The cooling boulder is a blessing. Just a rock, but we'll get to that.
It's a bit dull out there, and even rained a bit. Should we cheer? It seems so, although I tend to like sunny days better. No matter. Sometimes cooler is better. Moderation in all things comes to mind. The extremes are too much like yesterday.
A couple of days ago it was 88F-- in the shade yet.
Out in the direct sun that makes it a scorcher. Perhaps 95F. That brings to mind a few million Americans- and friends-- currently suffering without electricity and air conditioning in temperatures closer to 100F, maybe even 105F--that would be American heat --with higher humidity to boot.
It seems to me that kind of heat is more than enough to glue brand-new boots to the sidewalk while frying eggs. We thank God it doesn't get that hot here daily. Can it? Without forests? Of course!
In NW Ontario yesterday-- out in the blazing sun-- it was too easy to just give up and head right back into the delicious cool of air-conditioning. Too warm to work out in the garden patch without dehydrating in a wink. That kind of heat makes it a little too easy to dive nose-first into the beanery or collapse in the cabbage patch.
When it's this hot, Tilly the Tall and Ebony the Short (T.T.T & E.T.S.)-- smart pups they are, --head for the cool air in the basement, flop out, flattening magically on the floor-- like flat, furry puddles. Just as it does to us, the heat exhausts them.
We do have an alternative solution awaiting us in the great outdoors. The cooling boulder.
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| The Cooling Boulder, Whitewood Creek Photo by w.l.kukkee |
Our daily excursions down the trails to the Whitewood Creek, our brook trout stream, usually results in a detour, a dog-paddling, serious water-snuffling expedition, and might be equated to a visit to an automatic dog-wash complete with pleasantly-cool water happily sans soap, -depending upon the point of view taken. If the mosquitoes and blackflies don't convince us otherwise, we might dally at the cooling boulder for quite a while watching the pups enjoying the cool water.
Have you ever seen a dog lay down in water trying to grow fins? That's T.T.T. to the letter. A true water dog, she almost smiles as she lays down in the fast water with purpose, facing upstream into the current. She's long-legged, but there's a deep spot to dog-paddle in place.
E.T.S. isn't quite as enthusiastic. The short one is more inclined to stay in the shallow water, washing her feet, elegantly cooling her low-slung carriage and tasting water as royalty might daintily sip tea.
We cool our feet. We watch minnows too. It's one of the finer things in life that happens at the cooling boulder. Helps the muse --and is amusing too. Creates photo ops. We sure do have a cool cooling boulder. It might be just a rock, but don't you wish you had one?
Watching the minnows gives me an idea. I'm going fishing next, how about you? What's life for anyway? At Incoming Bytes we think everyone should go fishing next. Let's go!
Is that Incoming I hear?
Hi Raymond, it gets hot here and having the trees get a little taller has helped. I can't wait until the trees get as tall as the house. Today should be about as hot as yesterday. 104F. We have A/C and it is running day and night right now. We generally get some hot days but this year is turning into a scorcher.
ReplyDeletehi Renoliz! I'm guessing your trees being taller would be a blessing because you are sure getting the heat in your neck of the woods too! I sure do appreciate our tall trees --and the wild forest we have. It is many degrees cooler in the forest, I wonder why people just don't realize that? The transpiration of the trees keep the surrounding air and the earth much cooler.
DeleteThank you so much for commenting, and keep WiseGuy cool! ":) ~R
Unfortunately RK, I think we all need to be learning how to adjust to the heat better as I think we are going to be seeing a lot more of it and one will have to adjust to survive. We have to toughen up and stay away from the AC more and seek our comforts elsewhere like on the cooling boulder. Take away the electricity and all hell will break loose. We spent a life time buying gadgets that made our lives cushy, now we find ourselves trying to learn to get along without them and back to simplicity. Crazy how the world works. I hope you continue to enjoy the cooling boulder with everybody. Have fun fishing!!! I'll stick with sitting on the ascension porch at ascension head quarters :) VK
ReplyDeletehi Vk, of all the things we MUST learn to do, living without electricity may be one of the most important. The earth is heating without forests, and will continue to do so. Our world is crazy, Mother Nature works just fine, it seems to me. Thanks for commenting, and 'man the ascension headquarters--we're going to need leadership. Seriously. Remain fearless and keep an open mind as I go off fishing. ":) ~R
DeleteFishing does sound like fun when you write about it. Cooling our feet with a dip in the water; how nice! It has been a warm stretch here too; I wish you a cooler and happy day today Raymond! christyb smiles :)
ReplyDeleteHa, Christyb, it would be more fun if you came along too! Not only cooling the feet, but we have all-out water-fights at the Cooling Boulder too! Always nice to have you visit! ":)
Delete" Christyb smiles about fishing" ":)) Thanks for commenting ~R
Hello.
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by to say hi. Visiting from the Post A-Z Road Trip - I'm on a quest to visit all 1,718 people who took part in the A-Z Challenge!
Congratulations on completing the challenge! It was my first time taking part and I must say I had a lot of fun. Best wishes & thanks for sharing.
Thoughts Of Beauty In The Stillness Of Dawn...
Welcome to Incoming Bytes, Andy! Congratulations on finishing the challenge too, and good luck with your quest! I enjoyed the challenge too! I will be checking yhour site out too, and thanks for visiting, do come back again! ~R
DeleteSounds like I should go fishing. Add that to my list. Well, I did have a koi pond at one time. They are living it up at a big garden pond at the top of the hill, two waterfalls, and they don't miss me at all! And I got my meadow back.
ReplyDeleteSharon,welcome to Incoming Bytes too! Yes, go fishing, it is so cool...and the meditating opportunities are excellent. It should be on everyone's list. Don't miss the koi? They're interesting! Please do come back and visit, thanks for commenting! ":) ~R
DeleteHi Raymond, I tell you what I will do you a trade off.. I will give you some cool air and some rain, if you let me have a little of that Sun :)
ReplyDeleteEverywhere is getting so water logged and farmers crops rotting, Plus Homes being flooded... extremes of weather hitting us all in different ways..
I hope your fishing trip was enjoyable.. Wishing you well.. Sue
Hi Sue! I would be glad to have some cool air and rain now, it was over 30C today--and we'll be having to set up irrigation for the garden very soon now. The fishing was very enjoyable, I'll be posting on it soon. Wishing you well on your path too, Sue! Have a wonderful day! ":) ~R
DeleteI don't put my feet in any water over here. I'm afraid of alligators even in the mud puddles. Have fun fishing!
ReplyDeleteOuch, CYW, that would be a real bite. I think the puddles are probably safe, as long as they're not TOO big. Thanks for dropping in! ":) ~R
Deletecold water on a hot day is relief for humans as well as dogs!
ReplyDeleteOh, Katley..that cool water is SO nice when it's very hot! You would really like it! The pups just love it, and so do we--I'm not sure who enjoys it more ":) Thanks for visiting! ":) ~R
DeleteWhat a lovely stream and a nice darn rock. I quite approve. :-)
ReplyDeleteGlory, it is lovely isn't it? Since you quite approve, you shall be given the grand tour if you ever visit and shall be allowed to dabble your feet in that nice cool water too! ":) ~R
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