dawdling

Some weeks ago we had a large dead maple tree cut down in the back. Yesterday I spent much of the day cutting it up for firewood this upcoming winter. I consolidate my woodpile for splitting purposes so I was moving it from one field to another.
It was a hot day, and I'm retired so there was a fair amount of dawdling in the back of the truck during the offloading process. Summer lay heavy in the sound of the wind through the tall grass. Butterflies chasing each other across the fields; white ones and burnt orange. Swallows chirping high in the sky overhead. Bouquets of cinquefoil, clover, and daisies smiling from the pasture; red, yellow and white. 

growing season

Growing season. Swallows have fledged in the back yard. Corn is growing in fields along the Clarendon river. Aluminum plates above a garden just down the road.

summer rains

We have had a couple of days of heavy rain. On Sunday evening, Allyn & I headed over to John's place to watch True Detective on HBO. The rain was torrential on the way over. I don't think it's possible for it to rain harder than it did. When we got there, the satellite dish was on the blink because of the heavy rain.
Thunderstorms this morning as well; flash of lightning, clap of thunder; rooster-tails of spray from car tires going through standing water on roadways. Patterns of miniature waves of water as rivulets cross the roads from one side to the other. The humidity causes the salt to clog up in salt shakers, probably my favorite "Other Side of the Creek" observation.

The rain is falling all around
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
Robert Louis Stevenson

Father's Day

Went paddling with John on Lake Ninevah. Saw a wildflower I'd never seen before (bog laurel), and we saw a bald eagle. Breakfast in bed, and Google chat with the fam. Happy Father's Day, indeed!

stacking

Tomorrow is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. American flags are flying in Brandon in anticipation of the 4th of July. Winter, however, is never really far away for Vermonters. Pete has a new pile of wood for stacking in his back yard.

It is the noon.
Orioles are crying
The river flows on in silence.
Issa

missed

Today is Allyn's last day of school, not only for the summer, but it is her last day of full time work as a teacher. She will return in the fall on a part time basis. She will be missed.

irises

Irises in bloom. Outside painters and construction workers are busy.  Two young girls in shorts on bicycles in Shelburne.