On the Horizon: Hot August Nights and Dragons

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Sunrise over mountains lizard on rock by Teagan via Night Cafe
Image by Teagan via Night Cafe

Welcome, everyone — and welcome August!  This is me, just sharing about my life.  It might not sound like it, but I’m not complaining, just describing the world around me.  Yes, I’m glad to see the new month (even though it’s still blistering hot) because I just want to get rid of the convection oven of July.  This summer it’s been the June frying pan to the July frying pan, and now the August frying pan.  Regardless, I’m still celebrating August, because I hope September will cool down to the 90s (F).   

Don’t get me wrong.  90 degrees F is still too hot, but it’s a giant improvement on 106, so I’m looking forward to it.  Although that frigid 90 doesn’t seem to be anywhere in the foreseeable future. 

I’ve come to have a genuine appreciation for simple ice water.  It’s wonderful!  Cold, crisp, wet.  All these weeks, my “go to” dinner has usually been either cottage cheese, or cold pasta salad, or if I’m feeling adventurous an antipasto plate.  The other night I opted for an ice cream bar. Just the ice cream bar — no side dishes. And I’m not even an ice cream fan — I was never crazy about it.  Hot food?  No way. 

2026-07-29 Velma y comb
Velma:  I don’t know Yummy Human… It sounds like you’re complaining to me. Besides, I don’t like cottage cheese.  Couldn’t you have that scrumptious pork roast I like so much?  Or even heat up a pizza once in a while, and give me some of the glorious melty cheese? But I agree. Jinkies! It’s hot.  Now, finish combing my fur, so I can start nap number five.
There’s a reason why I said “Hot August Nights.”

Anyhow, besides that intense sun, what’s on my August horizon?  At this point I know better than to talk about my writing projects, because I never seem to get to whatever place I have in mind.  However, I do have a couple of novels that I started several years ago that I hope to at least work on, if not finish.  Meanwhile, even the word August makes me think of a novella I finished several years ago — Brother Love: A Crossroad.  The story, like a song that inspired me, begins with a hot August night.  In the days ahead I’m going to celebrate my “August book” by doing some posts that are the story of the story.  Those will probably be my midweek posts.  I’ve also updated the book cover, and put it on a sale price throughout this month.  The updated cover, and links are at the end of this post.

What about the weekends?  What else is on the horizon?

Dragons!
Dragons all colors above magic book by Teagan via Night Cafe
Image by Teagan via Night Cafe

I plan to use my author magic and turn you all into dragons!  Well, sort of.  I’m noodling around a kind of game that I hope will engage you.  There will also be a new deck of oracle cards and a reading or two.

It is my hope that these dragons will rejuvenate me to work on the Dragons of Cronesboro series… Although all my notes and research for that story was destroyed in the OneDrive debacle, (yes, I swear I’m trying to let that horrible experience go) and I don’t know whether I’m able to work on it.  If I do, my energy-level for that story gets fueled by your comments about the story, so… that’s why I hope to engage you with the as yet undefined dragon game.  I’ll be working out the game and a reading with the new cards this week.

Update:  “The World Dragon Oracle Cards” by Virginia Chandler and (artist) Anne Stokes just arrived.  They didn’t live up to my admittedly high expectations.  Actually, they fell far short of expectations.  I had seen a video about the cards by the artist, and I got really excited about them.  Why am I surprised that she only showed the best ones and the rest did not begin to compare?  The game and whatever else is going to take more thought… but it still has potential.

Thanks for visiting.  Happy August, and a wonderful weekend to you.  Friendly comments are encouraged. 

Hugs on the wing!

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Naturally, the obligatory shameless self-promotion must be included.

Brother Love – a Crossroad

Strange things abound in 1950s Parliament, Mississippi.  Jinx the magpie can fill you in on the details.

Brother Love updated cover 2026

Universal Purchase Links

Kindle:  relinks.me/B07V25SXFR

Paperback:  relinks.me/107952309X

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This blog is entirely human-written.  Furthermore, the author expressly prohibits any entity from using this publication for purposes of training AI technologies to generate text.  No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author, or used with permission, or from free sources.

Copyright © 2026 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

42 thoughts on “On the Horizon: Hot August Nights and Dragons”

  1. The Ber months are my favorites, so I’m with you on the cooler temps. Cold pasta salad was our dinner last night. We love to grill out, but not when it’s so drippy outside. And you know I’ll show up for the dragons!

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    1. Hi, Rupali. It must be monsoon season where you are, right? In the USA, New Mexico and Arizona are the only places that really get a monsoon season. For the past few years, we haven’t gotten a lot of rain from it — in my town. Some areas have gotten bad flooding. We get a few downpours, and a few “beneficial” rains. My raincoat (from east coast days) hasn’t been taken from the closet in years. LOL. It was hard to get used to the idea of not keeping an umbrella handy.

