July’s dubious honor

On By John Bender

Post 28/2023 . . . As July temperatures hit the hottest month on record worldwide, what augers for August? That’s a subject best left to meteorologists who in their branch of atmospheric science have advanced technology and sophisticated tools at their disposal.

Nevertheless, one needs to pay frequent attention to weather forecasting, whether you’re a farmer, a pilot or a gazer of the skies. Meteorologist Mel Goldstein said, “Unlike history, meteorology does repeat itself. ” As early weather watcher Benjamin Franklin said: “Some are weather-wise, some are otherwise.” Poor Richard’s Almanack, February 1735.

I have a middling pet peeve about one of our local weather team that calls itself Storm Team–all to grab attention, I guess, in a message-saturated world. Be that as it may, I am grateful that they’re on their toes and giving us up-to-speed information, storm or shine.

Siblings and spouses at the home of Christa and Mark (standing, left), near New Hamburg, Ontario. Having our photo taken hardly rates as one of our favourite things to do but we do agree to stare at the camera until the 12-second delay timer captures the moment.

This week and last

Speaking of toes, I saw the doctor on Wednesday (re broken toe). He has me off my feet more than on them. I’ll see him again in four weeks. In the meantime, I am to keep wearing the boot/sandal and elevate my legs.

There’s a silver lining: I’m reading more, feet elevated. Working on projects around the house and garage while outdoor temperatures would not be good anyway for taking walks. Having the odd snooze. Counting my blessings. And, today, we had lunch at Essenhaus Restaurant in Middlebury with distant cousins Meg and Pete Nofzinger and their family from Madison, Wisconsin.

Two thunderheads loom over Greencroft Goshen Friday early morning.
Friday morning downpour, second day in a row. Sunny rest of the day, but extensive heat lightning overnight.
Our hydrangea bush is popping out all over.

Sighted in LaGrange County

On our way home from visiting Marty’s sister Doris in LaGrange on Thursday, we spotted an Erb Transport semi going south on State Road 9. The Erb Transport company is based in southwestern Ontario and operates widely in Canada and the USA.

Spotted an Erb Transport semi in Lagrange County.
We all followed an Amish buggy until it was safe to pass.

Ontario sojourn lives on

I’m still imbibing the pleasure, beauty and connection of our ten days with friends and family in Ontario.

Food was fabulous. Playing the card game, Hand and Foot, was fun, a bit perplexing at first. Catching up with Bob (cousin) and Donna and their children was a long overdue delight. Lunch with Marianne, widow of Ray, delicious as ever (I was best man at their wedding).

Being able to celebrate with newlyweds Kira and Stephen was a blessing. Interacting with the family and friends of cousin Ralph, who died a few days after entering hospice, left indelible markers of life and lives well-lived. Time with great-nephews and nieces kept us on our toes. Just sorry we couldn’t get around to visit more folks. Next time.

Max welcomed strokes and scratches. He and Ruby (less a people cat) are fine mousers.
Great-nephew Alexander ready to slug. His team won the game. Sadly, the game where great-nephew Gus was to play got rained out.
Christa picked raspberries each morning and served them on cereal and in a custard tart. Christa and Mark’s garden is producing an abundance of fresh produce and fruit.
Christpher’s ready to roast a hot dog.
Old chair, new life peeking through.
Mark and Christa gave their old pirate ship to the young family next door.
New home and new life for the pirate ship.
Lunch with Marrianne Schlegel. Excellent cook. Gracious hostess. Many stories shared.
Sour cream raspberry pie. Got the recipe.
Walking stick I got on completion of three-year assignment to set up the churchwide communication office at the then Mennonite Church General Board. Used it last week. Amazingly, some people even held the door open for me.
This still-tired wagon belonged to my paternal grandparents, Solomon and Rachel. I had the frame rebuilt and some years ago gave it to Jim (nephew) and Tammy who live in the home where Solomon and Rachel lived.
Brother Will devised a device to have gloves and cap dry out and be at the ready.
“Nobody knows what I am,” says the wooden thingamajig on the nail in the basement of the farmhouse where my siblings and I grew up.

Nephew Mike is doing the heavy work with brother Mark to extend a parking/picnic area at Mark and Christa’s home. I helped a little by sweeping gravel into the what-a-yah-macall-it end pavers and stones from the paved area in preparation for coating between the cracks with a sealer sand.

From Mark Twain

“There is a sumptuous variety about New England weather that compels the stranger’s admiration–and regret. The weather is always doing something there; always attending strictly to business; always getting up new designs and trying them on the people to see how they will go. But it gets through more business in spring than in any other season. In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four-and-twenty hours.” Speech at dinner of New England Society, New York, 22 December 1876.

I can only guess what humor Twain would find in weather’s business in and far beyond New England today. I, nevertheless, smile at the imagined thought–admiration and regret.

-John

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