I am sitting in the front room of the farm house, finishing my second cup of coffee. I am contemplating having a third cup, a rarity. This room used to be a porch, once upon a time. At some point, it was screened in and then fully enclosed and incorporated into the house. It still feels like a porch to me with its slightly sunken floor.
I have been up for a few hours now. I have a whole list of things I need to do today and I need to get cracking before it gets too hot. The schedules around here revolve around the heat of the day and how to avoid it. That usually for me means getting a terrible case of cabin fever come mid afternoon and then having a hard time falling asleep at night. Luckily for me, I have had no troubles getting to sleep and staying asleep the last few nights.
I use this sleep tracking app on my phone that tracks my sleep cycles and utilizes that information to nicely and gently wake you up in the optimum window and grade your sleep. I apparently got a perfect score of 100% quality of sleep last night. As I sit here and watch the world long past it has woken up, it does not feel like I had the best quality of sleep.
August has apparently always been an extremely reflective and anticipatory time for me. I would guess that has something to do with the heat here in Texas and perhaps most Texans feel this way. This is usually the hottest month. Although this year is a little different in that June and July were quite hot and I think some records were even broken.
Anyway, come August I am usually looking forward to fall and everything that brings. I have written about this before. I am also apparently thinking about different anniversaries. I have also written about this before. Both good and bad. On this particular day, and for weeks now (really every day of the last year), I am thinking about H.
I really have no grand thoughts or revelations for you today. I don’t even really want to go there. On another day I will be back to that super positive person and have better things to say. Life is just hard sometimes. You just crack on. That is it. That is the secret. You do the chores. You cross one thing off the list and do it again tomorrow. If that is all you can do, that is ok. You did it. You won. It changes every day, that is how grief works. I take great comfort in days when things happen and I have no choice but to just get it done. No thinking. Just doing. When I got here to the farm Thursday night, I discovered when I woke up that our bull had found his way next door. I called him a few choice words when he gave me some trouble, but I eventually got him back without too much hardship…and a wasp sting. I then spent some hours just going down the fence line fixing every spot that looked inviting to his wanderlust. I played music and got lost in the monotony and sweat. I reveled in having that sweat stream into my eyes. Bring it on, I said. I was tired by the end of it and looked forward to being sore.
I will say this. It is all for a reason. There is always the light. Focus on that while you do your one thing.
Walk in love, dear readers.
The hot months have been hard here is SC as well. I always get itchy for fall this time of year and I think that is why it gets so hot – so that we don’t mourn the end of summer but instead celebrate it.
I like that a lot!
I had wondered on whether you melted away in the heat. Glad you didn’t.
On my phone, it came preloaded with an app that tracks your well-being, from counting your number of steps to the quality of your sleep. I haven’t figured out how to uninstall it without bringing down the rest of the phone. The joys of tech.
On fixing fence line, one of the best things to declutter your mind, especially if you have a farm or ranch. My dad grew up on a farm, and though we lived in suburbia while I grew up, I asked if he missed farm fixing. He said there was plenty to do. When I bought North Ranch, and it was time to fix fence line, the fishing pole found its way into the gear. Of course, I brought my dad along to help “fix” the fence line. Occasionally, we ran into Amanda who was “fixing” fence line with her three dogs.
When you realize you’ve gone through a half box of Kleenex (Puffs is my brand), remember you’re not crying … but it is your “allergies.” (LOL)
Take care, young lady.
Sounds about right. Thanks so much for stopping by. I very inelegantly use my shirt sleeve, much to my mother’s chagrin.
We’re in triple digits this week here in Sacramento. I understand doing everything in the morning. Great photos. Thanks for visiting and following my blog.
Thank you!