September Snapshots
There are signs of change in the air and on the land these early September days that have me feeling unsettled. A sense that the seasons are shifting, and the world is off kilter. After a delightfully cool week, it was suddenly hot again. Winds unleashed fat acorns from tall pines and rained tiny tassels from lofty Douglas fir branches onto our decks and roof. After months of summer heat, the woods and ground are dry underfoot, and I try to remember the sound of rain and what it feels like on my face. One especially weird weather day, brief spits of rain and dark clouds promised rain but instead delivered lightning and thunder that keep us all on edge through the night.
Because sunrise comes later each morning, I now wait until 7:45 for my morning explorations around the grounds with our cat Peekay. I have no interest in running into a black bear looking for blackberries in the woods or a fox still out on the prowl. Once the school bus has picked up the neighborhood children, Peekay and I slip outdoors into cool morning air. Along the edge of our property line he stops to investigate a log that appears to be covered with hieroglyphics etched by insects. When we finally return to the deck and he is in his Catio, a praying mantis keeps him occupied until a frog steals his attention.
Tree stumps along our walk mark fire safety efforts over the years before and since we’ve lived here. They also remind me of the generations of sawyers who have cut and milled lumber in northern California for generations. On Labor Day, Missouri artist Bryan Haynes shared a painting that brought their role in America’s history to life and reminded me that their work continues locally at a mill in Grass Valley.
All over the Sierra foothills, tree trimming and forest thinning goes on throughout the year. It is a critical part of the work of PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) to lessen the chance of power outages in high winds like those that blew our way recently and led to fires sparked by lightning strikes that kept us awake with worry.
In addition to an abundant crop of acorns that feed deer and squirrels this year, local orchards and backyard fruit trees are filled with an abundance of pears plums, apples, and figs fat and ripe for picking and sharing with friends. They are a wonderful excuse for pies, crisps, and crumbles. They are also delicious with slices of lovely cheeses enjoyed in the afternoon when I return from my visits with Kit at the Lodge. That is the time of day when I pick up one of the books I’m currently reading or allow myself an afternoon nap with Peekay curled up at my side.
My friend Larry Marchant recently shared a poetry website where I read poems by Robert W. Service (1875-1958) and have been introduced to his fascinating life of travel and adventures. Larry and his wife Heather have shared recipes from her native Scotland for treats to go with my afternoon tea. In addition to poetry, I’ve also been reading Excellent Women written in 1952 by Barbara Pym and feel I’ve discovered a literary treasure long forgotten that deserves to be reintroduced to those of us who love the pace and subtle witty prose of Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë.
There is more to share, but for now, the school bus has just gone by, and Peekay is itching for a walk. Morning temperatures have dipped into the 50s and days are simply gorgeous. Overhead, the heavens produced a Blood (Corn) Super Moon as well as a total Lunar Eclipse during the night and morning of September 7-8, providing stargazers with a rare celestial treat on the cusp of autumn’s official arrival later this month. Signs of September are definitely in the air and everywhere.