      Thanks for visiting. Hugs.

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  4. I do love dragons! Yes, please turn me into one. 🙂 I love the image of the dragons hovering over the magic book. I don’t like to complain either, but I have to admit that this summer’s heat is making me cranky. I’m trying to focus that angsty energy into writing. Best of luck with yours, Teagan, and sending a hug back to you. Happy August!

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    1. LOL. Jennie, it’s an inalienable right to complain about the weather. 90 degrees is awfully hot — go ahead and complain. Although three months of 100+ truly does drain one’s energy. To keep out as much heat as possible I keep the ( double and triple layers of light blocking) curtains closed, so the dark works to also drain the spirit. But I’m grateful that I’m not around Phoenix, AZ where it’s another ten degrees hotter. Take care Hugs. 🤗

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  6. Teagan, I loved your way of describing the temperatures: the “June frying pan, July frying pan, and now the August frying pan!” YIKES!!!! I hope September brings you that much-anticipated relief. Until then, here’s to ice water, pasta salad, and the occasional ice cream bar masquerading as dinner! Happy August!! And I’m looking forward to seeing where those dragons take us. Sending hugs on speedy wings to you and the Scoobies!!!

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    1. Thank you kindly, Rebecca. Tomorrow is only supposed to be 99F, and I’m really glad about that. Ice water really is such a wonderful thing. So is my little mist-spray bottle (I think some people use them on plants, you know?) I spray myself with it — get it up really close to my head, or just on my arms and legs… And my face — I spray it right into my face and it’s lovely. LOL the cats think I’ve lost my mind spraying water in my face. It’s a good thing I’ve never used a water bottle to discipline them like a lot of people do. But they give me some looks, for sure. LOL.

      I’ve started working on a “Who’s Your Dragon” thing for next week. It will at least be something different. If people will comment about what dragon they identify with, that should be fun. Heartfelt thanks for commenting. Hugs winging back to you. Or as Dan reminded me — hugs on dragon wings!

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  7. Hello Teagan, and Happy August.

    Yes, July was a frying pan up here, too. It went up to 122 one day, with the humidex – 110 w/o it. We did get some 90’s last week. Yay, but now it’s climbing, again.

    SO, a game! I love that idea. I hope you get it to happen. Sorry to hear about the stellarless dragon cards.

    I am looking forward to. the flower of the month in August.

    I enjoy all you come up with, thank you! – Hugs!

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    1. Hi, Resa. I’m happy that you’re onboard with the dragon thing. I’m still noodling through it, but I’ll have something for next weekend.

      July finished out a year of the Flower of the Month posts. I plan to occasionally do something with the Magic of Flowers oracle cards that I included in those posts (when one of the flowers was included in that deck of cards). Here’s a link to the post from last August. It’s hard to believe I’ve already done a year of those. Hugs winging back to you and yours.

      Flower of the Month: August Floriography – Teagan’s Books

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  8. Teagan, I am always careful not to dwell on our humid summer weather because it doesn’t hold a candle…or maybe better to say an ice cream bar…to your relentless summertime experiences. I recall one time when I had created a blog post draft, wavered on whether I liked it or not, and then deleted it completely. A week later, I was so mad at myself I set about to canvass my memories and try to replicate the post as best I could. I know it has been a while since your OneDrive debacle, but I am betting those notes were so near and dear to you if you set out to reconstruct the missing info you probably would be quite amazed at how much you have “on file” yourself. Bring on those dragons…and I know readers here will hop up on them for the ride. Hugs to you, the Scoobies, and the dragons!

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    1. LOL… Bruce, you’re very kind, but you might overestimate my mind. Or at least my ability to find things that are deep in the weird labyrinth of my brain. 😀 I still grieve the two entire books I lost, but the notes for The Dragons of Cronesboro… that’s not such a horrible loss, it’s just mental overwhelm to think about redoing the legends and facts I looked up. As for the weather, as I told Fraggle (at the other end of the comment thread) complaining about the weather is an inalienable human right! 🙂 If it’s too hot or too cold, or you’re sick of rain, go ahead and complain. Hugs winging back to you and yours.

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    1. That’s music to my ears, Deborah — thanks very much. Historically late August begins the cool-down (well, comparatively anyway). The past few years summers have been a lot hotter, started sooner, and ended later… but I’m still looking forward to September and crossing my fingers! Take care. Hugs winging back to you.

