We are getting our regularly scheduled little thunderstorm right now. This is the way it always used to be in the summer but I do not think it was as hot twenty years ago as it is now. I could be wrong. I know that I lived without air conditioning in many different houses in Tallahassee with only a box fan in the window at night. Perhaps it was merely that I was younger and more able to tolerate the heat. But these late afternoon showers have always been a blessing. We do not get them every year now so we appreciate them even more when we do. They don't really give us a lot of rain. The plants are still droopy or have their fronds folded in on themselves, depending on what sort of plant they are. But they are alive.
We had such a good time with Gibson. We had our chicken dinner and I even made biscuits because THAT IS WHAT MEEMAWS DO! Ask anyone. They'll tell you. After he took his shower and was ready for bed I asked if there was anything else he wanted or needed.
"For you to read The Little Red Hen Makes A Pizza," he said.
My heart swelled and leapt in my bosom. I swooned.
I don't think I've read that book to a grandchild in over a year.
I have missed it so. What a sweet thing he did for his Mer, asking me to read that to him. And he did the voices for the Dog, the Duck, and the Cat and made up the things they said too.
This tradition has evolved over the years. It started with me giving each of the animals different voices. The duck sounded like a duck, the dog sounded rather goofy, and the cat, of course, sounded cool, like a cat jazz musician should. And then the children began to do the voices, and slowly, they started adding dialogue of their own and last night, Gibson made me laugh so much with what he had them say.
It was the sweetest.
He and his Boppy got up at six this morning and I did not even register Glen leaving the bed. I slept until 8:30, got up and had a most leisurely morning. I had not one whit of FOMO about not going. I needed a day to myself. I started getting pictures from the adventurers early.
I hear that the water was clear and visibility was great but that the scallops were scarce. They got some. Enough to be exciting, I guess.
And back here at home I finally got moving and took the trash and watered the plants and then I decided that yes, I could definitely manage some time in the garden and I could.
For about forty-five minutes and then I knew I was going to have heat-stroke if I didn't get out of the sun. When you start feeling a little nauseous, it's time to seek shade.
For about forty-five minutes and then I knew I was going to have heat-stroke if I didn't get out of the sun. When you start feeling a little nauseous, it's time to seek shade.
You can quote me on that.
So I left my weeding and didn't even pick the field peas I'd planned to pick and came back to the house thinking that I should probably go jump in the Wacissa to restore my body to a functioning core temperature.
And I did. I put on my bathing costume and drove down to the river even though it is the last Sunday before school starts and I knew it was going to be ridiculously crowded. I was that hot.
And I did. I put on my bathing costume and drove down to the river even though it is the last Sunday before school starts and I knew it was going to be ridiculously crowded. I was that hot.
And it was crowded. People had parked on the road a good distance from the parking lot although I found a space right near the swimming area. I got out of my car with my towel and bag, walked through groups of people sunning and sitting and grilling and playing cards and doing all sorts of Sunday family things, and laid my stuff down on the ground right by the water, took off my hat and glasses and plunged on in.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten to take out my AirPods.
Oh. My. God. How did I do that? Don't know but I did. One stayed in my ear but I had to search for the other one and because the water, despite all the people swimming and playing, was clear, I found it. Still, it had been in the water for at least a minute or two.
Oh well. I figured I'd either ruined them or they'd come back to life and what was done was done.
I had thought about staying for a little while to take a couple of dips but there were just so many people there I could not. So I picked up my things and headed back to the car and backed out of the parking space, making someone very happy.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten to take out my AirPods.
Oh. My. God. How did I do that? Don't know but I did. One stayed in my ear but I had to search for the other one and because the water, despite all the people swimming and playing, was clear, I found it. Still, it had been in the water for at least a minute or two.
Oh well. I figured I'd either ruined them or they'd come back to life and what was done was done.
I had thought about staying for a little while to take a couple of dips but there were just so many people there I could not. So I picked up my things and headed back to the car and backed out of the parking space, making someone very happy.
But that little time in the water was all I needed and I felt like a completely restored human being. And I still do. It's amazing what even a short dip in that cold water can do for you. The year-round temperature of the Wacissa (and probably all of the springs in Florida) is a fairly constant 68 degrees and when the air temperature is at least twenty-five degrees higher than that, the water feels like it should have ice cubes floating around in it.
Miracle water. Water of life. Restorative in all ways.
And the rest of my day has been spent noodling around. More texts came in when the scallopers were back on land and eating lunch around four o'clock. No worries- they had plenty of snacks onboard.
They ate in the very, very cool palapa at the Riverside Cafe in St. Marks. It's huge and a magnificent work of art in my opinion.
And now Mr. Moon is home. Jason came to get Gibson a little while ago and I felt bad because the boy is definitely over-sun-exposed. I asked him, "Did you put on any sunscreen?" I knew Mr. Moon had taken it.
"Did you put any on?" he asked his Boppy.
Neither one of them did.
Grandfathers. What can you say?
Well, they are all alive and will sleep well tonight and had an adventure and that's what counts. They did not get many scallops but at least those kids know how to do it now.
"Did you put any on?" he asked his Boppy.
Neither one of them did.
Grandfathers. What can you say?
Well, they are all alive and will sleep well tonight and had an adventure and that's what counts. They did not get many scallops but at least those kids know how to do it now.
Jessie sent this picture.
