A Happy Fall?

Is a happy fall upon us or will it be a frustrating disappointment of the absolute saddest kind? We need cooler temps, the sun and humidity have been relentless and rarely taking time off. They show up just about daily and torture. The summer has been unbearable, weather-wise. If only we could move to Oregon or even Pennsylvania. I fell in love with the trees in Pennsylvania but the natural world found in Oregon cannot be beat. This summer began quite mild. The mornings were still in the low 70s and dry. We found ourselves having breakfast outside at 8 a.m. and sitting outside until 1-2 p.m. We'd lunch and watch clouds go by. We were well into June when the oppressive temperatures came upon us and ruined our bucolic plans in the backyard as well as the garden.

Recently I found that a black widow had really made herself at home under the deck we abandoned to the heat at the end of June. She was quite large and had three egg sacks. I instantly took my sandal to it all and removed that part of the deck. It had slats where she could easily crawl into our world and would be easily encountered. I couldn't have that. That part of the deck will be rebuilt with a design allowing whatever exists in the underworld to remain there, keeping us apart.

In July we took out Kathy Lennon [of the Lennon Sisters] and photographed her around town. We love paper dolls and I am so glad that August still enjoys playing with them the way she does. It's become a zen type of play, perhaps it always was. One of these will become our Welcome Fall greeting card. While our temperatures don't seem to be surrendering to the season, a lady can dream and dream... Sadly, with climate change, I am not expecting a very cold holiday season. I hope I am wrong.