Dog Days And Weather Signs

The forty dog days of summer begins in the United States on July 3^rd and End August 11^th according to history and The Old Farmer’s Almanac. They’re so often said to be the hot, sultry days of summer, July and August being the two hottest months of the year.

The older generation had a lot of sayings about Dog Days. One being, “it’s dog days and snakes are blind, ye better be careful cause they’ll strike at anything that moves.” We surely did listen to that one cause we were reminded enough, especially while playing outside after dark or catching lightning bugs.

Another one is getting Dew Poisoning which means if you get a cut on your finger or hand and get the morning dew in it the cut will never heal. My daddy got dew poisoning one summer. He’d cut his finger with his pocket knife and was picking beans one morning and got dew in it and he went around all summer with his finger bandaged up and it finally healed come Fall. Mama told him, “ye know what did that and ye should have bandaged it up before ye hit the dew.”

I heard daddy and mama say it was hard for a cut or any open wound to heal during dog days many times. This pertains to anything even getting one’s ears pierced. I got mine pierced in the summer months after I got up the nerve to have it done. Mama told me, “ye shouldn’t have done that. They’ll never heal.” I can honestly say she was right about that. I had one to get infected and I thought it was going to rot off. If it hadn’t been for lots of peroxide and alcohol and babying, I would have given up and let them grow up. I still have to baby my ears and bathe them in alcohol quite often. I very seldom take my ear rings out except to change them.

There were a lot of weather sayings as well and I don’t know if any of them pertains to dog days but thought I’d add a few.

Here’s one,

If you’re hoping for a nice, dry day check for dew on the ground

When the dew is on the grass

Rain will never come to pass

When grass is dry at morning light

Look for rain before the night

There’s also one that helps to tell what the weather is going to be pertaining to cattle and horses, which means if you see a cow or horse take notice of which way the wind is blowing their tails. Cows and horses prefer not to have the wind blowing in their faces so they usually stand with their backs to the wind.

Tails pointing west

Weather’s at it’s best

Tails pointing east

Weather is least

Summer fog means fair weather is on its way and you can look for a sunny day.

Summer fog for fair

A winter fog for rain

A fact most everywhere

In valley or on plain

And the one I like the most is

If the rooster crows at going to bed

You may rise with a watery head

I just don’t know about this one but my mama sure hated to hear one crow at bedtime. She’d throw a rock at it every time just to get it to stop. She claimed it meant bad luck.

Just a little folk lore and I hope you enjoyed. I’ll try to post more later as they come to me.

Thought I’d add a little poem for some humor as well, concerning the fogs in August because of the most heard one of all. “For every fog in August there will be a snow come winter.” This one is kinda worrying me with August upon us cause we had quite a few fogs last August and quite a few snows. 

I counted forty, foggy mornings in August

an old lady once said

I wondered how can this be

as I scratched my head

Thirty one days in August

is all I’ve ever known

unless the calendar has changed

and the months have grown

I worked so very hard

to try and figure it all in

But the forty, foggy mornings

I didn’t know where to begin

And then I thought to myself

and I came up with a good try

When summer’s heat lingers on

there’s forty, hot days in July

In January’s snowy weather

there’s at least forty flakes

that lies on the ground

forty days for goodness sakes

How can I forget March

with so many windy days

The wind probably blows forty

I just don’t count the days

No, that can’t be right

I thought to myself

When thirty one days are gone

in a month, there’s none left

So I’ll just keep on waiting

August is soon to end

If there’s forty, foggy mornings

Will winter ever end??

© Susie Swanson, 2018

If We Could See

If we could see beyond a sorrow

Beyond a present grief, as God can see

We would be braver, knowing some tomorrow

Will still hold happiness for you and me

If we could only glimpse through other eyes

To see the things that is God’s plan and design

We would be more strong and would be keeping

In our hearts, peace and hope through every darkened time

If we could see beyond blurred eyes and weeping

Knowing again the road will smooth before our eyes

By putting our full trust in God and his promises

The lessons of life will unfold to make us wise

We are so blinded by our grief and heartache 

The suffering of so much sickness, sorrow and pain

That we forget the joys beyond believing

God’s promise of healing and peace will be ours again

© Susie Swanson, 2018

I'd like to put up a little Update on my health issues. I haven't mentioned anything on here in a long while but I'm still struggling so to speak. My Adrenal Glands went down back in 2016 and now all of my glands are out of whack all due to them not being able to get me balanced out on any meds. after they removed my thyroid in 2014. It's an every day struggle and I'm not able to do much anymore. I now have Home health coming in once a day to help me with my baths, etc. I know God is the great Physician and it's in his hands. Just got back today from yet another Appt. with the Endocrinoligist and she's setting up more tests to try and find out if I now have one or more other Autoimmune Diseases as well.  Our health is so important and it can go in the blink of an eye. I'm grateful to God for waking me up to see another day every morning and it's in his hands. He still has us all here for a reason and he's not going to let us down. I cling to him every day. Please continue to pray for me and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  May God bless you all. ~Susie~