Levon seems to be expressing the same feelings I have when I shuck scallops.
So it was a good day for all. A Florida day, for sure.
Oh! I forgot to show you this!
Whoa that web is amazing and beautiful. Happy to appreciate it from afar only though. Did you put your airpods in some dry rice to absorb the water? Is that still a thing?
ReplyDeleteI just let them dry out in the hot air and they are working perfectly! I don't think they recommend the rice thing anymore.
DeleteTether lines? Outriggers? A masterpiece of a web. What a great childhood those children are having. And what a sweet boy to request that book.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea but they appear to me to be of a larger diameter than the web strands. I do know those webs are very strong. I run into them all the time and they never break.
DeleteGibson is a sweetheart.
I have never read the little hen makes a pizza, but I probably should. I know it is one of your favorites as well as your grands. Reading aloud is so much fun (have you checked on that library volunteering yet with Mr Terez?). And that spider and web....... a true masterpiece. We don't have them here, but in the last house we lived in (also here on the ranch) there was one on the deck......right in front of kitchen window...the web was probably 5 feet by 6 feet and what an adventure to marvel at!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
It's so funny- I bet I have read that book a hundred times and it still charms me dang time I read it.
DeleteSpiders are definitely nature's weaving architects, aren't they? AND they make their own materials!
Yes, here's a toast to all orb spiders of the world, or at least of North America. We have them here in Ohio, too.
ReplyDeleteI love that picture of the boys shucking and Levon's take on the process. August certainly is tucking in.
They are amazing spiders, aren't they? Their webs are things of beauty and I love how they shine golden in the sunlight. Which is why they are called "Golden Orb Weavers," I imagine.
DeleteThat spider is a marvel, a spinner and a weaver! Sounds like a good day chez Moon.
ReplyDeleteAnd like I said before in another comment- they make their own weaving material!
DeleteIs that first photo pine cone ginger? Thanks so much for the head's up about the spider photos.
ReplyDeleteI find as I get older, the heat really gets to me. I took Katie for a long walk today in her wheelchair. We went down by the river in Edmonton. It was lovely, but hot, and Katie got to hold onto two little dogs that licked her face. But by the end of the walk, pushing Katie in a wheelchair, I didn't feel so good. I forget I'm sixty. We stopped for a drink and I felt much better.
Glad that you had a good day too.
Yes it is! The cones will turn red soon.
DeleteAge will tell on us, won't it? No matter how we feel inside, things just do get harder. It feels so odd not to be able to do what I used to be able to do so easily.
spider's weaving - likely the best thing about living where you live. Art right on your front porch, Performance art! Truly beautiful! LOVE that you read the Hen book again, I have been missing it!!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of the best things, at least. Such gorgeous webs they weave.
DeleteOh, Linda Sue. Gibson could not have made me happier.
I hope the sunburn fades quickly. I think I would leave the scallop shucking to anyone else, it looks hard.
ReplyDeleteI have heard those spider lines called tether lines so that's what I call them too. Webs are a work of art aren't they?
It's not hard to shuck scallops. Much easier than oysters, but it's a little goopy in there.
DeleteWebs ARE a work of art? So it's possible that I used the correct term? I wonder what long-forgotten place in my brain I had that stashed.
Sounds like both you and Mr. Moon had the most perfect days! Oh and I was gardening in the cold and the rain yesterday - in August!!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish we could trade for about three hours- you could be in our heat and I could be your cold. That would be fun!
DeleteA Florida day! What memories those boys are making.
ReplyDeleteA Florida day for sure!
DeleteThat last comment was from 37Paddington by the way. I have no idea why blogger has stopped recognizing me sometimes
ReplyDeleteBlogger is weird.
DeleteI'm wondering about your airpods - are they okay after a dip in the river?
ReplyDeleteI never make biscuits from scratch - only the kind where you pop the cardboard tube open!
A wonderful time was had by all! All your family outings look so fun!
AirPods are working like new! I think they may have appreciated getting a good cleaning! Apple makes a good product.
DeleteI have heard those biscuits called "Whomp" biscuits because that's how they used to tell you to open them- whomp 'em on the edge of a counter!
so jealous of your afternoon showers but particularly of the river. I am so weary of watering. can't remember the last time we got rain it's been so long.
ReplyDeleteI went floundering once when I was a kid. what I remember most and scared the piss out of me was to remember to shuffle instead of walk in case there were stingrays. if you stepped on one it would sting you but if you shuffled along into one it would just move off.
Oh, Ellen. I feel so bad for you. Glen just told me that his sister, who lives in Waco, has had twenty days (I think, at least) of temperatures over a hundred so far this summer. Just crazy.
DeleteYep- the stingray shuffle. We do that here, too. Jessie did once get stung by a stingray when she was a little girl and it hurt her so bad. AND it got infected.
Too bad about the airpod! I hope it survives! A dip in the river must have been wonderful. I remember canoeing on the Suwannee and jumping into those clear springs along the way, and they felt so amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have never been scalloping in my life!
AirPods are great! Let's hear it for Apple!
DeleteThe springs are miraculous and wondrous. They're trying to put a sewage treatment plant here that would most likely affect the Wacissa AND someone is trying to put a gas station four miles from Wakulla Springs. The limestone from which those springs arise is so porous. But yeah, let's fuck up the most amazing thing about Florida there is.