I like summer. Who doesn’t?

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days.

I’m not one who usually wants to see summer come to an end, but this year it feels good to rediscover my normal routine. It was an exceptionally busy season – filled with cousins, community, and more than a little chaos.

Crazy? Yes. Hazy? Well, in a whirlwind-induced fog sort of way, yes. Lazy? Uh, not so much.

Oh, it’s been a good season. I have enjoyed it. And I will carry a new bevy of memories into the winter to offset the chill.

But it’s time to move on to calmer waters.

The family gathering leftovers have been consumed, the last of the containers washed and back on the shelf. The tractor ride and alumni banquet paraphernalia are boxed and stored for next year. The final 4^th of July grant report is in the mail.

Now it’s back to work; back to taking daily walks; back to eating a semi-healthy diet; back to running the dishwasher every couple of days.

There are other signs of transition around; it’s not just me.

There is a hint of yellow in a tree or two. The sun is setting a little earlier each evening. The stores are full of back-to-school sales. The tomatoes in the garden are yielding to the demanding needs of the cantaloupe.

The summer hubbub may be over, with some hint of sanity returning, but I have no plans to be idle.

This next season should be a busy one – if past years are any indication. Ag publications tend to put out thick issues this time of year, and since that’s the bulk of my business, with a little luck some of that work will come my way.

There are some exciting new projects on the horizon, and I’m anxious to tackle them.

I’m also hoping for a little time for an occasional Sunday nap, maybe a good movie to watch, and some quality kitchen time with those tomatoes.

A good story to write and a bowl of pasta at the end of the day is a pretty good life.

I’ll enjoy it while I can.