The Dog Days Of Summer

By Raeanne O’Meara

In the blink of an eye, the dog days of summer have arrived in the north. Saying that this is a busy time of year is an understatement; our seasons are so incredibly short that when they do arrive, they disappear again in a hurry.

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The past couple summers lulled us, despite our better knowledge, into enjoying (or tolerating, depending on your view of the weather) what felt like a lengthy, lackadaisical season that seemed to never end. No longer the case, early July was marred by light frosts that seemed to hold Mother Nature in limbo, unable to release into full-fledged summer. Wild strawberries, fireweed and the like lagged behind – or more than likely fell back into line with when they should be reaching their peak – before we lurched our way into the heat.

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With that warmth brought everything all at once – berries are starting to be ready, there are lake trout and rainbow trout to be caught, salmon season is kicking into high gear out on the salt and herbaceous plants are begging to be picked before they pass their prime. Plants are drying in bundles strung up in the kitchen, the dehydrator is running almost full time and, in between wanting to make the most of the sunshine, there are pockets of pressure canning to be completed.

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It can be easy to have one’s mind wander to focusing on how busy we seem to be, from sun up to sun down, day after day. How lucky are we, though, to live with distinct seasons so that in many months, there will be a time to tuck in and reflect on the year past in front of a roaring woodstove that keeps the winter chill at bay.

 

In the meantime, we can embrace the pace of where we are currently at and make the most of the endless opportunities to be outdoors throughout the province.