It’s Wednesday and Day 64. The past week has been my last full week of summer break. The school year restarts for me this coming Monday and Thursday for our students. I am excited and a little sad as I am every summer when school restarts.

“The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last forever. Even on the most beautiful days in the whole year – the days when summer is changing into autumn – the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change.”
― E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

The past couple of nights we’ve had severe weather pass through the area. It’s that time of the year when thick humid unstable air masses cause thunderstorms to develop late in the day. Monday’s weather spawned six tornadoes which touched down to the west of us in mostly rural areas causing damage trees and minor damage to structures. We got very little rain from the storm.

Last night’s storms rolled through the area bringing more rain, but no tornadoes.

Yesterday, our school hosted an event for our incoming sixth graders. Even though school hasn’t started I went in to help and be a welcoming face, answer questions, and help supervise. I met many of my new students who likely will remember me more than I will them, there were a lot new students wandering the hallways. It was a fun time and I snapped yesterday’s Summer Days photo of students playing Connect 4 on a giant game board. It’s a fun game for two people to play.

sitting outside enjoying the sounds of the birds and bugs while the sun sets

back at school for a special event – SWIM – Scullen (or Sharks) Welcome Incoming Middle Schoolers – watched a group of incoming 6th grade sharks playing a large connect 4 game. Ready to get back to school

Here at home the sirens went off and it was grey, a little windy with some sprinkles – but several tornados were reported to west and northwest

enjoying the backyard for dinner and a ballgam

Scherzer pitching to Brantley – Brantley wins this one with a single to right center… but baseball is a TEAM GAME and the Dodgers lead 7-2 in the top of the 6th

Day 61 at 11:39 PM. Today bloomed like these Black-Eyed Susans.

Thursday, Day 58 – summer blooms abound in the back garden

This year we will be starting school completely in-person. In early July we were mask optional but in late July the governor mandated masks in all public schools across the state. I am hoping we can make it through the year without having to teach via ZOOM.

I am working outside this morning at my summer office in view of the bird feeders which were completely empty when I returned home a week ago. I refilled them last Thursday morning and at first there were no takers. But the birds have returned in force as well as a bold bunny nibbling on the seed remnants beneath the feeder. Fern is only a few feet away, but unable to chase. The bunny and Fern both know their limits.

I can hear the crickets in the evening and the birds throughout the day and they say summer is winding down. Monday night marked the last time that the sun will set after 8 PM until next spring. They know.

Today is gonna be a great day I know it and I can feel it. The days of summer are winding down and I suspect that tomorrow could be a million and six times better, but I going to focus on today. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, even when the days lead to a new year and new opportunities.

What has nature been whispering to you this past week?