There comes a day in August when you read the signs, the subtle little signs of a shift in seasons.Today was the day. I sensed, rather than saw, a faint gold tinge in the landscape, and the bay gleamed like a thousand azure diamonds in the morning sun. I watched a trio of mallards float and dip their way across the cove. The traffic was heavy as my husband and I made our way to the farm market to buy onions, cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash.
The sunsets are saffron and misty. The crickets, slow to favor us with their song this year, are finally here.
I've been stocking up on wool and corduroy jackets in colors like burgundy, aubergine and pumpkin. The sales at the mall just now are incredible, and you can see the sunset there, unobstructed. The birds are flocking together on high wires, planning their trip south.
I love the smell of new school supplies, and although my student days are long past and I no longer teach at the university, I always make sure I buy a few new pens and highlighters and notebooks. Old habits die hard.
Labor Day Weekend is the real beginning of the year for most of us. For me it is a good time to make new plans, new resolutions.
Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy the best of summer food with samples of fall fare, too.
What are you up to?
25 comments:
I'm beginning to see a few posts here and there from bloggers who have noticed the seasonal shift too, Mimi. Yours is particularly lovely. I noticed a slight chill in the air early this morning, just enough to nod my head in acknowledgement.
Hi Christine, I was just over at your blog drooling over your ice cream. My summer-into-fall post has become a tradition here. I guess I've been too busy to feel it until today.
There is a cool breeze blowing tonight and tomorrow only mid 70, so cool for August. I'm wondering if we are going to have an early fall/winter. I went to the market this morning too and bought lots of goodies for the week.
We have not had much cool breeze the bast two days, but today was exceptional here, Judy. Our weather patterns are certainly shifting.
Here in Rhode Island we are in the full throes of summer, with 90-degree temperatures and plants in bloom that should have been finished by now. After two months of intense rain, everything in the garden is late, and Fall seems like it will be late, too.
I was driving up and over the mountain into Asheville the other day and saw a few stray leaves blowing across my windshield and thought, Fall is in the air. The crepe myrtle are in full bloom and that means school will be starting soon. Where has the summer gone?
We've had an unusual summer here - much cooler than usual. We have been sitting on our patio later in the evening than we should enjoying the cooler breeze that makes me feel fall is just around the corner. We went to see "Julia and Julie" yesterday afternoon - truly beautiful scenery in France and the food prepared for the movie was stunning! I have already looked up a recipe for Sole Meunière - the first dish shown in the movie. It made my mouth water. I am looking forward to fall and winter cooking - including your roast chicken recipe which has turned out to be one of our favorites. Fall is my favorite time of year!
Lydia, our summer is similar, but I think since we had such a cool July, the natural world is confused. The lateness of crickets may be a sign that this lovely season in-between will linger. I hope so. I love the farm stands all over town!
Penny, I was just thinking that we have three more weeks of summer vacation, and then school begins. It starts the day after Labor Day in most Wisconsin and Michigan schools. So in a sense, we have a longer summer this year, according to the calendar.
Trish, didn't that look tasty? I will look for a recipe too, but finding sole locally may be my real challenge. I really want to see that movie again, so I can catch all the visuals. I was just so enchanted with Meryl Streep...
I get so excited when I see fall coming. It is my favorite time of year. I've started to see a little color on the trees. I'm waiting to change my decor to my fall look. I do it when the summer look starts to feel wrong, too bare. Linda
Linda, my house was so messy this summer, it looked cluttered, not bare. But I do have some favorite things I want to put out in place of sea grass baskets of shells. I have a trio of black wooden candle holders that are very basic, almost Shaker in design. I also have a trio of gingham pumpkins in tan, orange and mustard plaids - very country, very 90s. Finally, the sea grass baskets will be replaced by hollowed out gourd baskets filled with spicy pot pourri.
I used to see those signs when I lived in New Mexico. Moving to San Diego, the first thing I noticed was that there was nothing to notice at this time of the year. Fall doesn't start here until around November, and fall is my favorite season. ;-(
But I just got back from Orcas Island up in the San Juans, and got to walk in apple and pear orchards and feel the crisp air. Ahhhhh....
Oh, Toni, Orcas Island would be a wonderful place this time of year.
My brother who lives near LA has said the same thing about Southern California.
We are finally in the heat of summer, and it is nearly over! My tomatoes are finally beginning to ripen, albeit 3 weeks behind schedule.
Nonetheless, I look forward to autumn...truly my favorite season.
I think spring is my favorite season, but I really look love the run up to autumn from about Aug 10 onwards. It just makes me feel good, Cyn.
It's been hot to warm here for the past week, but we had one really cool day the first week of August. July was unseasonably cool. Go figure.
Just saw your comments. For some reason blogger is not always showing me there is a comment, but the comment does show up on the post. Anyway thanks for your comments. I love the autumn colors too. I see you have some other blogs, I'll have to check them out. Linda
Linda, I have had the same problem here form time to time. Blogger has its gremlins!
I have not done much on those other blogs. I am mostly putzing around...
How delicious..I made my first fire of the season this morning in my woodstove..It's cool here on the Central Coast of California.
I too saw it...while walking my poodle this morning, I noticed the tree on the corner..the leaves at the very top are starting to turn.
And those big giant spiders we have in fall are back. I just love them..they look so Halloween.
And just for extra measure, I am baking bread today....
MFK (famous initial you got there!), I was driving on the road that skirts town and saw rust leaves already. Where was our summer?
Hi Mimi....Good to hear from you. You're in Wisconsin...I have never been there, but have always loved what I have seen of it in magazines.
I know, CLG was a great magazine, my friend Sharon Lovejoy was an editor for that magazine and had a column called "Heart's Ease". I helped with alot of the holiday issues too. Some were shot at Sharon's house. It was always so much fun. Got such great decorating ideas as we would all brainstorm.
And as far as the tomato sauce goes...yep, today I am making sauce..and the really funny thing is...we have RAIN forcast for Saturday !
I love your blog and will check back later.
Have a great weekend.
Best,
Kary
Just one more thing.I was reading your comments Mimi, and I love your Shaker black candlesticks so much. How fall is that? And your 90's style plaid pumpkins....those kind of things always seem to make the house so cozy.....
Kary
I always notice the different sound the breeze makes in the trees this time of year - it sounds like fall....
Now I want a corduroy jacket.... Maybe there will still be sales when I'm there in September.
Katie, I have noticed that the winds blow low to the ground along the causses of The Lot and make a murmuring sound. Oh, just writing that makes me miss France. I am busy during the week, but on weekends, my mind wanders back there...
Enjoy your trip home!
In Québec city, the weather is now colder now and the marple are now res and orange. The automn is here to stay!
Anne
Psitt: Sorry, I'm not really good in english but I understand all what you write, my dear.
C'est un plaisir pour moi que de vous lire.
Merci, Anne! I am not so good with French, but I think I understand what you write, too.
I love the name Anne, as it was my Grandma's name.
Hello Mimi,
Your Grandma's name was Anne with an «e», isn'it?
My official name is Anne without «e». My french family lived in an english town (Kinnear's Mills)in Québec and all our first name are english. Curious!
Have a nice evening.
Anne
Quebec City
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