If August was the month of excess, of too much heat, too much summer, then September is the month of realization.
Coming to the conclusion that it is going to start getting darker soon, it is not just a faraway thought. Knowing that the beautiful sunny days are going to go away, and soon. Rains will fall, temperatures will drop, the gorgeous flowers will droop.
September is both the month of knowing, and of denial. Knowing that it can't last forever, even though in August we thought it could. Denial that it will happen, and happen very soon.
Sweaters come out of hibernation, socks crawl out from under the bed, and wrap themselves comfortingly around our feet.
The cat sleeps even more, crawling sleepily and sloth like, from a patch of warm light to pillows drenched in the last of the golden honey.
He has no recall, no memories of of shivers, chills, and drenching rain. He lives in the moment, and the moment is now, a patch of sun, and a full tummy. He does not know this is the month of realization. And if he did, he would not care.
Sometimes I think that I want to be the cat.
Leaves change, almost before our eyes, turning into golden drips, amber crystals sparkling in brown sugar sun. We know what is coming, and we dread it, even as we allow the last kiss of the summer warmth to touch our heads
And part of us waits, because we know that summer will return again next year.
Well said. The color of that nasturtium is amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post Jen. I spend most of the winter months looking through seed catalogs anticipating next summer! Our cats are loving these fall days of cooler temps and extra squirrel activity. They love to curl up on velvety afghans for a nap.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos today - I do look forward to the changing leaves.
Ya, well I hope i took enough flower photos to last me the winter. Hope you did too:)
ReplyDeleteI get to realize snow this next week...as far as the weather channel says anyway! great post today...well said!
ReplyDeleteJen girl .. all of us who are "cat people" secretly wish to be our own cats ? I think it is a Freudian thing ? ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes .. October starts Thursday, hard to believe but I have to admit this is my favorite month of the year .. I just hope our weather cooperates .. we hit a rainy patch now and I'm worried the leaves might fall before I can take pictures .. plus that awful "black tar spot" is still in the neighborhood, damn !!! haha
Very nice post girl : )
So poetic and beautiful! Although I must say, I like autumn (once I get used to the colder weather).
ReplyDeleteYou are so right ....and my sweaters and socks are already out!
ReplyDeleteThat leaf is stunning! :)
Jen, That is an apt description of September~~our temps are starting to drop and leaves are turning. It would be better at times to live in the moment! Btw, this post is a lovely read. gail
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Jen. And the photos are just stunning...mesmerizing even. :)
ReplyDeleteLori, I will admit that these photos are all from the archives, so they are last years Autumn. But they are almost to the day a year ago. And the sunlit nasturtium is a fav of mine.
ReplyDeleteMildred, I look forward to the changing leaves myself, as much as I keep hanging onto the last dregs of summer.
Far Side, I know what you mean, and it's the first thing that ran through my head when I was looking in my archives, there is huge gaps in November.
Tootsie, let's just hope that they are way off, it is toooooo early.
Garden Joy, I hear you about the rain, it seems to last forever, and then you can't get outside to enjoy the fall color. And yes, there are times when I want to be Bootsie, he has a good life.
Lady Fi, I love Autumn, next to spring it is my favorite also. I just wish it wasn't so rainy here.
Nutty Gnome, thanks, I think that is a Parrotia leaf. Persian Ironwood. Every large garden should have one, of course my garden is very small, but.....
Gail, thank you. Living in the moment sometimes is all we get, this I realize more and more.
Andrea, I love Fall, and the colors...
Jen
CAN cats sleep more...? Just wondering.
ReplyDeleteI'm firmly in denial on this autumn changing weather thing.
We are poised between the seasons, but swinging the other way. Had the wood stove going last night. Peeling off the jacket in the garden today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a very seasonable post!
ReplyDeleteI think I am ready for a rest from gardening. Winter is my time for sitting in front of the fire with a good book to read.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful nasturtiums and leaves. Thank you very much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJen, What a lovely post and the photos are exceptional. Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons, then winter and finally summer. I love the cooler weather since I seem to have so much more energy during those seasons. I just learned today that the fall colors are brought about due to the decrease in light that the plants receive. I always thought it had to do with the temperatures and the moisture. Your cat sounds like a wise one. Who doesn't savor resting on a soft bed in a warm ray of sunlight. By the way, I really love your sunflower. You are an extremely talented photographer.
ReplyDeleteHow beautifully written, Jen! Just like a piece of artwork...your words were placed together 'just so' to create vivid and brilliant images in my mind. A bit sad...but so true;-) I'm still in denial. The good thing is that it will be summer again...we can count on that!
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful post, Jen, but it almost made me cry! I want more summer!
ReplyDeleteSeptember seems to be my month of "realization" of what I did wrong and right in the garden. Always saying I'll do better next year.
ReplyDeleteDo enjoy the fall...cooler temps are great.
Your words and your pictures are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSweaters are out but am still in 'sock denial'. Love the photos, Jen!
ReplyDeleteIt's suppose to get a lot cooler here in the next few days which will certainly feel like fall.
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