As another Summer slips toward her torrid latter days, I thirst mostly for a sense of serenity amid the ache and struggle that transforms everyday deeds into Herculean tasks by mere virtue of the sizzling sun. And as I do, and sip the simplest glass of cold clear water, I recall that Summer has a range of beauties all her own. Contemplating them can bring a water-clarity to my heated thoughts and gradually, I find that slipping sense of refuge in the burning day has righted itself again, if only for a moment or two, and that is quite enough.
Here, then, I salute the summer. I salute water, and the wealth that lets me have it in cold clarity almost whenever I should want. And I salute, with deepest peace, the calm that comes in recollecting all that’s good and fair and simple in that harshest place, the burning midst of the high season of the sun itself, knowing it is its own sort of beautiful and will be missed again some other day.
Art-Colored Glasses 
creative,beautiful,intriguing…
Just how I would describe you! š
Love this. It has been ridiculously hot, up here in the great white north. Thirty degree days with humidity pushing 40 and all of us lying around limp and tempestuous. But then, if we stop a minute, like you, and look at our reflection in the cool clear water and the bounty it bears with each sip…. Well, then this high heat of summer does feel awfully short, doesn’t it?
After today’s 42+, I’m sure hoping it’ll be short!! Now, where is that glass of ice water I set down!!! š
Wow, you hit the weather head-on with this latest post. It’s almost as if we are being held captive in our own little air-conditioned space by Mother Nature and her brutal onslaught of soaring temps. And your last two photos, especially capture the blistering conditions. Good prose, great graphics and a horrible summer. But this, too, shall pass!
By the way, while I’ve got you, did the photos with Richard & Fr. Tom turn out? Can’t wait to see what you got.
Oh, yes, they *did* turn out excellently! Come over to see me at my Facebook page; I’ve posted all of my photos from last Sunday there. If you don’t have a FB account, just email me (same address as Richard’s) and I’ll shoot you a link.
I *loved* your biker shot!!!
xo
Kathryn
Wow, such beautiful imagery! Doesn’tfeel so cold anymore.
Today was blistering here–so much so that I (who am often freezing in air conditioned spaces) was constantly looking for the nearest air duct to rescue me!
It’s so different here…I still think of Late August as the hottest part of the year, remembering my sweaty legs sticking to the desk when we went back to school around the 25th…Here, we’ve begun to slide into fall, and the worst is over.
I’ll be sure to pop by your blog to get some refreshingly near-autumnal glimpses!!
Praise be to all things geographic & seasonal, as you quite beautifully point out. What would we do without them? More respect is expected but not necessarily fulfilled by the inhabitants who exploit our natural bounties…
I’m as guilty as the next, complaining despite the glorious loveliness around me!
Lovely, and too soon, especially here in Wisconsin, summer will be missed and longed for.
I can only imagine. Really! š
Having just been through a very hot spell and mini drought, I understand! Water is like gold, a cooling breeze better than jewels to adorn us! Hope things cool down a little for you soon.
Today is warm but not quite so ridiculously so, and the overcast sky at least gives the illusion of cooling!