Late Summer Wearies

Wild Sunflowers

Jerusalem Cricket

 daily haiku

a great deception
cool breeze lies about daily heat
equinox laughing

Late summer is upon us and things are changing - in the landscape and in my life. The continual heat, 90's every day and sometimes hot nights, leaves me feeling tired and self critical because I don't accomplish enough each day.

Hanging Woman Creek is at a low point and is muddy and weedy, but I did see a large fish this morning working the weeds; about 20" long, and judging by the shape of it's tail it was a carp. Hardly any birds around and the bats have left for different climes.

The house invaders are here - mice, and at present Jerusalem Crickets. The crickets are ugly - often called Earth Babies or Baby Bugs because of their large head.  They compete with the mice for the peanut butter in the mousetraps! Inadvertently they spring the trap. The first one cut itself in half and I found it dead. The second one managed to get out of the trap by eating its own body - here is a close up of the poor thing.I put it in the wood pile but I doubt it will live - just become a part of the food chain.

Yesterday despite the heat, I plugged a hole in the basement wall with spray foam to stop the advance of more mice and possible snakes, which made me feel a lot safer! 

There is interest in my house - one couple "walked through" - and two others may be scheduled for this next weekend. This of course leads to being more careful about tidiness and housework.  In between all this I look at new places to live, online, and as soon as the weather cools, I will be spending time looking for a new place to live in Sheridan, WY - 60 miles away.

Life has changed also for my dear friend Bruce.  His family insisted that he move to assisted living. He hated leaving his own house but is adjusting pretty well to his new apartment and having people around all day.

His son came from Texas to help with the moving process, flew his plane to Sheridan which he built himself. He took Bruce up for a spin and despite limited vision he was able to see the town below.

Bruce and son Peter

In his new place

So  the landscape is morphing towards winter and so are we. In my depressed moments, leaving here does feel like a step towards death, but I have come to believe I am just entering a new phase of my life and it could well be exciting.

Procrastination

Tomorrow - I’ll see the lawyer about my will

Tomorrow - I’ll see the undertaker about my funeral

Tomorrow - I’ll write last letters to the children

Tomorrow - I’ll write my funeral service

Of course tomorrow never comes,

The deeds fester in the wind.

Facing death today is a hard chore,

I’d rather look out of the window

At green hills,

River valley,

Feel the cool morning air through the window,

Smell the java,

Taste this side of life today.

Hell – who cares about the vultures

That fly above my head;

Why should I give a dam about

Where I’m buried?

Keep the feeling,

It could be a poem some day.

© C. Valentine 6-20-13