heat wave

Reprieve – Day 963

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Wild White Clouds on the Horizon – Photo: L.Weikel

Reprieve

I realize the heat wave we’ve endured here on the East Coast pales in comparison to the brutality sustained by the Pacific Northwest this week. Nevertheless, it was hard to focus on anything with it so hot. I’m glad for the reprieve.

The thunderstorms that rolled through our area last night were spectacular. Brilliant, jagged lightning split the air outside our front door and thunder followed so quickly, it was clear the storm was practically sitting on top of us. And then the rain just pelted us.

What I’ve disliked most about the recent heat wave is how walking became untenable. I need to take a walk. Desperately. So does Spartacus.

Fields, Forest, and Clouds – Photo: L. Weikel

Not Happening

Quite honestly, though, as a good puppy-Mommy, there was no way I was going to take him for a walk when he was flopping down on the porch and breathing heavily after being outside for five minutes. He didn’t even need to chase a toy to justify the flop.

And I knew exactly how he felt.

I’m ashamed to say it, but over the past four days I think I’ve averaged something like 0.28 miles per day. That’s appalling. But it looks like the weather over the next several days should be conducive to getting back out there and logging some miles. In fact, unless it’s a deluge, I’m even willing to walk between the raindrops, if that’s what it takes.

While I didn’t get a chance to walk today, I did have to make a quick grocery run. As I drove along a dirt road near my home, I couldn’t take my eyes off the massive, brilliant white clouds massing on the horizon. There was just so much activity in the sky, it was mesmerizing.

I’m craving my conversations with Nature. They help me keep my priorities straight and my attitude relatively upbeat. My walks, alas, are my primary inspiration and I’m lost without them.

From Afar – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-148)

Long Sips of Water – Day 960

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Catbird – Photo: L. Weikel

Long Sips of Water

I made a point this morning of making sure the birdbath in our yard was filled with fresh, cold water. While the feeders in our yard were visited only sporadically, the ol’ watering hole attracted more attention than it usually does. I have to admit it made me smile to see so many Goldfinches and Blue Jays luxuriating in taking long sips of water.

One thing I learned today? It’s a sure thing the songbirds are thirsty when they’re at the bird bath and don’t seem to pay a whit of attention to the Red-shouldered Hawk screeching in the field beside the house. (Which also makes me wonder: do hawks stay hydrated by eating plump songbirds? Yikes.)

Beyond taking risks that they rarely dare, it’s clear to me that our feathered friends are feeling the effects of the oppressive heat and humidity. I don’t know about you, but dogs and cats make their discomfort in the heat fairly obvious. Birds generally do not.

So it was a little creepy to see some finches and woodpeckers standing on the feeder posts with their beaks open. I assumed this was the closest thing to panting birds do. But it was unsettling. I kept wondering if maybe I’d just never paid close enough attention to my birds in the summer.

Goldfinches – Photo: L. Weikel

Worrisome News

Just as I was talking out loud to my birds (and grudgingly acknowledging the presence of the gray squirrels, red squirrels, and chippies), I came across this unsettling article. It seems birds are dying in record numbers in states all around us as well as further to the south, and scientists have yet to figure out what’s happening.

Sadly, the speculation is that it may either be a disease or perhaps the use of pesticides to kill off the Brood X Cicadas. The thought of that makes me want to scream in frustration. First of all, I cannot understand why anyone would be trying to kill the cicadas. There’s so much literature readily available on the nature of the cicadas and how they benefit virtually every part of the ecosystem.

Second of all, it’s bad enough that people want to kill these red-eyed whirring wonders simply because they’re noisy, or inconvenient, or ‘scary looking.’ But to do it with poison? When people know (or would know if they stopped for even half a second to think about it or read anything on the subject) that other animals eat cicadas? Do they really forget that there’s something called a food chain in healthy ecosystems? Is it really so hard to think beyond our own very personal, very self-centered

Moving Forward

I’m writing about this today not in an effort to shame those people who either don’t care about cicadas or actively dislike them enough to aggressively try to kill them, but rather to alert us all to the need to keep an eye on our birds.

There are some suggestions at the end of the article on what to do if you find a dead bird. Working together perhaps we can be a part of the solution to the crisis.

It seems we’re screwing things up pretty well via climate change. The least we can do is help our fellow creatures out by providing clean fresh water, especially in this searing heat, and taking care not to poison them. A low bar indeed.

