Summer

Since autumn is almost upon us, I thought I’d take a look back and make a list of what summer means to me.  It was much more difficult than you might think; summer has long been my least favorite season, most especially here in Texas, where I find myself once again.  (Once upon a time I hated sunlight.  Then I moved to British Columbia, and learned to appreciate it. But now that hatred is creeping back.) But here’s what I enjoy about this season we’re about to leave.  Your mileage may vary.

• Fresh food—strawberries, watermelon, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupes, raspberries, cherries, avocados, hot peppers, corn, green beans, tomatoes, basil, garlic
• Eating outside—grilling, picnics, outdoor patios at restaurants
• Swimming—pools, lakes, rivers, oceans
• The Beach—sand, sun, waves, water, salt spray, a good book, a shading umbrella
• Minimal clothing—shorts, tank tops, sandals, sundresses, swimsuits
• Creature comforts—air conditioning, ice cream, frozen alcoholic beverages
• Mostly clear nighttime skies—stars, planets, constellations, falling stars, meteor showers, the MOON!
• Also--warm summer evenings, fireflies, skyclad outdoor rituals, two a.m. spur-of-the-moment road trips

What are your favorite parts of summer?

Labor Day Weekend

(I'm about a week late with this, but if I don't do it now, I'll never get it done.)

This was a busy weekend for us.  First, the snake training refresher, which many of you saw on Facebook--an awful and stressful, but totally useful and needed, event. Then, a wonderful, magical rest of the weekend!  Roadtrips, great food, rediscovering us, enjoying our dogs--it was incredible.  I didn't take any pics of the towns, restaurants or other people places we visited, but here are some of the natural highlights.

A view of the Texas hill country.

An angry cow, found on one of the numerous back roads we traveled which had loose livestock roaming around them.

A place that has become one of our favorite places in all of Texas.  

The ubiquitous cactus in bloom.

Obviously near a water source, as you won't find green like this anywhere else in this state at this scorching time of year.

Naturally terraced cactus.

The aforementioned water.  Surface water is a rare sight here in this drought.

More terraces.

DH, Don, intent on something.  :)

This might be my favorite shot of over 100 pictures.  Don, again, this time watching his step.

 Limestone cliffs near the bats.

 

Aaaargh!!!!

I've had trouble with electronics ever since I started on my current Wiccan path.  Even a little before, actually. 

For instance, I used to LOVE wristwatches.  I own close to twenty of them, I love them so much.  But I no longer wear them.  They won't last more than a handful of days after I put a new battery into them before they just quit working.  They don't slow down, they don't do anything but just stop. Also, I can no longer install software.  I can't even be near when my DH installs it or it won't work for him, either.  I've had so much trouble with my iPhone (and, subsequently, with Apple customer service) that I've changed my password to a version of "I hate Apple."  My new car is having so many electrical troubles (and Chrysler's customer service has been nothing but a big joke so far) that DH and I are seriously considering pressing a Lemon lawsuit. 

There are lots and lots of instances like that, small and large, but I won't go on.  Suffice it to say that the modern world and I no longer get along too well.  I've learned to get around it, most of the time.  But today.  Oh, man, today.

A friend of mine posted on her blog for the first time in a long time, as I'm doing now.  It's on LiveJournal, and I haven't been there since she last posted.  I thought, cool!  I'll just go over there and see what she's got to say.  Wrong.  I tried to sign into LJ and it said my password was wrong.  No problem.  Maybe I just didn't remember it after so long.  I told it I forgot my password.  It got lost in the weeds.  Sigh.  I tried a number of other times, but same problem.  I finally got it to go to the reset screen, and went through the process of resetting my password.  Then it said accounts like mine didn't have passwords.  But if I tried to enter without any password it said I needed one.  Sigh again.  So I signed in through FaceBook (and don't even get me started about FB.)  It let me in, but wouldn't let me see my friend's post.  My friend checked, and yes, I did indeed have permission to see it.  Still couldn't.  Tried more password stuff. No avail.  I then spent an hour or so trying to log out.  Hah!  Still, I finally did it.  Then I went back in with my Google password.  Finally, SUCCESS!  Although, sorry, Jenn.  By that time it was just a teensy bit anti-climatic.  :)   

But, enough of my rant.  I'm very happy that she posted an entry today, and I hope it inspires me to start posting regularly again myself.  And I'd rather have magick than technology anyway.

But do any of my witchy friends have problems like this?