Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Octoberish


Every year, come August and September, I get a little depressed thinking about the end of summer. But October changes all that. Autumn skies, crisp breezes, leaves beginning to flutter down - all these both soothe and lift the spirits.

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The county mowers were out today, lumbering down the verge like giant locusts chewing up the last of summer. Gone now are the asters and goldenrod that spangled the roadside all through September; gone too the lemon-coloured milkweed leaves and the fine wiry remains of Queen Anne's Lace. In their place are shorn brown stems and dry, brittle grass, looking stripped down and bare in readiness for winter.

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The song of the crickets is fading. Just two weeks ago, swarms of them could still be heard chanting "summer-summer-summer-summer" in double-quick time. Now their numbers have dwindled to a contemplative few, who sit in the overgrown garden bed, slowly chirping "au-tumn ... au-tumn".

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For the first time in three years, the oak tree in the front yard, and the walnut trees in the back, have produced a fine crop of nuts. The Squirrelympics (can I say that? will I get sued?) are in full swing, with Grey Squirrels heading the medals list. All the usual events are taking place: Hide the Nut, Spiral Tree Chase, Sass Talking, Rhythmic Tail-Twitch, Human Avoidance, Creative Stashing, and Wire-Walking, to name but a few.

One particularly savvy (or possibly lazy) squirrel left a walnut in the tire tracks outside our garage door, letting our car do the heavy work of splitting the tough green hull. Others have chosen more exotic storage spots. We've found nuts in my bike basket, on Mr. M's motorcycle seat, in the paper recycling box, balanced on a bicycle pedal....

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While everyone else is putting on long sleeves and sweatshirts to combat the cooling weather, the trees are slipping into their black lace evening gowns:


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How is October treating you?

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32 comments:

  1. Like you, I love this time of the year, Sue. There is so much beauty to see in nature (as in all the four seasons, even Winter!) I loved reading about the squirrels antics and all the funny places they leave their nuts to hide them for cold winter days! Two pretty tree captures!

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    1. Thank you, Sandra! Wishing you a beautiful Autumn. :)

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  2. October came in like a lion! It has been super windy. It's still warm, but there is that little hint of fall in the morning and evening air.

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    1. That sounds very like the weather we had here at the beginning of the month. Then came a some very heavy rain and a tornado (southeast of us). Now it's beautiful again. :)

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  3. Love watching squirrels but we don't have any here. Our mid-day temperature is currently below 100 degrees which means Fall is on its way. We had very strong winds come through early morning. Temps are now going into the 70's at night so that makes me very, very, very happy!

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    1. We actually had some 90-degree days not long ago - very unseasonal at this time of year! Hope you enjoy Fall, Tammy. :)

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  4. I love watching squirrels - we don't see that many around our current house (not enough mature trees? wrong kind of trees) but at our last house I was often entertained by a squirrel's acrobatics as it tried to get to the bird feeder hanging from the corner of the garage roof! October has been mostly wet and windy here so far, although today it was dry and bright until about half an hour ago. I've just brought all the laundry back in but it's not raining quite yet. The trees are looking lovely though - autumn has seemed to happen very suddenly this year!

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    1. It's been like that here too. Things were horribly dry until just a few days ago when some storms rolled through and dropped a lot of rain. Before that the trees were just drying up and dropping leaves without much colour. But the rain seems to have freshened things up and suddenly the maples are starting to blaze.

      Hope you're all doing well! :)

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  5. Such beautiful photos. Still more like summer than fall here, mid to upper 80's for the next week or so.

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    1. Thanks Janet! We've been bouncing back and forth between warm weather and cool. Most years we would have had at least one frost by now, but not this one. Strange weather all around.

      Hope you guys are all cleaned up from the hurricane.

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  6. I love your evening gown imagery!!! WOW

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    1. Thanks Kathy! Those gowns get skimpier as the season progresses, you know, until eventually the trees are wearing nothing but their birthday suits. Very brave of them in the cold weather! :)

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  7. It's funny you say this, I feel sad in October since that is really when our summer ends in Georgia! We are hoping we don't get any more wind from the next hurricane!

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    1. I hope things stayed calm for you Kay!

      October is such a beautiful month here, it's one of my favourite times of year. May is the other. :)

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  8. Squirrels are ever-present here (in Michigan), but it's the chipmunks who really took over this year. We have them coming out our ears!
    You're right about the crickets. I miss the summer chorus. The lazy fall chirrups are comforting to hear now.
    I concentrate on enjoying every minute of the fall as I dread the winter -- I get cold very easily. My chickens hate the snow and won't even step on a dusting of it. It's funny to see them ready to charge out of the coop in the morning then screech to a halt when they see the snow. My husband shovels paths for them around the chicken yard so they can play outside.

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    1. Funny how the chipmunk tide seems to ebb and flow (really mixed metaphor, that!). Some years we have oodles of the little buggers and other years almost none. They're cute, but they like to nibble on my tomatoes which makes me see red (really bad pun!).
      That's a funny story about your chickens. :)

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  9. I enjoyed your squirrel-y story of autumn arriving in your neck of the woods. We've got colored leaves now and cooling temps and the sun slanting across the pastures. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. That beautiful slanting afternoon light - it comes earlier every day, doesn't it? And tonight it was dark at 7 o'clock....
      Our trees are beginning to turn as well. The next few weeks are some of the most beautiful of the year.
      Hugs back! :)

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  10. Wow, I love "squirrelympics." I wish I were in your part of the world when it is time for trees shedding the summer gown. But no, I am in the forever summer or perhaps if it is the La Nina thing, forever wet part. Anyway, I love how put magic in your words that I feel I am there too, finding nuts hidden away creatively by the athletes, by sheer michief or else. I would love Autumn too, hmmmm one of my American dream not yet mine, even this ripe of many summers.

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    1. Thank you! I grew up in Southern California where there are about one and a half seasons, so I love the full four seasons we get here in Wisconsin. :)

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  11. I would love to see your squirrel antics! Happy Autumn.

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  12. Autumn is my favorite time of the year, too. Loved your post. :) It's time to hunker down and get some knitting done...I always say this when there is a chill in the air....except this year, it's been 85 and no chill yet. I will keep my knitting needles crossed in hopes that soon Autumn will find her way towards my neck of the woods. Wishing you a lovely day sweet friend. :)

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    1. Thanks V! I'm waiting for that chill as well - we've had hints of it but then the weather keeps warming up again. It's so much more fun to knit and crochet when the weather is cool.... :)

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  13. Fall isn't that bad. :-) There will be a next summer. Have a nice time, Regula

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    1. Fall is wonderful! I enjoy it every year. I hope you have a lovely Fall in Switzerland. :)

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  14. It is still quite hot around here but there is hope - talk of rain later this week. But before I can fully concentrate on October I must wonder about The Mystery of the Disappearing September - where did it go?
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. The Mystery of the Disappearing September is Chapter 9 of The Mystery of the Disappearing Year. That book seems to get re-written every year lately....
      I hope you got some rain. We did. :)

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  15. Your Squirrelympics cracked me up! Just what I needed today! Love your black lace evening gowns, too. What a great description! I may have to borrow that a time or two!

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    1. You may borrow it as often as you like. Sisters always share clothes, you know. :)

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  16. October is usually gentle and kind here in Pennsylvania. This year he is particularly warm. We are still eating fresh tomatoes from the micro-garden.

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    1. Our October has also been very warm, and my tomatoes are flourishing. We're enjoying every bite while we can. :)

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