Deep Summer

The days were warm, the nights cooler, the sun visibly moving from summer to fall. The season of abundance was upon us and the dehydrator ran consistently with trays of peppers, herbs, zucchini, and various fruits and berries. The freezer was stuffed daily with freshly picked blueberries and bunches of cilantro and parsley. Tomatoes were jarred and put away, peaches cooked all day into smooth butter. Soon I would bring home boxes and boxes of winter squash and potatoes.

Summer was nearing its end and an urgency pushed us on. They were some of the best days of the year, those weeks of August on our northern suburban homestead.

I often think of July and August as our off months here in Texas – the gardens looking not unlike those succumbing to frost. We lay low for a good part of the afternoon taking in books and school or just shade and water. Even the children – the most resilient among us – often struggle with the mental and physical aspects of getting through and it all reminds me a bit of the toll the months of January and February often take on those of us in the north.

In a few weeks we may start up some more seeds for the fall garden. September may come and bring with it just a little bit of a shift. Maybe the tomatoes and peppers will rebound in the fall as they so often have when rain and double digits return. But for now, we wade through the deep, hot, slow days of August.