I can feel the changes in the cooler nights, can see the foggy mornings, can smell wood smoke in the air. Autumn is beginning to creep in around here. Many, many plants are setting seed. Caterpillars are quickly changing to butterflies and moths, including monarchs who often migrate through part of the farm here as they head south.As much as I revel is the brilliant colors of summer, the subtle shapes, colors and textures of fall evoke special emotions for me, primarily, a kind of sweet melancholia. It doesn't mean I'm just sad all the time...but something about this season will catch in my throat as I watch life wind down and fade away. For me, there's something very reflective here as the bright colors and vivid greens give way to softer, earth tones.
The night falls earlier and earlier and lasts longer each day. The very angle and quality of natural light begins to shift and soften somehow, as the earth's angle changes in relation to the sun. I hear gun shots more often as country neighbors practice for deer season, which will come around in another month and a half or so.
The official end of summer seems to be Labor Day as the campground was full and busy for 4 full days here. Fall camping, through mid October, can be very nice and scout groups will gather here for final outings of the year, but chances are that the big crowds are finished for the season.
The weather has been very strange around here this past summer-mostly much cooler and wetter-and there are predictions (for what that's worth!) of an early and hard winter. But for now, we will savor the gradual entry of fall and enjoy the changes, both subtle and bold.
P.S. If you enjoyed your visit here, please vote for my blog "WillOaks Studio - Behind the Gallery View" here--votes will be gathered through the end of September. I'm pretty far behind, but maybe in time, my blog will catch up? Many thanks, I really appreciate your support.
