Tired August is winding down like an antique clock, and no key can be found to rewind it.
The changes are very subtle, perhaps unnoticeable to some: shadows are slightly longer, trees look listless, afternoons are lethargic, darkness comes earlier. Summer is waning.
August used to be one of my favorite months - - when I lived in a decent house with central air, within a semblance of civilization.
I didn't have to contend with squirrels in the roof, 'possums under the house, snakes IN the house, acres of 12-foot "weeds", wasps, hornets, beetles, gnats, fruit flies, drain flies, GIANT spiders, endless rain, and a two zillion mile drive to town.
Am I complaining? Naw. When I'm in a bad mood you'll know it.
Late last night I got another horrifying aura migraine. It scared the jeeters out of me and I was forced to go to bed.
Stress.
Stress is my middle name.
Today (or sometime soon) I have to work on my car. It hasn't been starting properly and I was temporarily stranded the last time I went to town (I'll spare you the painful details).
So what else is new?
Fog every morning. Which I love.
Plenty of butterflies and dragonflies.
Which I like immensely.
Rain yesterday with unusually cool temperatures. Which was delightful.
Every once in awhile, I write these crappy, incredibly boring blog posts.....just so that you don't have too much of a good thing.
Photos, anyone?
These were taken a few days ago.
Morning fog in the front "yard"
Early morning in the back "yard"
We don't get fog too often in these parts. I've noticed lots of butterflies lately, mostly because we have butterfly bushes! It has really cooled off here this past week, after a number of scorching weeks. I actually had to wear a jacket on my walk yesterday morning. Enjoy your late summer!
ReplyDeleteIn Southern California I lived near the beach and there was plenty of fog. In West Texas there was none and I really missed it.
DeleteI love the morning fog here in the TN mountains and we have it very often.
We had a few cool days but it's now warming up again.
Jon, I'm sorta feeling the same presently. However, for me it's that I just want summer to be over because it's been a long, hot, and humid one. I'm so tired of it. I can't wait for Autumn and Winter, when the air becomes cool and crisp. I always get this way in August. And it's ironic you posted about this today because I'm getting ready to post something similar.
ReplyDeleteI used to work with a girl that got horrible migraines, so I know how painful and immobilizing they can be. She told me that she would get a migraine primarily at times when she was stressed out about something. She said stress would bring them on and if she caught it fast enough, she could minimize the pain with medication she had.
Love your photos! Beautiful butterfly shots! And I love a foggy, misty sky. It's so GOTH!
This really has been an endlessly hot and humid summer, Ron. August always starts reminding me of autumn....I'm ready for Halloween!
DeleteI think it's rather unusual for men to get migraines. My mother got them frequently - they were prevalent in her family. I get the so-called aura migraines which effect my vision.
I never get tired if seeing the fog. As you said - it's so Goth and atmospheric.
Your fog is lovely there hanging lightly in the forest of your yard.
ReplyDeleteThere are always difficult things to deal with...so I appreciate the little things, too, like the butterflies, cooler temperatures, and the beauty of the day. :)
Two things that I find difficult to photograph are butterflies and fog. The fog moves and changes very rapidly here - one minute it's really thick and then it thins out. I always use a zoom lens to photograph the butterflies, and they seldom stay still.
DeleteI, too, love the fog. But I'm seriously considering becoming a street person in Nome, Alaska before enduring another August in Alabama. Gorgeous photos of the butterfly!
ReplyDeleteMyra, I've been here over four years and this was the hottest, most humid summer so far. And the most buggy! Perhaps I'll join you in Nome (we'll have to get sweaters for your doggies and my cats)
DeleteIt's difficult to photograph butterflies. I always use a "zoom" lens and can hardly see them with the glare - - even on cloudy days.
Jon, your photos are superb. I embiggened them and showed them to Norma. She is very impressed. Excellent use of an interlude. I must also report we have a snake in the house. I got it out but saw a tiny version of it --about earthworm sized--wriggling behind the bookshelves in our back hall. 1st time that's happened. Norma taped up the sides of the structure to keep any tiny serpents corralled, but this intense, prolonged heat we're having has doubtless created other household firsts. I recommend general vigilance!
ReplyDeleteI'm always delighted when my photos are appreciated, Geo. I suppose they're not too bad, considering the advancing age of my digital camera.
DeleteI never thought that one day we'd be exchanging snake horror stories, but it's been a strange summer. Not to mention hot.
We had a few cool, pleasant days - but the heat is returning this weekend.
Hope you stay cool and serpent-free.
The seasons are crazy all over. I haven't stopped wearing woollies in our stupid summer. Three summery days is all I've had. No wonder the creepy crawlies don't creep and crawl in my house.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could wear woollies, Valerie, but that won't happen for a few more months. This unusually hot summer has been filled with creepy crawlies. I wish I only had three days of it.....
DeleteHope the migraine isn’t too long lasting, Jon. Luckily, I have never experienced one, but a good friend was often incapacitated with them. Fog and butterflies are great photo subjects, but I don’t see much of either where we now live, so thanks for sharing your views.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was plagued with migraines, so I suppose mine are inherited from her. I always get the "aura" ones, which effect my vision.
DeleteI really like the Tennessee mountain fog. It arrives early nearly every morning, but vanishes in an hour or two.
Your fogging mornings are beautiful, but according to old folklore, for every fog in August there will be a snowfall. For your sake, I'll be praying that it's only half true! I hope you get your car fixed.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the fog in August folklore and I'm hoping it's not true - because we get fog nearly every morning!
ReplyDeleteI'm very hesitant to start working on my car because my mechanical abilities are minimal (at best). I envy the fact that you don't have a vehicle - they're a heckuva lot of trouble to maintain - but necessary where I live.
Plenty of butterflies and dragonflies...... what can be better than that.
ReplyDeleteThey bring us beauty and tranquility and I never get tired of watching them. Thanks for visiting my blog!
DeleteThere's nothing "boring" about this post. Your prose has a poetic element to it, and the pics are great.
ReplyDeleteWhat you call an "aura" migraine sounds like what I get, only I call them ocular migraines. Disconcerting, aren't they?
Thanks, Susan. Yes, I've also heard them called ocular migraines. They are really scary and annoying. My Mom used to get them - it seems to "run" in families.
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