Weatherman All Riles Up

I mentioned earlier this month that the katydids/locus were starting to sing. I used to follow the old wives tale that 60 days from when the katydids start singing that we’ll have our first hard frost. That theory hasn’t really been true for the past few years but I still take heed.

Well the weathermen must not have had much to talk about the other day because they did an entire story about how we could possibly get our first hard frost the first of September or even the end of August. It almost felt like they were trying to rile everyone up.

The problem is, I looked back through the blog and we’ve had katydids start to sing normally around the first of July and we’d never have a hard frost any time in August. But it is a good warning to start preparing for winter now (at least for the Sanctuary). I am too far behind to know where to even begin. Unfortunately, I’m typically sick about once a week and then the paying job has me so buried that during the week there is no time to get anything done. By the time I wrap up for the day I’m exhausted and don’t have the mind power to focus on the computer nor do I have the physical ability to tackle any outdoor projects (not that I could because the mosquitoes are so bad).

I’m hoping we’ll have an easy winter. I don’t have a gut reaction yet on what type of winter we’ll have but I could go for another easy one, with just enough snow to keep the pasture buried and moisturized so I don’t have to worry about overgrazing and running out of pasture. The sad part is, we typically only let the horses graze from the first of June until sometime in October. Then in October, there’s really nothing left for them to eat and we have to start putting out hay.

I’m not ready for winter, I’m not even ready for fall yet. I have already noticed that the days are getting shorter. I love summer and summer solstice, but its’ really hard to roll out of bed around 5:30am to get chores done when the sun isn’t up. I shouldn’t complain. It’s how it’s been for ages and will be for years to come. But the summer is flying by too quickly and I’m too far behind.

The katydids singing every day (and night) is just a reminder that I am far behind. I think they keep telling me to get my butt in gear. Anyone want to help?