Appreciating The Day

As I sit looking out the large picture window in our living room, the sky looks like it wants to rain. I wish it would. Everything is so dry and in need of a good shower. I did not expect a dry summer after the wet spring we experienced. Nature is a balancing act. In the spring, our pastures were lush and green, but the ground was so saturated that our goats' feet did not have an opportunity to dry out properly. Now, our pastures are struggling to keep up and replenish. I wish we would get a nice, steady rain that lasts a week or so.

Not only am I over the hot, humid weather, but my goats are also. The girls spend more time in the barn than usual, trying to escape the hot sun. With the hot temperatures, nobody feels like eating, and milk production is down. The Bibbed Wonder has erred on the side of caution and separated the boys from the ladies. All the boys are now in the field across the driveway. The pasture is still plentiful there, the spring continues to run, and the surrounding trees offer abundant shade. There is also a comfortable hut with thick bedding for them to seek shelter, but rarely do they. The boys are far more adventurous than the ladies. They spend the majority of the time grazing in the back of the field. The girls like to hang out by the gate and fuss when they see us. They make their displeasure at being away from their barn quite clear. The boys couldn't care less and enjoy the pasture's various flora.

It's hard to believe that mating season will begin in less than a month. The girls who delivered early in the year will once again seek the company of the billy goats, and the cycle of life will start all over again. This summer is passing quickly, and I don't know where the time has gone. Soon, it will be time for our annual trip to The Shaker Woods Festival in August, and soon after that, my bean will begin a new school year.

I enjoy the relaxed schedule of summer. I love having my daughter home with us. Although our summer schedule is busy, the lack of daily structure makes it enjoyable. We eat lunch and dinner together as a family whenever we are hungry. There is no daily rush to get out the door to meet the school bus, pack a lunch, corral school supplies, and find the preferred footwear for the day. Sleeping in until six a.m., eating a simple lunch at two p.m., and having dinner at eight is okay. We can sit on the porch and enjoy the evening, chatting, laughing, and watching the fireflies. There is no rush to complete homework, make it to extracurricular activities, pack up for the next day, shower, and be in bed by nine so we can do it all again the next day. I like our low-key approach to summer.

Summer is not a three-month vacation. On the contrary, it is our busiest time. We spend the week in the soap studio preparing for The Ligonier Country Market, The Shaker Woods Festival, our fall line of products, and then the holidays. Often, we work until six, seven, and sometimes eight o'clock to get everything done. However, without the structure of the school day, we feel a bit more relaxed.

I must admit, summer is my least favorite season. Actually, autumn is my soul. If I could live in a year of Octobers, I would. I feel like I live for fall and spend the rest of the year longing for fall. I barely tolerate winter. Spring excites me, but only because winter goes away. Summer should be a steady 72 degrees with low humidity. This relentless heat and humidity makes me feel irritable and long for cooler days with longer nights. Each season has its beauty, but I am ready for a break from the heat.

It doesn't look as though that break will come any time soon. We will be at Ligonier, melting in the sweltering heat on Saturday morning. Sigh. I can't complain when the market lasts twenty weeks, and we are almost halfway through. It is flying by, and I need to appreciate all summer offers. There is much to look forward to; soon enough, the days will grow shorter, the temperatures cooler, the schedule more restrictive, and our time together less. It's time to practice mindfulness and appreciate the day and all it offers.

On this overcast summer day, stay safe, be smart, try to appreciate each day, enjoy the slower pace of summer, and keep washing your hands.