The ant and the grasshopper

It’s Sunday morning of Labor Day weekend and it’s quiet by the lake. It’s the last weekend of summer, at least if I define summer as having boats in the water.

image courtesy of read.gov

Definitions of summer are plentiful, though I firmly believe summer is almost a state of mind in addition to being a season. For O and I, school has been in session for two weeks. Both of us have eight days of school under our belts.

The autumnal equinox will arrive in a few weeks and all the earth will be equal for a moment then slowly fall will advance in the northern hemisphere and summer in the south. It’s time, it happens each year and again, year after year. There is time for everything under the sun.

O and I drove up North yesterday morning. B had come up earlier in the week bringing Ivy with her. Ivy was overjoyed to see us, though you’d hardly recognize that now as she sleeps curled up on the footstool. B was too, but Ivy was more enthusiastic with her welcome.

When summer ends, there is much to do. Boats, dock, lifts, and lawn furniture to store, gardens and beds trimmed, and the garage organized for the next season. Yesterday one of our neighbors remarked it was Labor Day weekend and we were working, working hard to get the chores accomplished. I reflected and replied – this is the weekend we pay the rent. We work hard at the beginning and the end and reap the benefits of our work in the middle. It’s different from Aesop’s fable the Ant and the Grasshopper, where the ants toiled tirelessly all season long to be able to rest (and survive) when summer ended. Along the lakeshore, we all work together and help each other with the heavy work pitching in when needed. We know that fall is coming and winter is not far behind.

There are few grasshoppers here this weekend, most of us are ants. There is a time for everything under the sun.

early morning fog shrouds the lake……

At the moment, it’s quiet on the lake. Only a few boats will be out for fun today and most will be moving to the boat ramp and out for the season. We have only the Seadoo to take out and were done in the water until next summer. Then there are flower beds to be trimmed and a garage to be swept and organized before the sun sets. It’ll be done cheerfully, I hope.

Tomorrow will head south and stop at an apple orchard for some Sweet Tango apples. Then be home in time to ready for the week ahead. For now I’ll savor summer’s last moments even if it is at work.

…. gives way to mid-morning sunshine

There is a time for everything under the sun – a time to be a grasshopper and a time to be an ant. Today it’s ‘ant’ time and it’s going to be a great day and like most great days, time will pass quickly. So, I had better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, working like an ant, though it can fun to be a grasshopper.

What time is it for you? Ant or grasshopper?

6 thoughts on “The ant and the grasshopper

    1. Melissa – I’ve been dragging my feet about replying – seems like there is more time for the urgent than the important. Irony is everywhere lately. Work is important – its the rent we pay for our play and there is balance because their is a time for everything under the sun. Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful weekend – enjoy.

  1. I’m neither a grasshopper nor an ant. I’m more like a beetle I think, just tirelessly plugging away letting stuff roll off my back.

    I’m sorry to see the boats come out of the water, but there’s next spring to look forward to and all that fall pumpkin stuff.

    Take care. Seize the rest of the weekend. Have a great week!

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    1. Patricia, beetles are important, too. We all have our place in the ecosystem. I was sad to see the boats come out, too but there is a time for everything… we could have waited, but we won’t be back up at the lake for a while and the lake freezes by mid-December. Thanks for stopping and enjoy the weekend – make hay while the sun shines.

    1. Margaret, thank you for stopping in and leaving a note. Autumn is busy, but it’s a good busy as we get ready for the harvest and the winter which lies ahead. I love the season and the seasons – fall is my favorite time of the year but I enjoy each of the other three for a slightly different reason. I am thankful that I live in a pace which has four distinct seasons because there is time for each and reason, too, Have a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead.

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