Blue Jays are susceptible – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-151)

Plausible Explanation – Day 958

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Photo: L. Weikel

Plausible Explanation

Ever have one of those days when you wake up with a headache? That’s never a good sign – particularly if there’s no ‘good’ reason to do so. Not that imbibing the night before is a good reason. But it’s at least a plausible explanation, albeit one that calls into question your choices.

The only explanation I can come up with for my headache, which sadly has persisted all day and is actually getting worse again now, is the sudden onslaught of excessive heat and humidity.

Really, though? Yeah, it’s unpleasant here in eastern PA at the moment. But it’s nothing like the hell Portland, Oregon is living through. Portland broke its heat record today by reaching 108 degrees. That’s gross no matter where you live. But in the Pacific Northwest. What!?

And tomorrow they’re looking at a predicted high of 115 degrees. We’re not talking Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, folks. This is not good.

Walked Anyway

In spite of my headache I still managed to get a walk in today. I waited longer than usual to set out; so long, in fact, that Spartacus was almost begging me to go himself.

Naturally, as soon as we set out a squall appeared on the horizon. It bore down on us remarkably quickly and I made the executive decision to stay the course.

It poured for approximately a minute. Just enough to cool us both down. We didn’t even get drenched, as we were sheltered enough by some trees to only get hit by about half the drops raining down upon us.

At least we were rewarded with a rainbow. It’s the first one I’ve seen in a couple months.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow’s supposed to be hotter here, too. Not as hot as Portland, but hot for June 27th.

If we’re paying attention, it sure seems the dominoes are starting to fall. You know, the climate change dominoes that most people in power have been paid by special interests for decades to ignore.

Pretty soon it will be too late. I hope it isn’t already.

(T-153)

Mesa Rode Shotgun – Day 600

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Photo: L. Weikel

Mesa Rode Shotgun

I took a ride late this afternoon to enjoy a little bit of alone time with my beloved Tohickon Creek. But I’ll be honest: it wasn’t enough. I’m going to have to go back – and soon. My mesa rode shotgun, though. And I’m pleased to report, as can be seen, she was considerate of others.

Even though it’s easy for me to maintain complete isolation when I go to the creek (primarily because I won’t stop or sit along her banks if there are any human beings in sight), I find I’ve not been to the Tohickon anywhere near as often as usual. I realize it’s not because I’m wary of visiting the creek. It’s because I so rarely get in my car and drive anywhere anymore.

Yes, I can walk there from our house, and I do – occasionally. But my more routine visits were always spontaneous stops on my way to, but more often than not on my way home from, client appointments, errands, and various other excursions.

As a result of the pandemic, I barely drive anywhere anymore.

Refreshment

This was the temperature display at a bank along Route 611 this evening. While I grant that this outdoor thermometer tends to routinely lean toward the high side, I can vouch that my car’s thermometer indicated 90 degrees at that same moment. And as you can see, it was nearly 6:00 p.m. when I took this photo. Earlier in the day, it had been even hotter.

Imagine, then, my gratitude when a mere mile and a half away, I pulled off the road and alongside my favorite place in the world. How could I feel anything other than magically refreshed, allowing myself to drink in the serenity of this place?

Tohickon – Cool Respite – Photo: L. Weikel

Reflection

I’m finding myself contemplative on this eve of our country’s birth. I am marveling at how different this 4th of July weekend feels, for so many reasons, obviously.

Because of the pandemic, we’re not going to be traveling to Connecticut, where we’ve celebrated for decades. That’s a big break from tradition, and I feel wistful recalling the homemade blueberry muffins and Motherpeace readings, to name a few of my favorite memories. (Not to mention Jarts, croquet, lobsters, Wimbledon, and a myriad other treasured experiences.)

On a larger scale – from the personal to the national – it feels like this Independence Day is being viewed through a completely new pair of glasses. Suddenly, we’re seeing who we are as a country with an incredible new clarity that’s both deeply uncomfortable and also truly liberating.

The fact that we’re even discussing our historic oppression and mistreatment of our fellow Americans (including those who called this land home for thousands of years before white people ever stepped onto these shores) is heartening and exciting.

This is our history. It is important to tell the truth, even if it’s ugly and painful. Because that’s where our true freedom rests. In honesty. In gratitude. In forgiveness.

Tohickon – magical reflection; Photo: L. Weikel

(T-511)

Chill Out – Day 599

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Old Man In Repose Among the Clouds – Photo: L. Weikel

Chill Out

Ha ha – I’m undoubtedly dating myself with the title to this post. Meh – that’s ok. There could be a lot worse phrases from my youth that I could proffer at this moment. “Chill out,” seems to be one of the most benign.