If You Pass Me By

                                Perhaps you'd call it plain

                                this simple house I live

                                nothing fancy to the eye

                                with plenty of love to give

                                I'm sure you wouldn't notice

                                the memories tucked inside

                                of so many happy years

                                with my family by myside

                                You might not notice the flowers

                                 in my yard nestled away

                                 or the pretty, little birds singing

                                 that cheerfully make my day

                                 Oh if you could only see

                                 the squirrels I call my own

                                 frolicking around at play

                                 outside my simple home

                                 The enchantment of a sunset

                                 each evening comes to call

                                 end of day's perfect show

                                 you may never see at all

                                 Perhaps you'd see me plain

                                 with simple clothes and worn

                                 overlook my grateful heart

                                 for the simple things I adorn

                                 If things are hard to find

                                 much like where you have been

                                 beauty lies within the heart

                                 close your eyes and look again

                                 My simple life of treasures

                                 is more than gold can buy

                                 you'll never know paradise

                                 if you pass me by                                                                                                                    

                                 © Susie Swanson, 2018

Our Best Childhood Friend

I know everyone remembers a favorite pet or two while growing up. We were blessed to have several dogs and cats but there’s one dog that stands out the most. His name was Ole Mack and he was a full bloodied collie and smart as a whip. He was like a human in a dog’s body and instantly became part of our family.

He’d obey every command. If we told him to sit he’d be sitting there into next week if we didn’t notice but we never did do him like that on purpose. It’s just the way he was and so kind hearted. Every step we made he was there beside us. We used to pull the blossoms off of clover after it’d bloomed and tie them together and make a necklace to wear around our neck. We’d even make one for Ole Mack and he’d just sit there and let us put it around his neck. When mama called us in to eat we’d go running and he’d run beside us with his clover necklace around his neck. The first time mama saw it she said, “what in the world have ye put around that dog’s neck.” He was our best buddy and did whatever we did.

There was only one thing that scared him and that was thunder or the sound of a gun. Every time it’d thunder he’d run in the house and crawl under the bed. We’d leave him alone till it’d pass and coax him out. When we first got him we noticed that when my brothers or daddy grabbed the gun to go squirrel hunting we noticed the fear in him. We never did find out for sure but we always figured he’d been shot at before. We felt so sorry for him and he never did get over it.

Back then we walked everywhere we went and every time we’d start down the road he’d be right at our heels waging that pretty tail.

Daddy worked away from home a lot and didn’t get to come home till weekends if he was lucky. Sometimes it’d be two or three weeks before he came home. I reckon mama got lonesome even with all of us youn’uns round her legs cause just about every evening in the summer she’d say let’s go see pa and ma. That was her mama and daddy and they lived upon the hill as we called it. I later realized mama got lonesome for some adult conversation.

About sundown we’d take off to see pa and ma and Ole Mack would tag along till we got to the footlog where we had to cross the little creek and we’d tell him to wait and he’d lie down at the end of the footlog till we returned later that evening. We were scared to take him with us for fear he’d tangle with other dogs. After all, he was getting older and we feared he couldn’t take up for himself as good. When we returned, he’d see us coming and run across that footlog to meet us like we’d been gone forever just wagging his tail. We’d all bend down and hug his neck and tell him he was a good boy till I think he got the big head. We always tried to get back home before dark for fear of stepping on a snake, of course Ole Mack would’ve killed it right there on the spot. He was very protective of us in a good way and always watched out for us.

Back then times were lean and not to many folks could find work and some just didn’t wanna work, they’d rather steal their way through.

Mama always had chickens that run loose and they had their favorite roosts every night. Most of em roosted in the little apple tree that hung over the branch of water that run down by the side of the house. Mama’s bedroom was on that side of the house as well and she never had to sleep alone. One or more of us always piled in the bed with her when bedtime came. She was always a light sleeper and could hear a pin drop. Ole Mack knew where her bedroom was and he slept right beside her bedroom under the porch and it was cooler on him there in hot weather. If anything moved or someone came around he’d always growl or bark to let mama know. We always called him our guard dog .

It all started one summer night when a bunch decided they wanted to steal the chickens off the roost. Mama was halfway asleep when Ole Mack started growling and then barking. They grabbed a couple of hens and run after they heard Ole Mack growling and barking. Mama heard em too, but was afraid to go outside but she hollered at Ole Mack out the window to keep him from following em. She always said her being a woman she hated to go out on someone but if she had to she would. My oldest brother was big enough by then to use the gun but she wouldn’t let him for fear he’d shoot or get shot. But she didn’t have to worry about it cause the next night they came back.

Ole Mack first started growling and the next thing he did was tackle em. Mama and my oldest brother ran out at the same time and saw the shadows of em running fast as their legs could carry em and Ole Mack was right on their heels. They dropped the chickens in the middle of the road. On the way out the door my brother grabbed the gun and fired it straight up in the air. They run even faster and Ole Mack came running back towards the house so proud of himself. Mama said to my brother, “what’d ye do that for, they were already out of sight.” My brother said he did it more so for Ole Mack, cause he knew he was scared of guns and didn’t want him to get hurt by the chicken thieves.

