August Refrains When Needed Most

Dear friend,

As summer eased beyond its halfway point, the gentle refrains of early August are noticeable. The deep green of July is beginning to fade. It’s not much, just a trickle, but the softer side of the season is upon us. You can see it when you look at the mountainsides. Goldenrod is yellowing fields. The Christmas-red berries of the staghorn sumac are burning bright. Pods are forming on the milkweed. The Four Amigos have not been at the pond in more than a week, after being late spring and early summer mainstays. The last I saw of the four Canada geese, they’d shifted over to the river. Now they are gone.

This annual passage takes us from the high heat and humidity to nights where two blankets are needed and morning walks that call for a sweater. Autumn is more than five weeks off, but her siren song beckons deliciously.

This has always been the beginning of my favorite time of the year here in northern New England. From now through Thanksgiving, I’m happiest and most connected…