All the signs are here. We’re receiving a message. Are we listening?

Even the dramatic change we’re experiencing in the weather appears to be making a statement. (Of course, I’m speaking for eastern Pennsylvania, but I’m pretty sure many other places are getting a similar message.) It was oppressively hot today. And if the Weather Channel is worth its salt, we apparently have many more days ahead of us, all in a row, to practice our ability to remain calm, cool, and collected in the midst of one shit storm after another.

Even Walking Was Rough

We put off walking until the last possible moment this evening. And even then the heat took a toll on all of us. Spartacus panted the whole way and we only did our two mile jaunt.

Meanwhile, Sheila’s been sitting out on our walks for several days now, only managing to stroll up the road a piece and back again. Just enough to get her system moving enough to qualify as a ‘constitutional.’

Taking Cues From The Man

When I saw this guy so obviously in repose in the sky yesterday, I had to take his photo. I knew he was bringing all of us a message.

It’s time to stay home. Kick back. Stay cool. Read a book. Wear a mask.

Yup.

I’m taking my cues from the Man In the Sky: “Chill out.” I suggest we all heed his advice while we can.

Old Man in Repose Close Up – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-512)

Not Another Weather Post – Day 253

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Blue Heron Hanging at a Pond Beside the Road – Photo: L. Weikel

Not Another Weather Post                                                 

I will admit, I am as loathe to write another post focusing primarily on the weather as you are to read one.

But I have to tell you: for a person who mostly listens to others and usually doesn’t do much of the talking, it’s hard to come up with something to ‘talk about’ every day. That’s especially true when you consider that there are many days when I don’t leave my home. And even some days when I barely leave my porch.

Today, for instance, I reveled in getting lots of emails written, forms completed and submitted, and appointments scheduled. Yet I barely left my porch. And while I managed to cross a lot of tasks off my ‘to do’ list, having a productive day does not necessarily translate into having much to write about. At least, not anything that might hold interest to many, if any, of you.

Lost Opportunity

One thing that happened today was a moment of excitement, rapidly whisked away by a flood of disappointment. Last week I received an invitation from my law school to secure tickets to attend a “conversation” with The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The notice indicated that tickets would become available online at 10:00 a.m. this morning.

You can guess how successful I was in scoring tickets. Not at all.

But it was fun to imagine, even if only for a millisecond, having the opportunity to listen to and experience this icon in person.

A Vow for Tomorrow

Surprisingly, the wild storm last night did not usher in a new wave of pleasant weather. It cooled things off a little bit, but not significantly. In fact, I was surprised by how miserable the weather turned out to be again by late this afternoon.

Ooops – I just realized I’ve begun talking about the weather again. Gah.

Well, it was really just a segue into what I wanted to say about walking. It’s official: I just allowed an entire week, a vast seven days, to go by without walking as much as one pathetic mile. Appalling!

The last mileage of any consequence that I walked was last Monday, when I walked three miles. The day before that I walked 6.5 miles.

Re-Committing

I guess that’s something I could write more about tomorrow. I was really on a roll there for quite a while. And I’ll tell you: I miss my walks.

So my Vow for Tomorrow is to renew my walking. I’m beyond eager to do so. I yearn to be walking again. I don’t care how long my session lasts tomorrow, I know the weather should be exquisite for a walk by the time I get home – and I intend to take one.

Let’s hope I can snag a photo or two that can inspire me to write about something fascinating or intriguing.

In the meantime, I’m going to leave you with this little critter, who kept insisting upon marching across the top edge of my computer earlier today.

Little Green Spider – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-858)

Porch-Vacating Heat – Day 252

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Hummingbird at our porch feeder – Photo: L. Weikel

Porch-Vacating Heat                                     

Even though they called for it, I’m still trying to wrap my head around just how hot and muggy it was today. By the late afternoon and early evening, the atmosphere was unbearable and I had to go inside. Reluctantly. Dripping with sweat, but nevertheless dragging my feet.

I’m probably a bit weird. (As if you hadn’t figured that out yet; amiright? My façade is so well-maintained.) As I was saying, I’m probably a bit weird, but I adore sitting, writing, talking, reading, working, musing, Medicine Card picking, bird-watching, and all around being on our porch.

It’s a bit odd, too, since the porch isn’t exactly roomy. And our house is sort of close to the road. I guess I’m saying it’s not a perfect porch. Not even close.

