along with these cooler days, a certain attitude prevails among the population. Friendlier, kinder, more patient and willing to be better.  Although, winter comes with the same dread every year, fall is the breather we all need to give us the energy for those shorter, darker days ahead!

My Boy

      As we approach Mother's Day next weekend, there is so much of this mother's heart missing my boy. My son is stationed in California serving in the United States Navy, a decision he made three years ago and one that has served him well.  Having seen him only three times since his graduation from the Great Lakes Naval Station for basic training, each Sunday night phone is such a treasure that I look forward to with great anticipation.  Occasionally, we reminence about the past including all the days we spent outdoors playing around the lake with our dogs, walking through the pastures, mowing the yard (because it always takes two people), and just sitting on the front porch watching a summer rain water the grass, so we can mow again.  One Sunday night phone call, we were remembering all the dogs we have owned and sadly lost over the years including the three we count as part of our family now.  My boy is a dog boy through and through. He is counting the days until he can get home to see his oldest best buddy, Pud, our choclate lab who is sixteen years old. I am counting the days too and although this Mother's Day will be somewhat sad, it will be just one more Sunday night phone call closer to his homecoming and seeing my boy again!