Summer returned to this hillside yesterday, surging up the river valley like a great green tidal wave.
I worked outside most of the day, mostly pruning rhododendrons, then in late afternoon threw a small welcome-back party, just myself, a doe, a couple of squirrels, the chipmunk, and 20 or so hummingbirds--with all their zipping about, it's impossible to keep count. The raccoons sent their regrets--they were traveling.
An eagle staged a fly-over to mark the occasion, as I sat under the broad-leaf maple, sun winking through the leaves, and enjoyed a simple repast of pita bread, hummus and olives, while listening to Beethoven's Pastoral.
A quiet, quite perfect solstice celebration...
Summer, we missed you.
[First posted: June 22, 2014]
