After working outdoors all day Monday, I officially hate summer. I will say I have an incredible amount of empathy for my fellow humans world-wide. At least at the end of the day I can climb into an air-conditioned truck and go home to a somewhat cool house.

The present always holds a little something of the past, but nothing stays the same. Autumn and winter wipe away summer’s harvest as the year’s crops bear their fruit then wither. New calves are born and grown steer slaughtered.

This is the week to be grateful for living on the Vineyard.

I usually start this weekly commentary with a mention of the week’s weather. It’s a life-long habit. My maternal grandmother, Nellie Armstrong, lived until I had children, well into her 90s.

The West Tisbury Farmers' Market returns Saturday for its 50th season. Going back to 1974, the market has offered farmers a place to sell their produce and learn valuable lessons from each other.

It was so hot, dry and bright on Monday that I went into major projection about the coming few months. Talk about not staying in the day I was in.