Our Porch

But it’s our porch. And so many good times have been had on that porch, so many beautiful sunsets have been viewed, so many games of hearts played, so many hummingbirds, crows, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, cardinals, fish crows, indigo buntings, mourning doves, pileated woodpeckers, wrens, blue jays, catbirds, house finches, red breasted woodpeckers, goldfinches, red winged blackbirds, sparrows, and both red tailed and sharp-shinned hawks (keeping the populations of the aforementioned in check) have been celebrated and excitedly welcomed from our porch.

We’ve also enjoyed squirrels (OK, maybe ‘enjoy’ is overstating it a bit when it comes to squirrels), chipmunks, deer, foxes, turkeys, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, garter snakes, bunnies, bullfrogs, skunks, tree frogs, snapper turtles, and box turtles from the vantage point of our porch. I’m sure I’m leaving some critters out. I’d include weasels but the weasel that ran up to me so many years ago was actually out back behind our barn. Since I didn’t view it technically from our porch, I’m not including it in that list.

So Much Life – Just Off the Porch

Now do you get a sense of why our porch is simply the best? It’s better than a zoo. (Doesn’t even compare. I really don’t like zoos. But that’s another conversation.)

And beyond all those creatures mentioned above, we’re also surrounded by grass, trees, moss, hostas (also known as deer food), wild flowers, and bushes. All viewable from our porch.

I tend to gravitate to the porch, and spend a considerable amount of my time at home on it, from roughly mid-March through early December. So for me to abdicate my domain – you know it was hot, humid, and unequivocally miserable.

The Reprieve Arrives

And now, as I sit here on the couch writing this post, the close and exceedingly bright flashes of lightning and deep rumbles of thunder that began about half an hour ago have paved the way for a downpour, the promised reprieve. Ah – great. All the electricity just went out and I’m sitting here in the pitch black of the night. Except for the lightning.

Which of course, it now dawns on me…means no internet connection. Great.

I’m thinking it may be time for me to go to bed. I will post this as soon as I am able.

Here’s hoping this storm marks the end of this heat wave.

(T-859)

Personal Revelation – Day 251

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Personal Revelation                                   

I did not take maximum advantage of my Sweat Day – and I’m bummed out about that.

I don’t know what got into me, but I could not sit down and concentrate on much of anything for longer than about five minutes straight. This is extremely uncharacteristic of me. And it was quite distracting and distressing, to be honest.

Unlike many of the breathless weather reports we get in the dead of winter warning of an impending Blizzard-cane (only to have it fizzle), I have to hand it to them: they nailed the call.

When I opened my kitchen door, particularly this afternoon (after the air had had enough time to bake), it was almost as if I’d walked into a room with a blast furnace. I stopped at the creek for a few moments (literally), and barely managed to score a few photos of the rainforest I feel our regular forests transition into when we aren’t looking.

Consequences

The furthest distance I’ve walked since Monday, July 15th, 2019 (five days ago) was on Wednesday July 17th, when I walked a whopping .59 miles – and that was simply incidental walking, such as up and down grocery store aisles.

I don’t think the consequences of my sluggishness this week could be more obvious. I was bouncing off the walls today! And yet it was too damn hot to walk. Ooooooh, how frustrating!

Making matters even worse was the fact that I didn’t seem able to concentrate on anything. So for all my wistful intentions yesterday, the fact is, I frittered my Sweat Day away.

Looking Away From the Heat – Photo: L. Weikel

There’s Always Tomorrow

Sad to say, I’ll get another crack at the apple tomorrow. I mean, I’m happy I have another day left of the weekend, but the thought of people having to endure another one of these utterly oppressive days of heat without any meaningful relief is simply awful.

I just ran up into our bedroom to turn the air conditioner on, since I plan to hit the sheets as soon as I publish this post. During the day we try to keep everything off except the one window unit in our living room. We don’t want to be energy hogs. But if we mostly stay in the living room, it’s easy to forget just how truly thick and hot things can get elsewhere. I was surprised at how hard it was to breathe (literally) when I just ran up to our bedroom.

So, again – I’m so grateful for our a/c units.

This is one spate of weather our whole house fan simply would not, could not make bearable.

Hang in there and stay cool my friends.

Moss Log, Cool Respite – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-860)

Sweat Day – Day 250

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Reminder of a Cooler Day – Photo: L. Weikel

Sweat Day                                        

It just occurred to me that it feels like tomorrow is going to herald a reverse snow day. Or I should say, the anticipation I feel this evening feels similar to how I often feel the night before the arrival of a blizzard. Perhaps we should call it a sweat day?

