At least once each summer I take the long way around the trail. I walk on the road toward Highway 382 and enter the Hoover Nature Trail, which leads south to an intersection with the state park trail, and follow it back to our subdivision. This route takes more than twice as long to complete, and the change in scenery is welcome. That I waited until Labor Day weekend is telling.

This summer was bookended by politics. At the beginning was the Democratic primary election when I was a poll worker for the first time. Today, the rush to get out the vote for the general election is ramping up. A lot depends upon Democrats gaining ground and holding back Republican dominance. It will be a sprint from today until the Nov. 3 general election.

That said, there is more to life than politics.

This has been one of the best gardening years I can remember. Almost every variety of vegetable produced well, yet overall, something was different. In part, the inability to secure composted chicken manure for fertilizer may have had the most impact. I was forced to use commercial fertilizer and the production was more robust. I need to re-evaluate fertilizer use as I plan the 2027 garden.

Along with a banner year for produce, the output in the kitchen has also been good. I have been cooking since university, yet I feel I learned a lot more about it this summer by using produce from the garden.

Multiple aspects of my life were productive. I continued to read about a book per week, I took more photographs and used Microsoft lens to identify plants that have been unnamed for decades. I set up a sorting table to go through possessions and right size some of our belongings. I’ve been able to get out on the state park trail almost every day. Walking has been good exercise.

My spouse made two trips to Des Moines this summer. I enjoy having the house to myself for the first couple of weeks. After that, I am ready for her to return home.

The America 250 celebrations were a bust. At the national level, events were politicized, and there weren’t many locally. Probably just as well. With our budget already stretched tight, we didn’t have extra to spend on celebrations.

For the first time in a very long time, I did not buy a case of beer to ice down and drink after working in the yard. In past years, a 24-pack lasted all summer, yet I didn’t even miss it this year. I am finding pleasure in other ways, and that is likely better for me.

So long summer 2026! It’s been good to know you!