LongWeekend photos on Flickr

Ode To A Long Weekend and a summertime ritual. A stay-cation for me as I got out twice to enjoy the stellar weather at Locust Grove and the Niagara River Recreational Trail. I also went to the local Farmers Market.

1. What is the weather like? Hot and sunny. Temperatures in the high 20's Celcius, with a humidex in the 30's. A nice summer breeze is blowing.

2. What is the light doing? Bright and sunny

3. What is the night sky doing? Mercury appears in the east before sunrise. The first quarter moon will be close to Jupiter in the south sky but around 1:30pm. Jupiter and Saturn will be close to the moon from Aug 9-11. At this time the Perseid meteor shower will be peaking.

4. What phase is the moon? I notice it is just a sliver lately - the quarter moon is upon us

5. What types of clouds are in the sky? Mainly clear with few clouds

6. What plants are in bloom?

on the trail - purple coneflower, thistle, goldenrod just starting, a few asters beginning, acorns falling on the ground

at home - the fragrant butterfly bush just started blooming, the butterfly milkweed, black-eyed susan, coreopsis, hostas, rose of Sharon just starting to bloom

7. What animals have you noticed recently?

-many rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks

-a special mention to mother skunk and her 7 babies who walked recently across our front yard, crossed the street and walked down the opposite sidewalk at dusk. They are nocturnal.

-butterflies and bees

birds - along the river and trail -

-many vultures, both the turkey vultures and the rare to this area black vulture, whose range is spreading further north, were very actively soaring on the summer breezes

-great blue herons and egrets

-a small nuthatch climbing on the tree trunk

8. What ingredients are in season? Judging by my trip to the Farmers Market on Saturday it is a season of abundance for many crops. Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower, beans, beets, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, corn, onions, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums. How wonderful it is to enjoy all of this local produce and I am grateful that this area supplies all of these crops!

9. What clothes are you wearing? Shorts and t-shirts

10. What are the seasonal colours, sounds, smells, and textures? lots of greens with the lush foliage, many bright coloured flowers, the sounds of the trees and leaves rustling in the summer breeze, the sound of the jetboats on the Niagara River, the groups of picnickers, and people riding bicycles, the smells of the fragrant butterfly bush that I must stop and smell everytime I walk by, the smells of the barbecues at various picnic spots, the smell of the trees and being in nature

11. How is your mood? Happy, uplifted, busy but slowing down, peaceful, going with the flow

12. What traditions or observances are being celebrated? the August long weekend! It is the Civic Holiday in Ontario.

13. When does the sun rise and set? 6:12 am and 8:32 pm

In thinking about a name for this micro season, based on the Japanese naming system (as per Kim's e-mail) :

Hot sunny days with gentle breezes encourage action

Whether it is the crops growing and being harvested and brought to market, the soaring birds, the lush tree canopy blowing in the breeze, the chipmunks scurrying about, the mother skunk leading her young ones down the sidewalk at dusk, the flowers blooming and attracting the butterflies and bees, the kayakers on the river, the people on the Niagara Jetboat, the picnickers and barbeques dotting the landscape, the bike riders on the recreational trail, the tourists and busses, the dog walkers and 'yours truly' walking through Locust Grove and along the Niagara River Recreational Trail, there was lots of action. How grateful I was to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather and weekend!

Sheri on the Dock by Mike Gifford