Needless to say, the chicken thieves didn’t come back anymore. Mama figured it was a bunch that knew daddy was gone and could carry off what they wanted to. We really rewarded Ole Mack by trying to keep him in the house and feeding him anything he wanted as if he wasn’t fed enough. But he wouldn’t have any part of sleeping in the house at night.

Then one morning my brother went outside for somethin and he noticed Ole Mack wasn’t around. He called out his name and kept calling. We all went running out the door and joined in the search but no such luck.

We finally found him in the cow pasture later in the day and carried him back to the house and had the nicest memorial for him.

We buried a part of the family and our hero that day. Our hearts were broken and it was never the same anymore. He lived to the ripe ole age of fifteen and deserved his heavenly reward but there’s a place still void in our hearts today and we think about him often. I’m sure he’s up there where all good dogs go and having the best time of his life without any fears or worries about the thunder or loud noises anymore and running through the meadows with his clover necklace around his neck. Rest in peace Ole Mack, you’ll always be our Best Childhood Friend.

                                     © Susie Swanson, 2018

Come Sit With Me

Come sit with me

Beneath the weeping willow tree

We’ll talk away the hours

In summer’s peaceful tranquility

We’ll watch the beautiful sunset

Sinking low over the horizon

Feel the breeze blowing gently

As the whispering branches liven

A bright full moon is shining

Casting shadows, oh so bright

What more could we ask for

On this perfect summer night

Come sit with me

On the treasured old porch swing

We’ll swing away the hours

Listening to the crickets sing

The fire flies are dazzling

A perfect summer time show

Smell the honeysuckle blooming

With sweet fragrance to grow

We can listen to the whipper wills

As they make that unique sound

They never fail to please

My home is their stomping ground

Come sit with me

At the break of a new dawn

Say hi to the morning glories

Hear the birds sing each new song

The roses are cascading

Around every curve and bend

Pretty flowers are covered with dew

The mornings so happily send

Apple trees are blooming in the lane

Oh how sweet they can be

Decked out in pink blossoms

Waiting for you and me

All the cows are in the pasture

Nibbling on the fresh green grass

Happy as can be in the sunshine

Basking in the warmth, in high class

Come sit with me

On the bank of the little creek

We’ll sip on a tall glass of lemonade

Then jump in with both feet

We’ll enjoy every moment of each day

The nights are wonderful too

Here in my simple, country home

I promise it will all come true

There is splendor all around me

The sky is big overhead

I live in a heavenly paradise

Oh what a beautiful spread

The taste of heaven is so sweet

The air is cleaner here

If you reach up your hand

On tip toe, heaven is near

Come sit with me

In my paradise home so green

This summer time country living

Is the best I’ve ever seen

© Susie Swanson, 2018

Down An Old Dirt Road

Old country roads remind me of walking to church come Sunday morning and walking back come Sunday night. They remind me of walking to the little country store with mama's list in hand. Those early morning walks to catch the school bus and walking back in home at end of day, stopping long enough take our shoes off and wade across the little creek come warm weather, is priceless.

The fresh morning smells of honeysuckle, wild roses, mountain laurel or crabapple blossoms drifting in the spring time air, or walking in those big snows that were knee deep in the winter, rolling in the snow and throwing snowballs at each other along the way.

Taking refuge under a big tree come a hard, summer's rain and still takin a wetting and loving it to no end. Then we ran through mud holes with our bare feet, busting em wide open, never thinking about getting the toe itch till it was to late.

Ahhhh, how can I forget the huckleberries and that sweet taste. We knew exactly where they came up and picked em fast as they ripened, along side the road.

And those delicious blackberries we picked for mama to can and looking forward to that fresh blackberry cobbler, all the while eating more than we picked. Never thinking twice about the chiggers or poison ivy till it was to late.

Climbing over barbed wire fences and ripping our clothes to pick poke salat for mama. She didn't take to kindly to the ripped clothes or the dangers of getting snake bit but the poke salat changed the subject really quick.

  Riding an ole, rusted bicycle around every curve and bend, with nary a brake knowing we'd hit the ditch or the creek. It's a wonders we hadn't broke our neck or worse.

And trying to outrun the others to get the mail every day and stumping our toes along the way. They never did have a chance to heal. When cold weather settled in and we had to wear shoes we'd still hobble down those ole roads.

I couldn’t count how many trips we made to and fro carrying gallons of milk from the neighbors when we were between cows, hungry for some good cornbread and milk to go along with supper, sometimes making a complete meal out of it.

 And how can I forget takin a few poufs off of a cigarette butt after snatching it outta the yard when daddy threw it down. Ahhhh, the sickness and turning green that followed, I'd sure like to forget and is still a reminder today. I said then and there, "never again.” Whewww.

It didn't matter the season or the weather, we made memories to last a lifetime and those ole dirt roads paved the way.

There's so many memories that still linger. I go back quite often and listen to the echoes of a childhood full of many seeds that's been sowed. How can we ever forget an old dirt road.

                                               © Susie Swanson, 2018