I can feel the end of summer in the air. Every September, usually just as the kids are returning to school, we have a heat wave. I remember just having moved to California from Michigan and starting 7th grade at a new junior high. The first day of school it was 107 degrees. We had an outside assembly (brilliant) and I fainted from the heat. Quite a fuss was made over me, and as I recall, I got to go home. Sure it got plenty hot back in Michigan, but this intense sun shine was something else again. Of course I was wearing a new wool skirt Mom had bought me for Back To School. You know me, fashion above all practical considerations, even at the age of 12.
This end of the summer time in California is dry and dusty and not at all as enjoyable to me as the earlier hot days at the beginning of the season. By this time, I am ready to drag out my fall decorating knick nacks and start browsing through cook books for soup and stew recipes. I crave a gray rainy day with the fire crackling in the corner while I curl up on the couch in a big cozy sweater clutching a good book and a cup of tea.
That is hard to imagine when the temperatures are in the triple digits. I know it won't last, and I should appreciate my tall iced tea with the ice cubes tinkling, the puppies running through the sprinkler, and sitting outside on the loveseat on the patio in the evening watching the stars come out. But my roses are done, the leaves on the trees are starting to crisp up, and that new wool skirt is begging to be worn.
28 responses to “Last Days of Summer”
My goodness gracious. When I was in eigth grade back in ’63 we moved from Battle Creek, Michigan to Salinas, California. It was soooooo very different than what I was used to. We only stayed there a couple months and then headed north to Pleasant Hill. So we too exchanged the humidity and mosquitos for heat and mosquitos and living with the crazy Californians. People really thought my folks had gone nuts. “Those people are crazy out there! What are you guys thinking?”
I am looking for cool book reading, quilt sewing, pansy planting weather.
My goodness gracious. When I was in eigth grade back in ’63 we moved from Battle Creek, Michigan to Salinas, California. It was soooooo very different than what I was used to. We only stayed there a couple months and then headed north to Pleasant Hill. So we too exchanged the humidity and mosquitos for heat and mosquitos and living with the crazy Californians. People really thought my folks had gone nuts. “Those people are crazy out there! What are you guys thinking?”
I am looking for cool book reading, quilt sewing, pansy planting weather.
Lovely images! Here in Colorado, the sky is gray, but I know we’ll have more heat before autumn sets in.
Karen
Lovely images! Here in Colorado, the sky is gray, but I know we’ll have more heat before autumn sets in.
Karen
I see on different blogs that everyone is pulling out their fall decorations but I can’t seem to get mine out yet. It was very hot and humid here last week and then a tropical storm went through Saturday. Today is gorgeous in the 80’s. But I know if the fall decorations come out then winter can’t be far behind and I am totally trying to avoid that.
I see on different blogs that everyone is pulling out their fall decorations but I can’t seem to get mine out yet. It was very hot and humid here last week and then a tropical storm went through Saturday. Today is gorgeous in the 80’s. But I know if the fall decorations come out then winter can’t be far behind and I am totally trying to avoid that.
I’m also waiting for the cooler temperatures…and I would love a cloudy, rainy day! Here in southern Nevada we are still in the triple digits–just waiting for fall!
I’m also waiting for the cooler temperatures…and I would love a cloudy, rainy day! Here in southern Nevada we are still in the triple digits–just waiting for fall!
Back in the 90s we used to live in Pennsylvania and remember the change in smell from summer to fall. It was just something that occurred sometime around the end of August, beginning of September. I miss that since we now live in southwest Florida where it’s 92 and sunny.
Back in the 90s we used to live in Pennsylvania and remember the change in smell from summer to fall. It was just something that occurred sometime around the end of August, beginning of September. I miss that since we now live in southwest Florida where it’s 92 and sunny.
Oh, I’m right there with you . . . for us it will be a good long bit before there is a fire in the fireplace. Even then, we usually have the backdoor open to keep it from getting too hot *s*
Oh, I’m right there with you . . . for us it will be a good long bit before there is a fire in the fireplace. Even then, we usually have the backdoor open to keep it from getting too hot *s*
As a native Californian, I still hate hot autumns. My garden, like yours, is looking peaked and tired and since it’s football season, I’m ready to hang out indoors and get some sewing down while hubby watches the games. Come on fall!!
As a native Californian, I still hate hot autumns. My garden, like yours, is looking peaked and tired and since it’s football season, I’m ready to hang out indoors and get some sewing down while hubby watches the games. Come on fall!!
I definitely remember that first-day-of school dilemma from elementary school in the bay area! You have these cool new fall/winter duds and you’ve just GOT to wear them even though it’s 90 degrees out. I had one outfit that was lacy cotton tights and long-sleeved top with a wool skirt… nearly died!
I definitely remember that first-day-of school dilemma from elementary school in the bay area! You have these cool new fall/winter duds and you’ve just GOT to wear them even though it’s 90 degrees out. I had one outfit that was lacy cotton tights and long-sleeved top with a wool skirt… nearly died!
I wish I could send you my gray rainy 50 degree day from IL. I like cool, but this is almost to the point of cold with the rain.
I wish I could send you my gray rainy 50 degree day from IL. I like cool, but this is almost to the point of cold with the rain.
WE just had our first day of spring here the weather is nice just starting to warm up.just how I like it soon it will be to hot.
Hugs Mary.
WE just had our first day of spring here the weather is nice just starting to warm up.just how I like it soon it will be to hot.
Hugs Mary.
Fall has always been my favorite. Falling leaves, cool crisp mornings, bonfires, football, sweaters, chili and hot chocolate!
Fall has always been my favorite. Falling leaves, cool crisp mornings, bonfires, football, sweaters, chili and hot chocolate!
I’d trade you any time! To me fall means winter is coming — and I dread the thought. Your nice warm temps sound like heaven!
I’d trade you any time! To me fall means winter is coming — and I dread the thought. Your nice warm temps sound like heaven!
Coming from Oklahoma, the days of September were like a cool rag on a fevered forehead. I loved the change in smells, the rain that dampened down the August dust and the feeling that we had survived another scorching summer (don’t get me wrong – I love Oklahoma weather). I’ve lived in Virginia for eight years and the change is not nearly as intense. It is lovely but I don’t have the abrupt sense of change, anticipation and gratitude that Oklahoma Septembers brought.
Coming from Oklahoma, the days of September were like a cool rag on a fevered forehead. I loved the change in smells, the rain that dampened down the August dust and the feeling that we had survived another scorching summer (don’t get me wrong – I love Oklahoma weather). I’ve lived in Virginia for eight years and the change is not nearly as intense. It is lovely but I don’t have the abrupt sense of change, anticipation and gratitude that Oklahoma Septembers brought.
As we have had a c%^& summer in the UK I would quite like an Indian summer but we aren’t going to get one. It has rained for days now.
As we have had a c%^& summer in the UK I would quite like an Indian summer but we aren’t going to get one. It has rained for days now.