The other day I heard a wonderful little show on the radio about crickets here. Nathaniel Hawthorne was quoted:
If ever there was a sound that signifies August, it’s the quiet song of the crickets. Nathaniel Hawthorne described it as “audible stillness,” writing, “if moonlight could be heard, it would sound just like that.”
Aren't his words simply perfect.
We're well into cicada season here.
ReplyDeleteI did a bit of searching to read about cicadas and crickets.
Deletehttps://www.npr.org/2015/09/08/438473580/insect-sounds-telling-crickets-cicadas-and-katydids-apart
https://songsofinsects.com/cicadas
The audio is charming, but a cricket in my bedroom when I'm trying to sleep drives me nuts. I've been known to wake my husband up to take flashlight in hand and crawl under the bed until the noisy critter is found.
ReplyDeleteNan, I want to read Ann Cleeves now after just finishing viewing Shetland on Netflix. I liked it more than any series of that type that I've yet seen. I'm hoping the books will be even better. I'll have to try Vera next.
I looked up the George Bellairs books that I see you're reading and think I must try them. I've always loved Reeve's books too.
It is supposed to be good luck to have a cricket in the house!
DeleteI like Shetland more than I do Vera. She can be quite irritating! Plus, I like the supporting cast of Shetland, and the setting. I tried one of her books, but I found it a bit scarier than the show. I really should try again!
I'm enjoying the Bellairs very much. Well written characters and setting. Oh, and Reeve! She is just the best!
I think I'll still try reading the Shetland books. I'll just skip some scary parts. The scenery has made me want more details, lots more!
DeleteI've started watching Hinterland now. It's darker than Shetland but again, the scenery of Wales fascinates me as I know nothing about that land except for a couple of old movies and Christmas books. And while I really loved Jimmy Perez of the Shetland books, the star of Hinterland, can't remember his name, is beginning to grow on me. It'll take more shows for me to warm up to the other characters, compared with Tosh and Sandy, etc.
I did watch most seasons of Hinterland, but I had to give it up. First I didn't care for the main character and second the shows were just too dark for me. But it gets high praise, and everyone likes different stuff, so you may indeed love it!
DeleteLovely little noise! and your tomatoes look good too. Despite a drought of about 9 weeks here, my two tomato plants, planted at haste in the flower border, are producing loads of fruit. I love the smell of tomato plants - unique!
ReplyDeleteThe words "drought" and "England" just don't go together! I've been watching Gardeners' World, and Monty has talked quite a bit about it, and how to deal with plants and watering. He's just wonderful. Tomatoes seem to want to grow!! I love the smell, too.
DeleteWhere do you watch Gardeners' World? They don't have it on YouTube any more.
DeleteBritbox. https://www.britbox.com/us/ $6.99 per month
Deletewhenever I hear a cricket
ReplyDeleteI know Fall is around the corner.
Seems early this year.
Around here, August is when they appear.
DeleteAnd the katydids! The Japanese revered the insect choruses, many a poem has included them. Sign of the summer moving on ...
ReplyDeleteMary
For many of us, we are ready for summer to move along!! I put a couple links above in my comment to sprite about the different insects. I'm not awfully good at discerning sounds.
DeleteWhat wonderful quotes! The words are perfect!
ReplyDeleteBetween the crickets, catydids and the cicadas there is quite a chorus especially at night.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it so wonderful! The birds are quiet and these are their late summer replacements!
DeleteI rather enjoyed that insect site. I now know we have three types of cicadas in our garden. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted you took the time to go there!
DeleteCoincidentally, right before I saw this post, my husband and I saw a cricket in the dining room (no sound effects though). He / she has disappeared now but now we are assured that we will have good luck. (And I loved the picture of the tomatoes.)
ReplyDeleteIsn't that great!! Thanks for coming by and telling me!
DeleteI love that bit about moonlight! Yes, August and the sound of crickets...
ReplyDeleteFor me, the buzzard's cry is also symbolic of late summer, even though they can be heard here some years as early as February and as late as October.
I've never seen or heard a buzzard. I somehow connect them to the old westerns that used to be on American tv when I was a kid.
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