Looks like the “Dog Days of Summer” are extending. Reports say officially the Dog Days begin the last of July and continue on into August. This saying was originated years ago and has to do with the Romans and Greeks, noting a certain star alignment. All I know is as far as many are concerned, August has always been noted as a month to deal with concerning hot temperatures.
Lately it hasn’t been a good last couple of months for farmers and ranchers in the area. Temperatures have been easily and regularly reaching up into the 100s or the high 90s, with little or no measureable rains. Some of the pasture ponds have all but dried up or have dried up, and for some it’s been that way all summer and water has had to be continually hauled to the cattle. Some of the fall crops are showing the results of the heat and lack of rain. We are thankful for air conditioned homes, churches and business places.
School has started and thankfully most of the school buildings today are air conditioned, though it wasn’t always that way. Growing up, air conditioning was not common in farm homes, schools, churches and businesses. Farmers didn’t have the air conditioned tractor and combine cabs then. All we had to help out were fans of all sizes. Some of those early tractors and combines didn’t even have a cab. The farmers had to deal with the hot sun all day in the fields. I’m sure since most didn’t have air conditioning then, they were used to the hot days of summer.
Lately the rains have been hard to come by. The rain clouds seem to come during the night and thunder can be heard. Hopes are stirred rain will be falling soon, but it was a tease. Though a few drops fall, there was hardly enough to record in the rain gauge.
Farmers still seem to keep busy hauling water, putting up hay and feed, and getting the harvest equipment ready. Prayers are being offered requesting rains to come soon, along with cooler temperatures. Hopefully the “Dog Days of Summer” will soon leave and bring on the cooler days of fall.
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