Friday, August 03, 2007


Now isn't this a gorgeous green!!!










It's "Yellow" Lake, located on the pass between the Similkameen and the Okanagan (Keremeos and Penticton) - a lake of renown in our own particular memory album, - the scene of lots of fishing expeditions, both winter and summer.

Four or five little mud hens were battling the wind and white caps as we came back from Penticton just before noon.

Today "Yellow Lake" is "Green Lake" - perhaps in the process of "turning over" but nevertheless a lovely sight.

The hills are brown, and many of the trees are showing the stress of the summer heat they have been enduring for the past while. The elderberry bushes, which were dressed in white such a short time ago, now bear splendid clusters of purple berries which require just a bit more ripening before they are perfect for jellies and wines and bears and other berry eating animals.

As we passed by along the road I caught a quick and welcome sight of a small patch of rabbit brush, and a little clump of golden rod, - promise of cooler weather to come.

It may be an illusion, but I am sure I could detect through the hot August sun, the faintest hint of autumn. In the meantime the beaches are crowded, - the weathermen encourage the sun to shine, day after day, and holiday seekers speed their way to and fro, to and fro, making the highways in this lotus land a place where only the hardiest locals venture.

Sarah Orne Jewett said it with feeling over a hundred years ago....(was there Climate Warning then, forsooth)

"This was one of those perfect New England days in late summer where the spirit of autumn takes a frist stealing flight, like a spy, through the ripening country-side, and, with feigned sympathy for those who droop with August heat, puts her cool cloak of bracing air about leaf and flower and human shoulders."

And even Jane Austen, before that, grew disillusioned with the midsummer heat.

"What dreadful hot weather we have!
It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."
- Jane Austen

Isn't it great how GOOGLE makes one appear to be so amazingly well and widely read!

Husband frets that the hot weather keeps him from the many things he feels compelled to do outside, but I tend to the garden in the coolness of the early morning, and revel in the air conditioning the rest of the day.

The sun has gone down now, - I will join the Little Dog on his nightly walk.


1 comment:

Willo said...

Dear Hildred,
I just discovered your blog from Eric Shackle's ebook site. I checked out the map and your daughter had recommended it. How fortunate for me that she did.
Your literary blog is delightful.
Willo