Hello, September (It’s About Time)

Everyone talks about how short the summer has been and how they can’t believe August is already over. As a person whose summer has dragged and feels like August was nine weeks long, I am so excited to write these words:

Welcome September!

I tolerate summer. I don’t enjoy it no matter how hard I try. It’s an annoying season and, at times, oppressive. It’s too humid and hot to actually enjoy the outdoors. People I know who say they love summer don’t spend nearly enough time out in it to justify actually liking it.

The humidity makes my straight hair curl and frizz in ways that I don’t approve the minute I walk outside . Summer clothes are ugly. Plus, because the days are longer we are expected to keep pace with the sun and be active longer so as not to waste day light.

What’s worst though is that I do suffer from Summer SAD. It’s the same as the kind of seasonal depression others experience in the winter only mine is because there is too much light. I can feel this loosening its grip a little more every day and I look forward to the more balanced days of September and October.

In southern Ohio, September is still very much summer but it’s usually less intense than August.

So, bring on September with its cooler mornings and somewhat more moderate days. Hello to the month that gives us fresh apples, pumpkin spice and an excuse to indulge in all things maple. Let’s all breathe a little better with humidity levels starting to recede. Let’s stand in the woods and drink in the smells and sights as leaves begin to turn and as the start of Fall approaches.

It comes but once a year and I will rejoice!

The photo above is from last year at this time on Presque Isle in Lake Erie. That place is a little slice of paradise if you ever get to visit.

Feels Like Fall

The weather finally broke, the humidity dissipated and the outdoors no longer hurts my skin or lungs. It has felt a little like fall for the last couple of days and this break has been a tremendous relief.

We hiked yesterday for the first time since June. Plus, we picked up food truck food and had a picnic at the lake. Last night was nice and cool so we went on the porch and enjoyed the sounds of evening in the country.

It was awfully nice and I wish it would last. Unfortunately, the heat will return soon and we’ll be sweating again and I’ll be complaining about it again.

All the same, it’s a lovely reminder of what is to come as summer will eventually shift into fall and I couldn’t be more excited.

I wouldn’t hate summer so much if it always felt like fall!

Around Here

Around here, I have shifted into full on summer mode. That means I’m mostly indoors, eating sugar free popsicles and reading books. The outdoors are miserable around here and I spend a lot of time hoping the electric grid can keep up with everyone’s air conditioning needs. The power has gone out twice in the last three days but neither outage lasted more than two hours. When it happened today, my house didn’t even really heat up because I already had the curtains closed.

Phew!

Around here, Scout is watching me carefully. He doesn’t like when I leave but also seems to worry when I’m home too much.

Around here, my very happiest thing to do is to go to bed early. I take a book, turn on the ceiling fan and play some French instrumental music to aid in relaxing. It’s funny because going to bed early always felt like punishment when I was a kid and now it’s pure luxury.

Around here, these orange lilies are populating the roadsides. Some people call them ditch lilies or tiger lilies. We call them flags. I have never known why we call them that but I do know they are as invasive as they are pretty.

Around here, I’m torn between not heating up the house with the oven and not wasting food. Last night I made a nice veggie quiche using leftover scalloped potatoes as the crust. Odds and ends of leftover broccoli, onions, peppers and mozarella cheese on top perfectly complemented the egg layer.

Around here, I’m hoping that all my summer loving pals are outside in the heat, soaking up the sun’s rays and thoroughly enjoying this heat and humidity which chokes the life out of all us winter/fall people. I don’t begrudge their right to heat, nor do I understand it. I will, however, take umbrage if I hear a peep out of any of them about being hot. Hahaha….ahem…..

Around here, I’m studying the pictures and news out of the west where snowstorms rage during this first full week of summer. What I wouldn’t give to be there now. While I won’t be traveling west, I do have a short adventure planned for next month. I also had a mini adventure this weekend and need to tell you about my visit to the Sherman House in Lancaster.

Around here, I choose to practice gratitude. I’m grateful for central air, for an indoor job that allows me to give my little house panther the life he believes he deserves, for clean drinking water, for plenty of good books to read, and for a life that is much easier than that of many others.

What’s happening in your neck of the woods? What are you grateful for today?

Musings On Winter Into Spring

The transition of winter into spring is the hardest seasonal transition for me. It’s no secret that I have learned to appreciate winter or that I truly enjoy the aspects of the season so many view as hardships.

