God must have a sense of humor, and smile at our small hopes and expectations.
Last year, just 2 days before the official start of summer, it piled up a couple of inches of snow overnight, quickly dispatched with dawn by a driving rain. Some of the high mountain passes had a lot I heard.
This year, we had a week of storms – rain, wind, a tornado or two – and hail that piled up like snow for some.
And for some, a winter storm warning on the weekend!
A few days ago we celebrated the summer solstice. Still just 24 hours, yet the longest of days. It is the most daylight we get in any one day this year.
It is light long before sun-up, by 4:30 in the morning, and even the rooster knows to start crowing early! And I can’t stay awake long enough for darkness, going to bed by 9:30 when it is still light.
We revel in this generous luxury, a true gift from God.
It is especially precious to those of us who know that, not only is darkness going to increase, but that darkness comes with the promise of winter. I’m torn between the joy of summer and the dread of shortening days!
Blessed with good rain so far, my world is lush and green, drawing in all that sunshine, everything growing like – well, weeds!
Every day, I pick a good shady spot to supervise the frequent mowing and weed-wacking, encouraging the boss in her work with a smile and bark now and then.
I want to wallow in this extra light, with an urgency to use up every rich gold second, quick, before it gradually, almost imperceptibly, wanes into dusk.
With all this daylight, we need to get out and not waste a second of it. I try to spend part of every long summer day in water. We all need it, and most everyone loves it in some form.
We wade in it,
drink it, 
play on it and in it, 
shake it off and dry in the sun, 
or wait for it to freeze so we can fish through it, slide on it,
or make snow dog angels in it!
But now it is summer. 
Most of the cows have come up to the mountains and will graze the high country ’til fall.
The horses go to the high fir forests and escape the heat and flies, grazing the lush green meadows.
Gardens are planted, and it’s not quite time for haying or harvest. This year, the garden is reluctant, only now escaping frost for a hot sun, still enduring chilly nights, even if they are short.
This dog knows the days are as long as we’ll ever get, so I think about bigger water.
How does a beautiful old boat fit in with cowdog wisdom?
For most of us cowdogs, the biggest puddle of water we see is a creek or horse trough [still good options to cool off at the end of a day moving cows!]. Well, my dad was an old cowboy, but he loved airplanes and boats too, maybe almost as much as sitting a good horse and working with me on the ranch.
He told stories of a Navy destroyer he once was on called the USS Henderson, DD786.
I can’t say I’m crazy about boats and big water. I like my creek, but don’t care for big lakes and waves washing up under me. Boats are windy and noisy, but I’ve gone because I stick to my people, no matter what weird fun they find.
The term “Steady as she goes” is an ancient mariners phrase. The captain of a sailing vessel would give the instruction to his helmsman [kind of like the cowdog on a ship I think]. “Steady as she goes” meant stay the course you are on. Regardless of wind gusts or cross currents, stick with the compass heading. I believe this old nautical phrase still has meaning today, even though there is way more technology to guide a ship now. Think if we followed the advice to keep on with steady progress, not blown off course by storms and trouble. Keep calm at the helm.
Get on the true course, hold steady and do not waver.
Some of the Apostles knew boats and water. They didn’t always get it right, but knew to hold strong. One said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed.”
There are a lot of storms right now in this world. Hold steady. Maybe an old cowdog could become a sailor after all.
No matter what vessel you’re steering – steady as she goes, my friend. And make these longest 24 hours count!
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens –
Ecclesiastes 3:1
