Mountain Springs Spa
It's not raining, nor is it Monday, but we have had rainy days for most of the last two weeks, leaving the yard in a wild state that reminds one of a hay field ready for cutting--if only the sun would appear! Rainfall totals are in the double digits over the last month! And, the river was 3 feet over the low water bridge at Ponca on Monday. Should be great canoeing this weekend if it drops below the bridge by Saturday.
As I look out the window, I see the faint beginnings of fall in the trees on the mountainsides. Thanks to the rain, the flowerbeds are looking faded and in need of some sprucing up for the last of the season. Bright spots are the marigolds that are planted by the birds and other critters each year. In spring the little plants appear in unexpected places, so I try to let them grow, knowing that they will out shine most other flowering plants in the wanning days of summer. A friend at church gave me a start several years ago. It's an understatement to say they are the hardiest flowers in the garden! To transplant them, just pull small plants out of the soil and transfer to another bed--no need to take a clum of dirt with them--they settle into a new home quite easily with hardly a drooping leaf. They are capable of traveling hundreds of miles wrapped only in a wet paper towel. My neighbor can attest to that!
The few little hummers that hang around are enjoying the pineapple sage with its red, spikey flowers. It comes to life when other plants are going to seed. We are noticing fewer hummers at the feeders in the last part of the summer--could be the rainy season has made wildflowers in abundance. We are hoping that it the reason, and not the herbicide that the electric company is putting out under the lines. We were given a choice of declining their "offer" which we and many of our neighbors did.
By the way, the honeybees are also having a hard time this year. Eddie the Beeman has lost several hives this summer (down 60%). He attributes it to herbicide and other poisons--as well as critters. We know that one of his hives was destroyed by a large bear visiting the neighborhood a few days ago. Jack 'caught' him as well as the mama and cubs several times on the game camera set up in the woods. Well, all critters have to eat! But please, Mr. Bear, save some honey for us humans!
The picture above is one I took on a hot summer day in June. I'll tell you my secret--I fill it up in the early morning, letting the sun warm the water all day. At the end of a long hot day, I can slip into my swimsuit, and enjoy watching the clouds float across the sky as I soak in my "Ozark Hot Tub". It also makes a good dog bathtub!
The tub is one of the things I will miss about summer, along with tomatoes from the garden, early morning coffee on the porch, late night iced tea on the porch with friends, flowers from my garden, cabin visitors coming and going, birds and their babies (especially the Blue(bird) family and their antics), visits to the river with Jack Henry, all our family and friends who come up in the summer, and the list goes on...
Goodbye to summer--hello to autumn!
The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime,
and in the night His song shall be with me--
a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8
