A Searing Blue Sky

Hot. Very hot. Summer has burned its way into a searing blue sky. A hot breath of convection lifts a few leaves on the crimson maple near the porch. Nothing else disturbs the over heated silence. The world suspended in a hot petalite crystal.

The Hideaway critters lie low and the birds have grounded themselves. No Icarus they. Cervidaens of all ages are in absentia, no doubt exulting in the moist green shade of some sylvan enclave. Burrow dwellers such as our local groundhog, Chuck, are in their cool dark burrows. And the squirrels chase each other in slow motion.

It was on a day like this last year that we were visited by Barry. a very large bruin. He was seeking a cold drink and a cool swim in the pond. We were happy to accommodate. Barry was so named by my lovely bride, Shari. The Greek Goddess of Appellations.

Evening, and a family of coyotes cries from the small creek that lies down the hill from the pond. Their song will soon be joined by that of the barred owl who queries us every evening with his call. “Who cooks for yoooo. Who cooks for yoooo?”

A large buck has grazed at pond side during each of the last two evenings. Two small does have followed in his path at night fall. Their red coats shine in the twilight. A Joe Hautman painting.

And as we were having dinner at sunset this evening, we were gifted with a genuine treat. Two six point bucks suddenly appeared near the porch at the edge of the pond. We watched them graze until they faded into the dark.

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