Tuesday, September 2, 2008

The End of Summer

According to the calendar, Summer ends at the autumnal equinox on 21 Sep but we all know better. In the US, Summer ends on Labor Day weekend. Days are shortening, the stores have all long since closed out the last of their summer stock to replace it with back to school supplies and winter clothing. In the hardware department, lawn mowers have given way to snow blowers and the NFL pre season has ended and the games begin next weekend.

This Labor Day, as we have done for the past several years we visited friends for their annual Labor Day picnic. This year, the Pacific Northwest truly gave us a preview of the Autumn to come. The daytime high temperature never made it above the mid 60s and the clouds overhead threatened showers and while we drove through showers on the drive out and heavy rain on the drive home, while we were actually at the picnic the weather smiled upon us.



















A weather front passes to the South.

















On a walk through the woods I happened upon these berries. Many years ago I had a dog, half golden retriever and half irish setter. Beautiful dog. The field where we walked was blessed with a scattering of blackberry bushes. When the berries ripened I'd stop and pick a couple for myself and one or two for her. After a few days she learned to pick her own. She'd ever so daintily reach out and get just the berry with her teeth. Sweet dog. I still miss her...















Every summer picnic, even an end of summer picnic, needs soft drinks on ice.















But with a definite hint of autumn in the cool pacific air a warming fire feels pretty good, too. 4 weeks ago the average daily high temperature was 81 F. Now it's 78 and in only a few short weeks it will be 75. While it was light until well after 9:00 now we're turning the lights on around 8:00.
















David leads a wood gathering party to collect additional firewood.















Soon the leaves on the alders will turn from green to gold. For now they still reflect the cool green of summer.

Perhaps the calendar is right after all.
Perhaps we will have another 3 weeks of summer.
Perhaps ...

TomB