The first week of August

hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.
~Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting.

We arrive at this date each year and I catch my breath at the swiftness of its approach. August 1st is here —again. It has been a lovely ramble, the last few months, to get to this point. The semester ended as April closed, and Olivia graduated with her MS in chemistry at the beginning of May. We spent a perfect weekend on Canandaigua Lake, celebrating.

Before Keith and I took off at the end of May for 2 weeks on Sanibel, there was time at home to cut and split wood, mow grass, plant gardens, and pause before a summer of major home renovations.

Keith helped me out by building a wonderful, roomy raised garden bed for my dahlias. (You should see the plants now!)

Before taking off for 2 weeks on Sanibel, Keith was MC, as the chair of the board of the Susquehanna Health Foundation, at the Lifetime Achievement dinner —a wonderful event recognizing individuals who’ve given so much to the health system in north central Pennsylvania.

On May 20th we took off on a 2-day drive to southwest Florida. On our way onto the island, we stopped to pick up Olivia at the Ft. Myers airport. And then the fun began!

We arrived home from Florida on June 5th. The gypsy moth (now known as spongy moth) infestation was intense this year. We had Ettingers treat 6 of our favorite old oak trees. The poop that rained down from the feeding caterpillars made the driveway and deck slick —truly disgusting. But treating the trees disrupted the caterpillars feeding, and saved the foliage.

Back at home we had a chance to visit Andrew in Corning and begin to appreciate Sam’s relocation to Williamsport.

Mid-June and it was time to celebrate Keith!
59 and Father’s Day.

June and July are months when we take advantage of bike riding, walking and running.

At the beginning of July, Olivia heard from The Getty, and a new transition began. She is moving to California! We celebrated at lunch on Seneca Lake.

4th of July found us tending family graves, and Keith battling Covid…after 2+ years of avoiding it. Curiously, I did not test positive throughout his quarantine.

So here we are on August, 1, 2022. The 2 main bathrooms are completely renovated. The front porch addition is underway. Today the pool people will be here to begin the big dig! Progress! My dahlias are growing like mad and there are about 4 weeks until a new semester begins. We are slowly tipping towards the drop to the chill of autumn.