Friday 10 August 2012

Dog days of (summer)



Here in the southern hemisphere the dog days of summer are both a distant memory and a future hope as we endure the winter months. 

I long for the time when I will exchange the wriggling of my toes in the sheepskin interior of my Ugg boots for the feeling of sand between my toes on a summer’s evening walk on the beach. 

For when the sound of rain on the tin roof will cause me to throw open all the doors and windows to allow the cool breeze to flow through the house and chase away the heat, bringing the temperature down to a balmy 35℃, rather than have me running to the back garden to bring in all the washing. Again.

For the time when I will be able to do four loads of washing and have them all dry before lunchtime and bring them in from the washing line smelling of sunshine and holding as much heat as if I had just ironed them.

For turning a corner and being greeted by an avenue of riotous purple jacaranda trees looking like something from a Dr. Seuss story.

For the time when I won’t have to mow the lawn.

For early morning walks before the heat of the day sets in.

For visits to the beach where I can stand on the jetty and watch the dolphins frolicking just feet away.

For the vast blue sky that remains unclouded for weeks at a time.

The same blue that it is today.

Maybe - just maybe - spring is on the way.

26 comments:

  1. I'm also in the Southern Hemisphere so were bang slap in the middle of winter. Booohooo

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    1. But summer is coming and we'll be enjoying the sunshine while everyone else is complaining about the cold :)

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    2. I am thoroughly lookin forward to that.

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  2. Dolphins!!!! :) well although you are currently in your winter, I have to say that your summer when it comes, sounds like it will be amazing. We get Dolphins in Cornwall sometimes, but I have never been lucky enough to see one, although I haven't really gone out of my way to try. I may have to though, as it would certainly be an experience. Thanks for sharing xx

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    1. The dolphins are amazing, especially when they come in close to shore and swim with you as happened to my husband last summer! It's frightening for a split second as a fin comes up out of the water a few feet away before you realise it's a dolphin, not a shark! I hope you get to see one soon :)

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  3. I loooove summer. I squint at the trees, assess the weather changes, look at the shadows the sun is casting on the ground at this time every year aching for spring to shout that summer is coming. I hate the cold dark days (though I do have to say that if you travel in winter, you can get some spectacular weather scenery in the open or on the coast). I need my sunlight, or I'm a wilted flower..or maybe some kind of fungus.

    And yeah, getting the washing dry in two hours versus two days is always a plus. Just don't leave it out there or the sun will literally eat it :D

    Liz

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    1. Yeah, there's nothing like having to wear sunglasses to fetch in the washing against the glare of the whites in the sunlight!

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  4. Hi, there! Your summer sounds wonderful. I was very lucky to spend Christmas and New Year's in New Zealand one year - quite a difference from the snowy holidays we're virtually guaranteed in Vermont.

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    1. Yes, but for a Brit living in Australia a sunny Christmas is just plain wrong!

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  5. Found this just now and thought you might be interested - Art Journalling Everyday challenge - http://www.balzerdesigns.typepad.com

    Liz

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  6. We are in the middle of a very hot and humid summer here and I long for some cold weather.

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    1. Ah, but when the cold weather comes will you be longing for some sunshine? I know that when the summer comes here it will be fine until we have one of those weeks where the temperature rises to about 45C and stays there for a week. Then we'll all be complaining that we can't sleep! We don't normally have too much humidity, though, so I can be thankful for that.

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  7. Lots of good reasons to love summer, Tracy. I have to confess I get quite obsessive about sun dried washing too!

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    1. there's nothing like that fresh linen smell.

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  8. I needed to read this today. We've been having over 100 degree days and I forget that our summer are reversed.

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  9. Awesome post, Tracy--good reminder. I live in the Caribbean, so I don't have the changing seasons. It's either summer or hot, haha. Cherish your cold weather, though, because it's what makes it possible for you to enjoy the summer :)

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  10. Hello from the Dog Days blog hop. I love that spring-into-summer season too! There is a tree here (in the US) that blooms in late spring and smells just like a Jacaranda tree. I have no idea what it actually is, but I love the days when I smell it and have a little flashback to my 3 months in Australia over 20 years ago.
    New follower too!
    A2Z Mommy and What’s In Between

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  11. Thank you, everyone, for visiting. It has been so much fun to get up and check my email and find lots of comments waiting for me from everyone who was awake while I was asleep :)

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  12. Wow, you should have altered your entry to "Shiverin' Days of Winter." lol

    Look on the bright side, we will have winter and you will be basking on the beach, watching Flipper dance and enjoying it, while some of us will be shoveling snow.

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    1. Yes, I shouldn't complain - the winters aren't as cold as the ones I'm used to, it's just that there is no central heating so it feels colder inside!

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  13. Here, (USA East coast) summer skies are rarely clear, despite the heat. It's why we can't see meteor showers etc. In the winter the skies are clear though, go figure.

    Love your post.

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    1. You must have those lovely days with incredibly crisp winter mornings where you can feel the hairs in your nose freeze! Sometimes I miss those.

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  14. Lovely. I am right there with you. Or imagining I am. =)

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