Heat! Ugh!

 

The early-morning breeze stopped me in my tracks. 

While Bridie meandered into the tall grass to do her morning duty, I stood still, embracing and welcoming the cool air blowing into my face. 

It had been a warm night----reportedly, though, the coolest night we'll have for a few days.  

So, to enjoy these few seconds of sheer comfort in the morning air felt like a blessing, knowing what we'll have in store. 

The breeze was still blowing later when Bridie and I went on our walk through the woods where on each side of the path abundant tall grass was leaning sideways from the force of soft winds. 

I'm not looking forward to the next few days of intolerable heat.  Like my personal politics, I'll always vote for moderation in weather, always leaning slightly toward cooler temps. 

On such days, I hate the inevitable sweat pouring from virtually every pore any time I move.  

I hate the feeling of fatigue that takes over as soon the heat really comes on.  

I hate knowing the heat is coming and that it will be sticking around for four or five days.  

I also loathe trying to complete normal activities outside---which I usually love, like veggie or berry picking---while the sun ruthlessly pierces away our bodies, always driving us inside sooner rather than later.

I am saddened when the beautiful flowers which have adorned the place start wilting and drying up from too much warmth.   

I also hate that the dirtiest job of the year almost always comes during summer inferno days. 

We won't be doing this job personally, but I still feel for every young buck who's helping people out in the hay fields. 

Most hay hands prefer to work in the morning or the evenings.  

Still, it's hot and grimy and, almost always, the bees and bugs are really hungry for sweaty human flesh.

  Fortunately, we haven't seen too many of the nasty bees that dominated the air every time we walked outside during the summer last year. 

Maybe they'll stay away. 

Along with food, I've ordered bottles of Gatorade for when the hay crew comes tomorrow or the next day. 

Words cannot express how much I appreciate anyone who will come and help put in the winter's hay supply, especially in the next few days of unbearable heat.

As one who knows better than to try bucking bales anymore, they are my heroes. 

The good side of this heat: corn will grow and berries will ripen and maybe grass will quit growing so fast without moisture. 

I've never seen so much grass still flourishing on July 26.  So, that's a good thing, especially for horses and cows and deer grazing in the fields. 

And, unlike last year, there will be enough hay to go around.  

Plus, we've made it through most of the summer without dealing with heat or smoke. 

Let's hope we make it through the whole season without the latter. 

This morning,  I must report seeing hundreds of helpful bees buzzing continuously while hopping from bud to bud in the oregano patches.  Would have been nice to see them earlier in the year to pollinate the fruit trees. 

And, so comes the heat for Summer 2022.  

Managing our way through this siege and how well we do so will certainly be challenging, but when the hay is in the barn, we can maybe go jump in the lake or sit and read by a babbling brook. 

Happy Tuesday. Stay cool and safe.