Lamentations For September

North of the Equator: 

Oh, sweet September,

buoyed with autumn beauty.

Ahead, the achromatic winter.

Besides your bounteous harvests,

give one more taste of summer.

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South of the Equator: 

 Oh, sweet September,

 pregnant with new life.

Prepare this cradle of rebirth.

Besides the aroma of warm earth.

energize divine propagation.

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In October of 2009, I flew to my Soul Safari.  Bears, deer, lynx, moose, coyotes and wolves busily prepared their teenagers for their first Canadian winter.  In South Africa, giraffes, elephants, lions, Black rhinos, hippos, pregnant through my summer, proudly presented healthy and energetic babies, dislodging my Canadian bearings.    Does anyone doubt that Mother Nature rules?

“It’s MY turn to drink!  I’m number 348!”

Thanks to a cool summer the memory of winter gusts, rain storms and snowfalls never fully dwindled.  I turned August into people-time, but also prepared conditions for a peaceful Canadian hibernation.  My responsibilities for yard/house/car, now done, will transfer to the wood pile and leaf-filled eaves.

Oh, the woodpile!  Where is my messianic wood bearer?  Predictably, he seems rerouted, delayed and rescheduled.   Likely, he’ll again cite matters of the heart that altered his priorities more quickly than the hornets’ waiting list at the watering dish.

Here’s a sampling of my August life:

Duc le Chat heading for the hunting grounds. He's saying to me, "Go home! You can't come. You make too much noise."

The Stock Market opens at 6:00 a.m and closes at 1:00 p.m. - the very time I like to write! I love keeping my eye on the market and seeing how my portfolio rises and falls with a sneeze from the President of some distant country.

Several dinners al fresco with friends. Our harbour provides the ambiance along with the setting sun.

Hanging flower pots have actually survived the deers' breakfasts. Two stags, three does and a number of teenagers share my property. I suspect Duc loves sharing his safe little acre with them. They keep the dogs away.

Banana Bread shared with friends without nut allergies.

A neighbour and I volunteered to be Pod Leaders. We will be organizing neighbours so there is constant contact and communication with each other through any natural disaster. Besides Earthquakes, forest fires are a major threat - especially with careless campers and cigarette smokers.

Do you think neighbours will see us coming?

Lots of hike with friends - the latest with Susan who hates feeling cob webs on her face. This is her stance as she enters the trail with her cobweb stick.

A few of the house boats that have settled in a southern harbour that used to be used for log jams.

Not a bad arrangement: A condo, a cottage and a sail boat on the other side. Cuts down on travel costs between them all.

Bumper crops of blackberries exist all over the island. My ripe, plump harvest is safely frozen. Now pray we don't lose our power over the winter!

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While this leaves out pot lucks, numerous hikes, fabulous visits with friends and lots of good food, these photos give a broad brush of what Soul Dipper does when she’s busily streaking past her Beloved Guides!

They’re next!

Happy September to each one of you. 

May our planet take this month off!

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