Goodbye to Summer, Goodbye to Long Warm Days-Autumn Comes on Wings of Gold as Short, Dark Days Unfold

Summer ended with a roar.
A storm swept in.
The wind howled.
The rain poured down in buckets.
Thunder boomed, and lightning lit up the sky.

Cowboy had to brave it.
It hit just as he was leaving for evening service.
Cowboy wasn’t thrilled about going out, to say the least.

Cowboy doesn’t fear much, but lightning is one thing that does scare him.
That probably comes from having seen a co-worker get struck by lightning at work.
He survived with only minor burns.
If I were him, I’d be playing the lottery.
He’s sure lucky.

This has been mostly a rest day. Badger still isn’t feeling well, and more worrying, Cowboy drove to morning service, got as far as the parking lot, decided he couldn’t handle it, came home, and slept until late this afternoon. I know several of his medications have drowsiness as a side effect. It wasn’t so much that Cowboy was sick. He just couldn’t stay awake. One of the medication he takes is also prescribed to Drei for ADHD, and it makes Drei excessively sleepy too.

Heron’s at his girlfriend’s with no idea when he’ll be back, and he told us to stay out of his RV because the steps are loose and unsafe.
You can still go in to check on his cats, but you have to be careful.

I rewatched “Superman”, redid a few blog posts, read, and took a nap. 

Turtle is on Peacock’s schedule. 
I'm guessing Peacock wakes up at 5:30 a.m., and Turtle thinks that’s when she should go out.
I woke up at 6 but told her she was just going to have to tuck her tail between her legs and pace until the sun rose. 
I wasn’t going outside and running into an angry, rabid raccoon. 

Turtle is probably between twelve and fourteen years old, and her bladder doesn’t like to wait. 
This morning it did, but boy, she practically dragged me outside the moment the first streaks of sunlight lit up the sky.

I think Badger’s been in her room most of the day, aside from helping with the morning dog routine. 
With three dogs now, each one needing a leash and a quick trip outside, it keeps us hopping.

When I woke up, the junker car was finally moved.
Hallelujah!
We can walk through the front yard again without a huge car in the middle.
It sat there all spring and summer.
The grass underneath is ruined, and the ground’s a bit smelly.
It’s spider season.
We’ve been ducking under the tree to reach the backyard.
Lady doesn’t do well with dogs or people, so the carport way isn’t always an option.

He also cleaned out the porch.
Raven had left a bunch of things (good stuff at the time) out there.
It all had to go.
I’m guessing a little extra sleep made Cowboy feel better.

It’s been at least a week, maybe closer to two, since we saw Raven. 
The house still hasn’t shown up, but for now he’s at the guest‑restricted house with the other parent.

It’s been at least a month since we’ve seen Raven’s kids
I don’t like that.
 I mean it.
I love all my grands.
But I won’t pretend I’m not relieved we don’t have to prepare the house every weekend.
I’ve enjoyed the calm.
The quiet.
I just wish we could find a middle ground.
Let the kids visit.
Let them remember us.
Just no more overnights.
No more full weekends here.

Evening service came and went. 
Cowboy got home, ate his supper (unfortunately, it was my week to cook), then sank into his recliner and turned on his strange TV shows.

Badger stayed in her room, and I stayed in mine.
There are plenty of Hawaii real estate shows on.

No plans for this week, as far as I know.

I can’t believe autumn starts tomorrow.
Soon the long, grey days will be upon us.
It feels like summer flew by this year.
I guess that’s what happens as you get older; time doesn’t slow down anymore.
It just seems to speed up.