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It was snowing just a few short weeks ago, then suddenly, every tree had leaves burst open! It seems like it took a long time for the trees in the orchard to leaf out. We walked through it, finding too much tragic vole damage, with questionable survival and new growth in a few of the saplings.
It is wonderfully green now, and we have plenty of rain, clouds, and cool mornings. Soon we will have, at least, a few seconds of summer.
We have lots of rain already, and only starting our normal high-rainfall month of June.
Of course the rain is welcome after the drought last year, and is better than snow. We don’t have to water all the new trees as much either.
This energizes us all, and it is in my Heeler heart and nature to charge at life with all I’ve got.
I’m told by old Lady that when one gets a bit long in the tooth, “all” may not be so much, but it doesn’t dampen a relentless warrior soul!
In youth, we trail a herd all day, and dart back and forth after wayward bovines, going after the toughest ones tooth and nail.
I can get them out of deep and thorny brush, and the rankest beast learned they were no match for a Heeler.
I apply the same exuberance to all my jobs – running, chasing, barking, guarding, dancing, begging, eating…
even though I am not as high-octane as some cowdogs around her. and
I do sometimes lay on the porch, thinking about summer. 
Here in our short season, there is a lot to do. Long daylight hours beg to be filled, and I will help.
These are long days in a very short season.
There is a lot to plant, then guard and care for. But this is only the easy and brief start.
Here is my summer work list, jobs that need a cowdog in charge:
Fix fences 
Plant and water 
Prune, rake, dig 
Patrol, guard, bark
Check out new smells in the fresh wet ground. Check again each dawn.
Paint the chicken coop,
Wash the truck,
More fencing – especially for new gardens and to keep everything out. Out in the pasture, to keep everything in! 
It’s raining plenty now, but I’ll help water later on. 
Clean up the horse and cow pens – man, they are messy eaters!
Work from dawn til dusk,
’til the work is done.
But exactly because summer is such a short and precious time of generosity, I know it must be a time of pause, to relish every gifted moment too.
So, I will also lay on the porch enjoying the shade, a summer breeze, even a good storm.
And here is my summer joy list:
I will listen as mom reads her summer books, out on the wide porch, sharing passages with me. Here is what we’re reading:
A Badger Boy in Blue: Civil War Letters of Chauncey H Cooke
A Chorus of Cranes https://amzn.to/3xagNY6
An Island Garden https://amzn.to/3x7nYyL
And she uses this to write down thoughts, mostly about me, I think! https://amzn.to/3McR31s
I will watch out for Sprout as he plays in the creek and pond, seeing a little boy discovering his country, getting big too fast.
Play in the sun. 
Lay on the porch.
Lay in the shade and in the cool grass.
Listen to the creek.
Listen to the birds.
Chew a bone. 
Take a ride.
Watch the clouds sail overhead – is that one turning into a dog?
Go boating with dad – not because I love boating, but because I love dad.
Walk the gardens – admiring the blooms, maybe sampling a carrot or cucumber here and there.
Remember the brevity of this life, cherishing every blessed minute I am granted.
Even in summer, time would be a cruel thing, without the promise of heaven. I know that one day I’ll run and dance again with mom and dad there.
What will you do with this one brief season, your few seconds of summer?
How will you make your precious few moments count?