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  11. I’m sorry the cards didn’t come up to expectation. I’m sure that won’t stop your creativity, though. Like you, we think the 90s are a cooling off period between 100s. We have triple digets until a cold front moves through next week. The cold front will get us back to the 90s. Hopinfg you have a peaceful weekend.

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    1. Thanks for your vote of confidence, John. It isn’t coming together as easily as I thought, but I’m going to try. 😅

      I figured it was about as hot there. You have humidity along with the scorching heat. It must be even worse. Stay safe and well. Hugs.

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  12. I hope the Scoobies, as well as you, didn’t suffer too much in the heat. Three fourths of July here was a roasting pan. With August here and two birthdays and one anniversary, we are ready to party.

    I am still horrified at what you lost in the computer fiasco. I spent several days trying to find a chapter that vanished from my computer, the infamous chapter 6 of my new mystery. Turns out human error caused it – I saved Chapter 7 as chapter 6, obliterating it. The rewrite took some time because I had to read what I’d written both before and after.

    Take a deep breath of your 90 degree air – fall is coming. My favorite time of year.

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    1. Hi, Noelle. Oh! It sounds like you have a fun August coming up with wonderful things to celebrate. Awesome! I appreciate you commiserating about the lost work. I can well understand how you felt about that chapter. That kind of thing is hugely easy to do. Yes, I’m still grieving the lost books, especially the nonfiction flapper book. The notes for the Dragons of Cronesboro really shouldn’t hold me back — it’s emotional I guess. I had a lot of notes for it, but a lot of that was stuff about dragons and their names that I should be able to find again… I’m just already so tired from dealing with the head (and how much worse it’s made my previously mild asthma) that when I think about re-doing any of the lost work… it’s like I collapse inside. I don’t know a better way to describe it. Like my mental knees buckle. It’s a mental thing. (Shrugs)

      Yes, by late August we might have a day when it’s only 90. Today I’m happy that it only got to 100. That’s an improvement. Thanks for commenting. Hugs.

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      1. I think unremitting heat does something to your mind. I was lethargic, depressed, and feeling trapped, ever inside with the A/C on. The only time I went out was between 7 and 8 in the morning to swim. The hotter the day, the earlier I went. It usually helps, but it really didn’t because the pool water was 88. Here’s hoping things cool off for you sooner rather than later. I always look forward to the end of August because the heat will soon be gone. I’m a cold weather person! Take care of yourself and thew Scoobies.

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  13. Shame about the cards, Teagan, but I know you will find a way to keep us entertained and excited, as you always do. I don’t want to talk about the heat, but I totally agree with you and cold food. It’s a survival thing at the moment (although I’m a big fan of salads all year round, I must admit, and I like gazpacho, a cold soup, as well). Take care, keep as cool as possible and big hugs, dear Teagan. And love to the Scobbies as well!

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  14. I love the new cover, Teagan. It’s a great story, and a fine new look.

    I’m looking forward to the dragon series. This summer does feel like a good time to work with some fire breathers.

    Hugs on the dragon wing!

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    1. Hahaha! I had a similar thought about the weather and fire breathing dragons, Dan. It does seem fitting. Maybe that’s what put the idea in my head. I appreciate your feedback on the updated cover. Wishing you a wonderful weekend. Hugs winging back to you — on dragon wings. 😀

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    1. Haha, maybe so, Liz. 😄. It’s a hard story to categorize. Magic Realism is probably a good fit. One detail is left intentionally unresolved at the end, because it is meant to keep the reader thinking about the story. It captures the vibe of the rural south to which I was exposed growing up there (though the setting is a decade earlier), and imbues it with the perception of my weirdly wired brain. Have a great weekend. Hugs.

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        1. Oh, horsefeathers. Complaining about the weather is an inalienable human right, Fraggle. 🙂 If it gets hot there, even for a day, you go ahead and complain!

          I know it could be worse. I bless my air conditioner every time it comes on. Although it can only do so much (info says they can only cool 20 degrees below what it is outside). Plus mine is old, so I don’t turn the thermostat down to a level where I’m actually comfortable. It just wears me down is all. Here, when the temp goes up, the air quality often plummets too, not sure why. I used to have mild asthma. This year… not so mild. All that together tends to make anybody tired. But it should be bearable in a few more weeks.

          The summers have been escalating this way for the past 3 or 4 years, each year hotter and longer. If I could have predicted this, I would have retired somewhere else. But that’s what it became. I’m trying to adapt. It only got to 100 today and tomorrow, we’re supposed to get some rain and bring the temp down several more degrees for the day. Looking forward to that. Next week’s forecast is right at 100 most days, with the highest being 102. Even that is an improvement over the past 3 weeks. LOL, yay! It’s only 100. 😀

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