Autumn

There was change in the air this week. The calendar rolled over to August which means that there's still ample sauna weather here in the midwest. However, the hints of the change to come are starting to show themselves, if you're inclined to notice them. The Purple Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans have gone to seed inviting the yellow finches to light and have a late summer meal. All of the daisies have gone the way of "she loves me, she loves me not," and the still-green leaves are storing up food for the long winter's rest. The shadows of the sun are longer earlier in the evening while the song of the cicada serenades the children to sleep. But the surest sign yet of the coming cool breezes was not so quiet in arriving. On Tuesday, I saw the first flock of Canada geese land on the pond in a nearby subdivision. Yes, winter's guests have started arriving for the season. It won't be long before the chill in the morning air brings out the L.L. Bean field coat for the season. Shorts will be packed away yet again, and autumn will be in full firey display. Thank God...