Surviving the Fever of Summer

 

from FaceBook

This morning as I begin to compose this blog post, we have a very strong rain storm outside. Our usual habit is to ride our bicycles for about 45 minutes (4-5 miles) within our gated retirement community, but when we stepped out on the front porch to look at the weather, it was clear we should stay home -- at least for the time being. 

We took our seats on the front porch to watch the varying shades of slate blue gray clouds in the distance from which the rumbling of frequent thunder rolled in our direction. Lots of quick, sharp lightening lit up that area, too. It was a wonderful show that we enjoyed in silence until the wind picked up enough to signal that rain would get us wet. 

I must include the fact that the temperature was cool! Oh my, what a relief! We've been under heat advisories for days now, from noon to 6pm, as the "feels like" temp was around 105 degrees with plenty of humidity. It's been the kind of weather that makes some people say, "I could NEVER live in Florida!" 🙄

horses at Dudley Farm in Newberry, Florida

That's okay. Our lack of a state income tax and other positive aspects have been bringing in a lot of people, creating too much traffic and messing with the charm of our 1,200 horse ranches, just within our county.

one of our lakes

Here is a snapshot I took the other day on our bike ride, at one of the places where we always stop for a drink of water. All of the water to the right of the palm trees is overflow caused by the afternoon rains we've been having. This is our rainy season. Pretty dramatic. 

Now that the patriotic holidays are past us and we are in the harsh reality of a Florida summer, our daily routines are dictated by access to air conditioning. As stated earlier, we ride our bikes early and get any yard work done pretty much by late morning. On the days when errands need to be run, we may skip the bikes and get out to the grocery store and such before heat and the worst of the traffic sets in.

a sand castle decorates our bathtub

As you can imagine, once the outside activities are done, a good shower is mandatory. About once a month I take a bath. 🤭 (Don't worry, or get your hopes up, this won't be a racy post.) 

Naughty or Nice (True Confessions)

https://myjournalmemories.blogspot.com/2024/12/naughty-or-nice-true-confessions.html

Dec 17 2024

Last December I blogged about the flood I inadvertently created with our walk-in tub.  I don't care to re-visit that nightmare, but if you do, or if you've not read the story, click here.

the seat, jets, and control panel

Anyway, while I prefer to shower, which is quick and holds no danger of testing my husband's commitment to me, we do think the walk-in tub should be used from time to time to keep the mechanisms working properly. That's why I take a bath only about once a month.

It is required to climb in and shut the door (SECURELY) before ever turning on the water. One has to wait some minutes for the tub to fill and once that is done, the jets are turned on and the bath can take as long as desired. The jets are comfortable but loud, so relaxing to music is out of the question. The actual bathing doesn't take long. So what is one to do while sitting there?

bath tray

The fear of accidentally dropping my phone into the water defines the decision to keep my phone far out of reach. I decided this was a good opportunity to read a book. I also decided to treat myself to a tray so I could rest my arms and to hold the book. In the above snapshot is the one I got from Amazon for about $50. As you can see, it has a flip-up thingie to support an open book (magazine in this picture) and a beverage cup (NOT glass). 

I have long since lost track of the site where I found this tray but if you Google it, there are many many trays to choose from. Most, if not all, of them are adjustable, sliding to the width you need according to the dimensions of your tub. 

from Face Book

With tongue-in-cheek, I thought the above graphic was applicable as I move beyond the flooding disaster to a more pleasant interaction with our walk-in tub.  

But to address the idea of "Be the architect of your future," since I gave up needlework a few years ago, another pastime needed to take its place. I decided reading would be good. Aside from stacks of books on the lamp tables and such, this habit is easier to accommodate than the sewing machines, scissors, patterns, fabric, ironing boards, etcetera that filled up my sewing rooms. 

Gary reads a lot, so we enjoy each other's company as we read together in the same room, usually the lanai with the ceiling fan quietly whirling above us. We take breaks over coffee or tea (and sometimes with cookies), talking about our books. We both read biographies and history-based accounts. Gary has read a lot of war stories that have enriched our conversations, while I have more of a bent toward psychology, as well as memoirs. Several times one of us has read a book that the other has just finished.

Here is a sampling of books that have kept me busy this summer: (some I've shared before -- they are worth mentioning again)

Battlefield of the Mind 
Joyce Meyer, author

The Let Them Theory
Mel Robbins, author

Loving People Who Are Hard to Love
Joyce Meyer, author

In the Presence of My Enemies
Gracia Burnham, author

Healed By Horses
Carole Fletcher, author

Cold Before Morning 
John Paul Jones, Jr, author

(Click on the titles of the books to be taken to a link for further information and for ordering.)

While most of the books I read are authored by born-again Christians, that is not always the case. No matter the author or the genre, I look for validation of Biblical principles in what I'm reading. Much of what man considers to be 'common sense' originated in Scripture.  

Agapanthus in our front yard

Having reached the three-quarters of a century mark, I've more time to ponder things I've personally experienced or observed, seeking to "connect the dots," trying to understand why life, personalities, trends, etcetera have taken certain turns.

A couple of conclusions you may have seen, as I have:

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Life gives you lemons to make lemonade.

And this one for me, since I like to write:

Putting pen to paper to get at meaning ...

I conclude this post with a refreshing snapshot from the back yard of some of our children. Taken at night with accent lighting tucked in and around the flora and fauna, the peaceful surface of the swimming pool is a delight after a day of summer's fever.

T and M's back yard

The Lord is thy keeper:

the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

Psalm 121:5

Meditating on the comfort of cool shade reminds us of the Lord's constant and comforting presence, demonstrating His love and mercy.

Until next time, grace and peace.