Happy Monday! … or Tuesday by the time this is posted. I hope your weekend of celebrating dads, or being celebrated brought much joy. This is the pic of my dad and me that I posted on FB yesterday. The outpouring of memories of this man and love for him is truly a tribute to his character. My friend Angela commented about his working with us on our softball skills. Seems only appropriate this photo is one of my favorites then because it was taken at the local softball field where we’d watch the games when I visited. He played fast- and slo-pitch for years and never lost interest in the sport.
Dad was also a wonderful Grandpa and Great-Grandpa. Even though he and Mom are both gone, they gained another Great-Grand when Hubby and I celebrated the arrival of our 9th Grand on Friday! So, our weekend was filled with all sorts of joy.
Did you celebrate the Summer Solstice, the true scientific beginning of summer for us in the northern hemisphere, this weekend too? I’ve always found it funny that as we celebrate the beginning of summer and school finally out, and all the excitement for summer’s outdoor activities … daylight actually becomes shorter minute by minute starting today. Maybe that’s why I try to get up earlier and stay outside later, knowing those minutes tick-tock steadily toward earlier sunsets.
One of the ancient ways to celebrate the Solstice was to build a large bonfire, and sometimes to write grievances on pieces of paper and tossing them in, a symbolic way of releasing those slights and grudges. Hubby spent part of Saturday burning the brush piles I created out of privet. I’m not sure that counts as a bonfire since it was in our firepit, but watching those things go up in flames absolutely lightened my heart. I’ll plant these trees and shrubs in the woods where the privet and grapevine and other such growth was hacked out. Looking out my kitchen window, I can see filtered light through the woods now. These plants will love it.
During my morning walks the temperature difference between the shady spots and those in full sun is noticeable, but this morning the filtered light held my attention more than the temperature, and more than usual. Maybe it was knowing yesterday was the Summer Solstice and I’m already aware of the sun’s lowering arc. We have an old horse barn on our property and that’s my frame of reference for our earth’s spinning toward and away from the sun. As the days lengthen in the spring, the sun rises over our pines and fills the yard with sunlight. Saturday while working in the yard, I saw the arc edging closer to the barn roof and by this fall will barely clear it. I mentioned in last week’s post about finding comfort in the predictability of the sunrises at the beach and the high and low tides, I feel the same with my horse barn sundial. At some point that old thing will have to come down, but for now it makes the perfect solar clock.
As much as I’m not a summer person–I wonder if having a fall birthday has anything to do with that–I am looking forward to possibly having Nana and Papa Summer Camp again in a few weeks. Thinking of filtered sunlight reminded me of the sun photos I did with my kids ages ago and might be fun to do with the Grands.
How is your summer taking shape? My friend Laurel said the mosquitos have arrived as hers begins. I’m in a wonderful lull at the moment–after the more intense phase of Kakalak editing and before trips in the fall. I still have plenty to keep me busy, but it’s relaxing not having a big trip this summer. It’s a good mix of leisure and work, like dappled sunlight through trees.
I hope you have a great week, maybe finding more reasons to celebrate, even little moments of joy that make you smile. I’ll be back on Monday with Book Review Monday! Like I mentioned last week, it’s an interesting and controversial book. It has me thinking, even more about filtered light in a different way, and I’ll be interested in what you think. See you at my window soon!
A Writer's Window 