Hello August!
July was a rough ride – I am hoping that August will be a better month. Wyatt is doing better everyday now, and is back to his normal self, at least every way but physically. We go for his next recheck at the end of the month. The last recheck went very well so I am hopeful the next one will be even better.
The weather so far this August, that one whole full day that we had, was cool and wonderful. No humidity, lower temps. I could tell that autumn is hiding around the corner waiting its turn, with cool breezes allowing me to open the windows most of the day. This morning it was actually cold when I stepped outside, and I did a little dance in the doorway. I would much rather be cold than hot. I am hoping to get outside and enjoy some cold temps this evening, with a cup of tea outside. I love to sit outside at night alone, just listening to the quiet, with the occasional train whistle or boat horn making themselves known.
We had a girls night at my friend Kelly’s the other night and the weather was the same, reminding me of northern Michigan, and nights near a fire, lakeside. It has been way too long since my family has done that and we need to fix that next year. I may not be a daytime beach person, but I am definitely a nighttime beach person.
I was so relaxed at Kelly’s. I would lean back and stare at the sky, listening to my friends talking, feeling calm and safe, their laughter wrapping itself around me. We also spent time fawning over Kelly’s newest addition, Simon. Simon is a sweet little fellow with the most beautiful green eyes. He just showed up one day two weeks ago, hungry and looking for a safe place to land. A few years ago I named Kelly’s house Belle Refuge, a place of beautiful refuge, for she takes in all strays and nurtures them and loves them. Simon is the newest to the bunch, and he recently was neutered and given all of his shots, courtesy of Kelly. Now he comes and goes, living life on her sofas inside and out, and we got to meet him finally last night. He was unprepared for a gaggle of cat lovers as we all vied for his attention. I felt chosen because I got a little cat chirp out of him as he came towards my outstretched hand. He is sweet and adorable and a polydactyl with big old paws. He was definitely soaking up all of the attention.
I am not planning much for August. I want it to play out as it will for the most part. I do have some things on tap though, like Wyatt’s Grand Opening for his Little Free Library, and Billy’s summer work party, Billy’s 50th birthday on Monday, and Mermaid Girl’s 10th birthday later this month.
Usually August we spend soaking up the last of summer, but this year it feels as if we are just starting summer as we enjoy the last of it. We have some of the best of summer ahead of us – and Rebecca over at The Farm Wife Reads has gotten me me very excited to eat more of summer’s bounty. Tomatoes and zucchini, cucumbers, corn, peaches, blueberries, cantaloupe, and of course watermelon. I could eat all the watermelon and cantaloupe, I just love it. I don’t have a garden this year, so I will have to head out to some local farmer’s markets and farm stands to stock up. Isn’t this the time of year for summer sweet corn?
So we are planning on taking it easy this month. Seeing friends, having some backyard dinners on the deck, getting back to the library, taking walks, going on drives and car picnics. Sunsets, iced matcha lattes, daydreaming, reading. It’ll be a nice way to end this crazy summer.
And that is it from me today. I hope that whatever you do today you do something that makes you smile!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
I can’t wait to see Wyatt’s Little Library grand opening! That’s so exciting! We had some nice weather so far in August too after the crazy heat at the end of July. The weather guy on the local channel called it fake fall and I know he was right as it is supposed to get back up to 90 or so at the end of this week. Enjoy the last bit of your summer!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/08/01/the-looooong-and-the-short-of-it-july-2025-wrap-up-post-and-looking-forward-to-august/
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It’s been a really nice distraction for him, and also something for him to be excited about while we are stuck at home. We all really got into it. Lol.
I know! This fake fall is so nice! I don’t want it to end. Lol.
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Look at Simon and his gloves! Adorable! And glad things are better going into August.
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Isn’t he the cutest?? His paws are enormous!! And thank you Liz. It was a challenging month but I am hoping we are on the upswing!
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What a lovely post, Erin. Good news on Wyatt ad I’m so happy that you have such a wonderful and mellow evening with Kelly. This cool-down helps, too.
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Thanks Jeanie. It was so nice to just get out and do something. And this weather is perfect!