For instance, I know I won’t be mowing the lawn. And I know I probably won’t even take a ‘walk around.’ It’s just going to be too damn hot and m-u-g-g-y.

I’m a bit fascinated at the anticipation I feel. I definitely can tap into the little kid in me, who feels like tomorrow will be more special than a usual Saturday. And the specialness has everything to do with the weather – the weather and how unpleasant consequences as a result of it will make it extremely attractive and preferable to hunker down inside and ‘wait it out.’

Snow Day In Reverse

It’s that same sense of being a school kid and hearing the name of your school called out on the radio for a snow day. Again, I think this anticipatory attitude is tied to the prediction that the ‘heat index’ may reach as high as 113 degrees tomorrow – dangerous to pretty much anyone and everyone who does not have air conditioning, and even those who do have a/c could succumb to heat stroke or heat exhaustion if they venture out into the regular air or just even choose to stick it out.

This is a perfect excuse to go see a movie or spend the day at the library. (I’d say go to a pool, but no. Nope. Too hot.)

Bird Bath on a Snow Day – Photo: L. Weikel

All of this – the mindset, the excitement, the danger – they’re all wrapped up in having a day to ourselves. “It’s too hot to do anything but sit inside and {read, write, play cards, journey, meditate, drink gin & tonics, do a Motherpeace reading}…” Fill in your own favorite pastime or two.

Be Safe – Have Fun

You see? It’s the responsible thing to do, too. Running around grocery shopping, mowing lawn, jogging – or really doing anything, even walking, outside in this unbearable heat is as dumb as trying to go about your normal business when snow is falling at the rate of 3” an hour in the winter.

And just as on a snow day, I hope people who are less fortunate than I can find a safe place to ride this weather out. I realize my excitement is a function of my very good fortune to have a window air conditioner and the means to afford to run it. I wish it weren’t so dangerous for so many.

I have to admit, though, I’m excited to be ‘forced’ to spend the day inside doing all the things I’ve been yearning to do for weeks.

So treat yourself to a sweat day.

And don’t forget to make sure your bird feeders are filled and your bird baths have plenty of water.

Bird Feeders in a Cooler Season – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-861)

Listening (Retreat) Reminder – Day 249

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A Bright Spot Amongst the Gloom – Photo: L. Weikel

Listening (Retreat) Reminder                                                          

Sometimes being a one-woman-band has its downsides, and one of those is paving the road to hell on a regular basis with all my good intentions (and even better ideas).

I know I need to send out a Hoot Alert announcing my upcoming Listening Retreat at Amadell the weekend of August 9-11. I’ve become so used to ‘talking out loud’ to you, my faithful followers of my 1111 Devotion posts (have I mentioned lately how much I love and appreciate you guys?), that I tend to forget I have an entire other mailing list of people who’ve asked to be kept in the loop on my retreats and other offerings.

Need For Silence

The thing is, like pretty much everything else I do that involves writing, my Hoot Alerts require silence for me to create them. And sometimes silence is in short supply.

But lately, even if and when silence arrives on my doorstep, the hour may be so long in the tooth that I fall asleep within its embrace as soon as we connect.

I’ll blame the heat.

Lots of Heat This Coming Weekend

Speaking of the heat, it looks like we’re going to really need to take care not only of ourselves but each other over the next few days. Good grief! The heat index may potentially reach 100 to 105 tomorrow (Friday), 105 to 110 on Saturday, and 100 to 105 on Sunday.

That’s nuts. But it’s also a call to pay attention. If you know you have an elderly neighbor, especially one who lives alone, and they pop into your mind over the weekend – listen to your intuition. Check on them, even if you aren’t one to usually pay a visit.

Listen to the Call to Care

Even if they’re perfectly fine and have hunkered down in their living room with a bowl of popcorn and their tv’s remote in hand to ride out the heat wave, imagine what a ‘cool’ thought it would be to realize somebody cares enough to just check in.

I have a feeling that even the most reclusive among us yearn to know, deep down, that somebody else gives a hoot that we’re ok. That other people think about us occasionally. That people, even if they keep to themselves and don’t intrude on our daily lives beyond the occasional wave or neighborly nod, care that we’re alive and will help if we’re in need.

So yeah. I started this post out with the intention of reminding everyone of the upcoming Listening Retreat. I guess it only makes sense that I end it by suggesting that, if someone pops into your mind this weekend and you wonder if they’re doing ok or might need something, listen to yourself and your intuition. Honor it; and most importantly, act upon it.

You just might make someone’s day.

(T-862)