Seasons of our lives

Well I guess as one season ends so another begins – It’s official, summer is over and autumn has started. I can’t believe how fast the leaves start to change colour, it’s only been a week and the once lush green leaves are now turning to rustic reds, oranges and yellows. The once balmy temperatures have expectantly turned frigid, seemingly overnight. I am not sad, I will not cry because I know that summer will come again. I actually prefer Autumn and spring to summer – the weather is cooler making it more comfortable to sleep and it’s nice to live in a place where you get to truly experience all the seasons in their splendor and misery.  I am going to try to get out more this autumn and take some nice scenic shots which I promise – in my attempt to be more active here on our blog site  – to post at least a few of my pics for your enjoyment or critique.

It’s not all bad – I know there are a lot of nay sayers when it comes to the enjoyment of cooler temperatures but for you couch potatoes that means a new fall line up on TV or a chance to sit wrapped in a blanket with a good book. For the more adventurous folks there are fall fares and yard or garden prep for you home owners out there. Even though summer is finished I can’t believe that I still have to cut the lawn at least once more. Weather permitting. If you’re not an autumn lover take heart that not all is lost there is still that little warm spell lovingly known as Indian summer.

The expression ‘Indian summer’ has been used for more than two centuries. The earliest known use was by French-American writer St. John de Crevecoeur in rural New York in 1778. There are several theories as to its etymology:

• In The Americans: The Colonial Experience, Daniel J. Boorstin speculates that the term originated from raids on European colonies by Indian war parties; these raids usually ended in autumn, hence the extension to summer-like weather in the fall as an Indian summer. Two of the three other known uses of the term in the 18th century are from accounts kept by two army officers leading retaliation expeditions against Indians for raids on settlers in Ohio and Indiana in 1790, and Pennsylvania in 1794.
• It may be so named because this was the traditional period during which early North American Indians harvested their crops of squash and corn.
• In the same way that Indian giver was coined for people who take back presents they have bestowed, the phrase Indian summer may simply have been a way of saying “false summer. (However some traditions say “indian giver” refers to the practice of giving gifts at the end of pow wow to honor and support the receiver in living a good life.. If the recipient fails to do so, the giver may take back the gift.)

Just a couple pictures of Autumn scapes– not done by me but wanted to share.

Cory