Autumn keeps on coming in these here parts. Tonight the forecast is for a low of 34°, with a slight chance of SNOW. Ugh. Very Excellent Daughter Libby is coming home for a short visit and we’re going to do some winter-proofing in the barnyard. The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting bitter cold in our area this year, so I better be ready. Double ugh.
Anyhow, for now, my days are filled with changing clothes over and over again to keep up with the wide range of temperatures we have in the fall. Morning is pants and a sweatshirt. Mid-morning, lose the sweatshirt for a t-shirt. Around noon, throw on shorts. If I work outside in the afternoon I’ll change into a tank top. Then, that same changing game in reverse as the temps drop in the late afternoon.
I’m waiting patiently. Can we go on our walk now?
One constant is my daily walk with Keela. Our neighborhood streets form a lower case “b” and our walk takes us past almost all the houses. I get to watch the progress of house remodels and landscaping projects and now, I watch for signs of the changing season. There’s always something new, something different.
I don’t know my bugs, but this is one stunning caterpillar, yes?
We still have flowers everywhere.
A perfect rose.
This huge hibiscus bush is covered with blooms.
And since it’s been the wettest summer any of us can remember, the mushrooms are plentiful.
These were the size of oranges one day and grapefruit the next!
But the winner this year is…apples. Every apple tree is loaded, nay, overloaded with apples.
The poor trees are bending to the ground with the weight of the fruit.
The squirrels think they’ve died and gone to heaven! Food everywhere!
One of my favorite children’s books is Frederick by Leo Leonni. Fredrick is a mouse who, as winter approaches, doesn’t help the other mice gather food. Instead he gathers the feelings and smells and warmth of summer. As the food runs short and the snow is deep and the mice are scared, Frederick’s stories about summer make all the other mice feel better.
I feel like Frederick on these walks. I try and soak up the sun and take notice of all the little things I’ll be missing when that forecasted bitter cold arrives. Because I will definitely, definitely be missing summer.
(Shared at HomeAcre Hop, Simple Lives Thursday, Down Home Hop, Backyard Farming Connection, Tuesdays With A Twist, Maple Hill Hop, Thank Goodness It’s Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Clever Chicks Hop, Simple Saturdays, Farmgirl Friday, From the Farm and Old-Fashioned Friday)
Well it’s still forecast to be around 100 here through the weekend and no signs of cooling for a while. Thought we had a strong chance of El Nino this winter but now the experts say maybe not so much… Don’t know if I’m ready for snow but pants and a sweatshirt sounds divine. My hands miss my knitting needles too.
Love your pictures Joan, the caterpillar is so bright and the bench… WOW that could look lovely in a frame? Fall is my favorite season, I’m ready and I’m sending you wishes that the warmth lingers in your hood for a little longer.
Jen recently posted…Ms. Daisy Mae…
Thanks Jen! Stay in the shade in your neck of the woods 🙂
Snow already? Brrrrr! We’re not forecast to have snow here in Italy until maybe January this year but who knows. These things creep up unexpectedly sometimes. Before that we have the grape harvest which has just begun, and the olive harvest in November – back-breaking work but the sight of the first pea-green oil coming off the huge stone presses is worth it.
Thanks for those lovely pics – amazing mushrooms! 🙂
Cath recently posted…Jul 7, Mocha, the hen who loved to cluck.
Slight chance of snow! It is still in the 90’s here. Thanks for sharing at the HomeAcre hop. Be sure to stop by at http://www.PintSizeFarm.com or one of the other hosts to submit another this week.
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