Southern Ohio today is enjoying what I like to call Stage I Fool’s Spring. It looks nice but the air still has a bite.

From where I sit, warm light streams through the window, casting sprays of light ideal for a little black cat’s peaceful sleep. He’s luxuriating in a large sunny spot right now. The sky is blue and birds abound. Pine trees sway in a slight breeze. It looks like a beautiful, warm day.

In reality, it’s 26 degrees at this moment and less hospitable outside than here on the couch. But if you dare to go outside for a lungful of clean air, you might find that early spring bulbs are pushing through the ground. The March Peepers I so enjoy gave their first nightly chorus on Friday. These little frogs are the brave souls who are the traditional harbingers of spring year after year but their February 28 appearance seemed early. 

These things are all lovely. 

But I truly like the snow and cold and, as I muck through my muddy back yard to reach the birdfeeders, I wonder if I have seen my last snowfall for the year. There’s an old wive’s tale there will be three more snows after the forsythia blooms but those snows could be mere flurries. 

The sense that earth is beginning to warm and the days are growing longer makes me feel anxious. After all, what is to come will be miserably hot and humid. Summer in Ohio is just sticky and gross and it drags on for months. Spring here lasts for a short time as summer crowds in a little earlier than it ought to and hangs on later every year.

For those of us who sunburn and who don’t breathe well in humid conditions, this is not a time for celebration. It’s a time for planning to be outside early and late and for indoor time during midday. 

I would never survive life in the south where I know conditions are even worse. Yes, yes. I know I sound weird and pathetic but it’s a true problem that seems to worsen as I age. 

After years of being berated and bullied for my seasonal preferences by people who suffer Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it turns out I’m neither alone nor an anomaly. 

There is such a thing as Summer SAD. Just like Winter SAD, symptoms include irritability, suicidal thoughts, sadness and insomnia. 

Who knew? 

Little research has been directed to Summer SAD and tips I’ve read for how to cope are more or less useless. Yet, there’s something reassuring about knowing I’m not just a weirdo. 

It’s time to begin brainstorming and making lists of ways to tolerate (and hopefully enjoy) what’s ahead. Do you struggle with symptoms of Summer SAD? I would love to hear about your experiences and tips.

Happy Labor Day

If you’re in America, this is Labor Day. This federal holiday is designated to honor the American Labor Movement and the contributions of the American worker to the development of the country.

Most people spend it shopping sales, traveling and enjoying the unofficial last gasps of summer rather than thinking about the overall accomplishments of American laborers.

Nonetheless, we enjoy the day and I appreciate the freedoms I have because of my work.

Meanwhile, the end of summer also means the fading of the season’s flowers. They’ll be gone soon so I have been making a point to stop and enjoy them, to literally stop and smell the roses whenever possible.

I hope you will too.

Jumping The Gun (Just A Little)

The overnight temperature on my ridgetop dropped to 59 degrees overnight. I don’t care if it is still hot during the day: it’s time to start gathering up the fall movies and books, begin working on indoor decor for fall and to embrace pumpkin spice and everything nice.

Call it jumping the gun if you will but it is time for change.

Friends, I am tired. I’m tired of being hot. I’m sick of summer blockbusters at the movie theater. I’m over my summer wardrobe and I’ve had enough of poison ivy and bugs.

I’m over it all and ready to move forward into a season where the sun doesn’t hurt your skin and where the humidity doesn’t take your breath away. I’m ready for boots and comfy sweaters. I’ll take When Harry Met Sally with a side of potato soup and some homemade cookies, please.

Friends, I want to be cold and then I want to curl up with a soft, fuzzy blanket and be warm and happy. I want to sniff cinnamon while reading an Alice Hoffman book with her patented mystic style and beautiful prose. I want to stomp through a pile of fallen leaves.

To be clear, I understand that it’s still summer and that we will be punished by summer’s heat for a while longer (like a month and a half longer).

I understand that it’s too early for blankets and pumpkins but that’s ok because my mental health says it’s time.

If summer is your thing, I hope you go stand outside and soak in all the heat you can absorb. Treat yourself to a slushie and chase those lightning bugs. Live it up!

Meanwhile, I’ll be admiring my scarves and pulling out fall decor!

A word to the wise though. As we approach fall, please remember the infamous words of Linus in the classic cartoon It’s A Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

Never jump in a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.

Have a great day, friends!