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This was so good to read as I’ve been wondering how Wyatt is doing! I’m sure the cooler weather has to be better for him, too, even if he doesn’t go outside. I feel like fall is right around the corner, but we’ve got the whole month of August to get through. I hate feeling that way, but this has been a wicked hot summer so far. Oh, how I would love to have a cat like Simon. Mike is not a pet person at all. He tolerates Jack who would just roll over if Mike showed him an ounce of attention. It was the way he was raised (well, there were ten of them). I’m looking forward to this being a month of Mike making great strides, too, both figuratively and literally, as he’s now going to therapy twice a week for an hour. Those half hour sessions were a joke as they’d just get started and it was time to leave.
I’m getting all negative Nancy here, so I will leave on a high note. My hibiscus bush is blooming like crazy! I’m going to try to find out what kind it is and plant two more, either this fall or next spring!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Yes, this weather is sooo much better for him. He has to wear so much on his legs at night and it is like that foam rubber or something, and it gets hot. Billy and I have been freezing since we have to keep the house so cold for him. Lol. So this weather change has been a big help for all of us! I am so tired of this summer too. It needs to end. And we had better not have a warm fall!
Wyatt got to leave the house yesterday! We took him shopping for stuff for the little free library. He loves to shop so he was very happy. He was exhausted when we got home but it was a good afternoon.
I think it is completely normal to feel discouraged and frustrated!!! It’s a lot to recover and care for someone after such a huge surgery. And you did it twice. I had a burnout day on Friday. I just couldn’t make myself do a single thing, which is really unusual for me. I can push through a lot but Friday I just was done. I let Wyatt watch tv all day and I literally just laid there on the bed next to him, mostly with my eyes closed. And then Saturday I woke up and felt 100% better. I didn’t read, I didn’t sew, I didn’t plan school or scouts or fun activities for Wyatt, I didn’t clean. I literally did what I had to for Wyatt during the day and then rested.
Oooo those are so pretty!! This hot summer has been good for her I guess at least!
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It has definitely been cool/cold these past couple of mornings and I can feel that chill of fall in the air. I do enjoy watching all the steam and fog from the lake in the mornings and the way the light plays with it all as the sun comes to burn it off for good. We’re hoping to go pick peaches this week and perhaps check out another botanical garden too. I feel like these next few weeks of August are going to fly right by and it will be time for college drop off before I know it.
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That sounds absolutely magical Joanne. I would be sitting out there with my coffee every morning! And you are right – this month will more than likely fly by! Peach picking is something we love and haven’t done for a few years. Maybe next year. I will be looking forward to pictures of the botanical garden!
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We had days of rain and I absolutely loved it. My flat has the perfect temperature for me right now.
Glad to hear that it’s better for Wyatt, too!
Simon is such a cutie, he has a snow leopard’s colors!
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He is so freaking cute. We all wanted to take him home but Kelly said no. So rude. Lol. There are actually two strays around my house I want to trap and get fixed. I am sure they were pets that were dumped, both different Siamese. A Lynx point and a Seal point. The Lynx has some sort of injuries on its back, maybe flea allergy? It also is pretty friendly. The Seal is very hissy and standoffish, unsurprisingly. Lol. Every seal point I have met acts like that. I am going to try to get them in rescue but every rescue is jam packed this time of year.
I am so ready for fall and rain and cool days. We are back in the heat again.
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Yes, yes, and all the yes to this post ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Also: yes, summer sweet corn is here! Mr and I have actually eaten more sweet corn this summer than in our entire almost-4-year marriage 😂 Our family is very generously sharing with us, and we’ve discovered the most fabulous ways to cook it {neither of us likes corn on the cob}.
Summer flavors are to be savored – and I am eating my weight in watermelon 😀 I ran out last week, and forgot, and almost cried when I reached in the fridge and the space was empty. We got another one the next day 😉
We’ve also had August bring us deliciously cooler temperatures – day and night! – and even some much needed rain. I’d be very content if it stayed in this slightly-warmer-in-between for a month, then drop down a little cooler in September and start full fall in earnest 🙂
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