Three weeks ago, I rode Fanny bareback in the Broke Tree Corral. Terribly hot. She is such a fine horse. But she was moody after the ride. The summer is hard on us all.
Sweet Hija had a problem with flies, dust and heat. She is nearly five months pregnant with a filly (ultrasound verified) and was having a tussle with summer heat. To the vet, I have taken her. When I loaded her, she first balked, then I backed her up, then brought her forward and she came into the trailer, knowing good medicine was at the end of her journey. She, too, is a good horse.
A few showers had fallen before the change. Not many, but enough to keep a pale-green cast to the grass, inducing the remuda to browse in pasture.
Then, last week, about Wednesday, the summer broke. Temperatures went down below a hundred degrees and the sky cleared of summer haze. You know the haze of summer. (Oh, how much we want clarity.) Behavior lightened. The dark before the dawn was cool, a time when I walk my companion-dogs.
Thunderstorms walked about, shafts of rain as legs, and at night they gave strobe lights to the sky. At daybreak following storms, horses nickered in tones of cordiality, neither rushed nor anxious. They sensed a difference. And I fed more quietly, pausing to feel cool air flowing down the hill to our feed bins. All seemed lighter, cooler, last Wednesday.
The summer has broken.
Sage to Meadow ~ Jack Matthews 
I love your horses. Hope they are well.
Grethe
Thank you, Grethe. The horses are doing okay, but Lilly has been having problems. I’ll post about it.
Thunderstorms walked about, shafts of rain as legs, and at night they gave strobe lights to the sky.
Perfect, Jack. I love how Mother Nature announces a change of seasons. Here, in Virginia, tis about the same. Earl flamed out, a good thing, but, predictably, the air hangs. The political climate will also change, I fear. The Tea Party hangs. I think the Republican Party is splitting. We’re in for a bumpy ride!!
Yes, a bumpy ride. I wish some of those Republican guys would go home and stay. There may be a hurricane headed your way?
Summer is definitely waning. We have quite cool nights here. I am both looking forward to cooler weather and yet, not. It will be interesting to see the seasons pass in my new place, but a lot of work yet before winter, mainly wood-hauling. I plan to do some supplemental. I can imagine you are glad for the heat breaking. I can hear everyone’s sigh of relief 🙂 I trust all is going well in your new academic year.
Well, for now, I am well behind in my work because of storm and a couple of other things I’ll post. Glad the heat has broken.
Appreciate the rhythm of these sentences. Thanks for documenting these important observations and sharing.
Hi, Cirrelda. I’ve being following your mural news. What a great project. Wished I was closer by to help.
Beautiful, Jack. It’s still really hot here on the border. When it changes it comes fast.
I hope the heat has broken by now. I’ve missed your blog and hope I can get over there soon. I’m way behind.
I miss warm summer rains. We rarely get them here in California, only the cold rains of winter.
I’m glad you took the time to come over and see my stuff. I’m looking forward to your posts.