Dog days of summer coming to an end

 

The term “Dog Days” traditionally refers to a period of particularly hot and humid weather occurring during the summer months of July and August as they occur in the Northern Hemisphere. This period of sweltering weather coincides with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star. I have to admit I never knew much about the meaning of this phrase other than what I heard in movies and songs,

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

I can think of no better way to segue to this post’s storyline than this chorus from the song, Dog Days are Over, by Florence and the Machine. All we seem to have been doing of late is running and in this heat and yes, it’s been a very hot summer, surprisingly hotter than we experienced in previous years, exhaustion is near. As for the horse, not sure what was inferred in the song but all I can think of are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!  

For much of the summer it has been our participation in industry events that have kept us running and shortly we will be taking the trip down to Denver for the major HPE NonStop event of the year – the NonStop TBC 2023 Conference. Being so close to home this did give us opportunity to pay the venue a visit and this year, at the Hilton Denver City Center looks as though it will do the city proud as it plays host to HPE NonStop community members from around the world.

It’s a hard pill to swallow when you come to realize you have been supporting this community for nearly four decades but there you have it; an opportunity for Margo and me to play hosts to clients and prospects alike. Then again, this is only part of the story as our running represents a balancing act between business and leisure so much so that this year, the lines really were blurred. 

Our summer really starter back in May as the weather turned from winter to give us warm barmy days almost overnight. We flew to London, took the train to Edinburgh for one industry event. We then drove to Toronto and back for another event just a week or so later. This event was followed by yet one more in Dallas before we headed to the airport for the return flight to London and Edinburgh at which point, being of sound mind, we caught a ship that took us to Norway where we set sail into the midnight sun.

That happened in a matter of two months from May 12 to July 10. Yes, we caught trains, planes, automobiles, ships and yes, busses. Our car of choice for these long-distance road trips was our Jaguar F Pace SVR. We have a history of naming our cars – our Infiniti was Sophia and now our Corvette is, of course, Blanche with the F Type, Rose – but for this SUV it just had to be Nigel! And (Sir) Nigel always delivers. When you throw in the occasional taxi and uber rides, there was barely a moment when we weren’t on the move. Slow down, smell the roses, I am being told but unfortunately for Margo and me, I think those horses ate all the roses and yes, their particular fragrance still lingers! 

And yet, with summer comes the grilling season and we have been able to fill in the time at home evenings spent outside grilling the evening meal. This time and illustrated above was a marinated tri-tip steak. Margo and I view this as our summer go-to grill and over the years, we have got the preparation and actual grilling down to near perfection. While the detail coverage of our summer days on the road has been covered in earlier posts to this blog, nevertheless the times at home represented opportunities to regroup and to enjoy a level of dining that travel seems to make hard to find. Yes, spending time in Europe where there is fine dining almost everywhere, to find that balance of quality and affordability continues to prove challenging.

Having said that, we cannot ignore how that combination is just as hard to find here in Colorado. Or elsewhere in North America for that matter. Blame the global pandemic; blame the global supply chain; blame inflation and the lack of staff; blame anything you want, but let’s not forget that when it comes to enjoying a night out with friends, perhaps the better option is to cook a good steak or grill a tasty fish. And don’t forget the opportunities that exist here in Colorado to cook lamb, particularly as the local market seems to be awash in Aussie Lamb!

Thick-cut, short loin lamb chops are hard to resist so just another night spend beside the grill proved an opportune time to eat Aussie Lamb and drink Aussie Chardonnay. Or was the wine from Sonoma? Or Napa? No matter, it was the lamb chops that were the star of the meal. Presentation could always be better and the plating more appealing but the inclusion of the mint jelly tells yet another story of how you really cannot ever take the lad out of Sydney. Or for that matter, far from his mother’s cooking. There were no dog days of summer to complain about on this occasion and no, no horses were injured in the preparation of any of these meals.

Summers in Colorado have changed significantly in the years Margo and I have spent in this mountain state. What hasn’t been mentioned so far is the almost constant appearance of afternoon thunderstorms delivering torrential rain. On occasion the golf course alongside our Windsor home became a lake. On two separate occasions, a river formed through our wetlands where a river had not flowed in all the years we lived here. Watching a duck paddle by was extraordinary. If I had told you that it was the result of a winter storm and that was simply snow on the ground, I suspect it would have more believable but rain? Quite a contrast to the image featured at the top of this post! 

The dog days of summer may be coming to an end. There is no way to fool the calendar and yet, residents up and down the Colorado front ranges have witnessed changes that were entirely unexpected. Regionally, this tract of land is classified as high desert where the prairies give way to less than ideal grasses turned brown prematurely each year. What has changed? As best as we can see, Colorado’s front ranges are now experiencing sustained periods of high humidity.

Put it down to all the golf courses carved from the soil and covered in grass for as far as the eye can see or put it down to all the decorative trees that local residents have planted. Add to it man-made reservoirs, some for fun times spent on the water, some just for the esthetically pleasant lake-like views. Yes, we have experienced a steady line of thunderstorms each afternoon that haven’t helped, but this year has been the most humid that anyone can recall. And humidity has been a stranger to Colorado so much so that now this increased humidity is raising many an eyebrow.

Those who have migrated to Colorado have sought the dry air that comes with altitude. For these new residents, finding humidity on the rise comes as a shock. Driving through the suburbs of Northern Colorado you simply cannot ignore how green the place has become. Perhaps not quite Ireland or Tasmania but, in its own way, spectacularly green. Lawn mowing services are having a field day and when it comes to sleep, we have to close the windows at night to keep out the noise of the grass growing! But it is a strange tale and perhaps worse is yet to befall the state as so far, the fires that decimate parts of the front ranges each year have been absent. And for that, we give thanks!

Driving back home the other afternoon, Margo and I couldn’t help but notice the evening sunsets we have been experiencing of late. As the sun peaks through gathering storm clouds, the display of color it provides is both wonderful to see as it is worrying as to what comes next. Although I have to add, isn’t there something to be said about “red sky at night; shepherd’s delight?” No matter, we will take the display of color whenever the occasion arises. Our journeys this summer are coming to an end even as we consider pursuing an alternative to Colorado’s winters. It’s been five years since we headed down under so we think the time is about right for a return trip to spend time with family and friends.

However, you have to be careful over expectations you set; while the antipodes do not share the legacy of dog days of summer or at least I don’t recall that they do, heading into yet another summer, evening thunderstorms and all, may have us thinking more about those dogs. And the horses. But with fall now just around the corner and the sunsets occurring earlier each day, retreating downstairs to watch a movie, sip a cocktail and to light the fire, very soon any thoughts about the further intrusion of those dog days of summer will lessen. We aren’t saying, bring on the snow – well not quite yet – or looking for more ducks paddling down the temporary makeshift river but rather, lower the lights and light the candles as its time for brandies on the balcony as thoughts turn to S’mores. And yes, an end to running for the season!