EDMOND —
Two whirligigs stand out like giant black mushrooms newly sprung from the asphalt shingles that cover my roof. Some say those turbines should be left twirling throughout the winter, allowing the attic air to circulate ... whatever good comes from that. Others say the in-house temperature is warmer when they’re covered, so utility bills are lower. I’ve tried it both ways and can’t tell the difference, but I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I adopted that safe/sorry way of thinking the year my outdoor sprinkler system froze up and a gusher seemed set on eroding the front lawn when it thawed. The repairman put a stop to that, but he left here with a big smile on his face and a bigger check in his pocket, and me in the house licking my financial wounds. Ever since, I’ve felt uneasy until after the pipes were drained and the mechanism winterized far ahead of the expected first freeze. For the same reason, the outdoor faucets have been snugly fitted with the insulated caps I keep for that purpose.
My yardman is out there now, raking up leaves for the third time this season, but it will by no means be the last time. Su-the-weenie dog sits at the big kitchen window, alternately scolding him and the squirrels that ignore them both. They scamper throughout the back yard, switching their tails, pausing to bury an acorn here and there, and then, full-cheeked, they dash up a tree to deposit their harvest in nests.
I wonder if they, like me, are thinking, “OK, that’s it. I’ve done my part, so where is the cold weather that the voices of the past tell me should have arrived before now? Bring it on. I’m ready.”
Ready or not, though, nothing weather-wise has happened. Maybe a day or two this fall my fingers did hover near the thermostat adjusting between hot and cold. Oh, and then there was Wednesday’s earthquake that rolled in with the sound of a Nor’easter but left the temperature unchanged.
I know it’s past time to abandon my sandals and take a jacket along when I leave the house, but I don’t. Except when I go to church, of course, or the theater, where the air conditioning that’s set for a crowd always seems to concentrate its blast on me.
Let’s see now. Thanksgiving is over (check). Fall leaves have changed color (check). We’ve had a killing frost (check), and the temperature has climbed back above 70 degrees (check). Hmm. Now what do suppose could. .... By golly, I’ve got it! We’re in the midst of one of those Indian Summers the Lithuanians call “bobu vasara,” meaning “summer of old ladies.” Well, fine! I should have known it would be something like that.
MARJORIE ANDERSON is an Edmond resident.
Features
‘Summer of old ladies’ sticks around
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Expert panel will tackle gardening issues
Every community garden in Oklahoma serves as a reminder of what people can do if they come together to work towards a single purpose and goal.
That’s one reason the Oklahoma County Master Gardeners are offering a “Community Gardening” workshop from 1-3 p.m. July 9. -
Pope, archbishop of Canterbury meet
The neophyte holders of two of Christendom’s most venerable posts met for the first time Friday and spoke of fostering unity and understanding between their sometimes rival branches of the faith.
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OCU Hebrew students to study Dead Sea scrolls
Students in a Biblical Hebrew class at Oklahoma City University will get a chance to study one of the Dead Sea Scrolls during the fall 2013 semester.
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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever remains a real threat
Q: My dog Candy died last year from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Is this that common in Oklahoma and how can I be sure neither one of my other dogs get it?
A: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a disease that can affect any of our pets as well as us. It is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii and is transmitted by a variety of ticks. Three ticks can be found in Oklahoma that carry it. They include the Lone Star Tick, The Gulf Coast Tick (more common in the southeast U.S.) and the American Dog Tick. -
VET Q&A: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever remains a real threat
Q: My dog Candy died last year from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Is this that common in Oklahoma and how can I be sure neither one of my other dogs get it?
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VIDEO: Husband accidentally sells wife's wedding ring at garage sale
A husband who accidentally sold his wife's wedding ring at a garage sale is hoping the person who bought will bring it back.
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VIDEO: Miss Utah flubs answer on income inequality
Responding to an interview question in Sunday's Miss USA Pageant, Miss Utah Marissa Powell says the country needs to "create education better."
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ASK A LAWYER: County can sell your home for unpaid taxes
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a weekly series of columns written by attorneys at Lester, Loving & Davies law firm in Edmond.
Q: I received notice that the county is going to sell my house at tax sale. Can they do this? Can I stop it? -
6-15 Edmond Senior Center calendar
The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. For information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the website at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m. For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Visits from loved ones are all a mother needs
If there’s anything more nerve-wracking than waiting for my son to drive in on the heels of still-turbulent weather, it’s waiting for the phone call at the end of his visit telling me he has negotiated the Fort Worth traffic and is back in Austin. Yes, I’m one of those mothers who prays her son home and back. I suppose we’re all like that no matter how old our children get.
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Expert panel will tackle gardening issues
