I was relieved when August ended because I thought cooler weather was on the way. To my surprise (and unmitigated disgust) September has been hotter than August.
Question: is there any place on earth where September is cooler than 90 degrees? I'm ready to move.
Don't tell me that I have to go farther north than Nova Scotia.
Here's another question, which I'm sure you are all eagerly anticipating ( a smidgen of sarcasm inserted here):
How are you feeling, Jon - how are things going in your life?
I could lie outrageously and say that things are going great.
Or I could tell the truth and write a few dozen (or hundred) pages of complaints.
Draw your own conclusions.
The good news is that it's autumn - my favorite time of year! And if it wasn't for the blistering heat, my debilitating ill health, and the unrelenting horrors and miseries of living in the wilderness, I'd be absolutely joyful.
This sounds like a good time for me to dig into the dusty archives of my photo files and share some pictures of past autumns. It should put me in a good mood........maybe.....
An appealing autumnal ensemble
on my kitchen table when I lived in Texas.
When I first moved to Texas, I had a garden which yielded over thirty pumpkins. This was an impressive achievement, considering the intense drought - and soil that was nothing more than red dust. That was my first and last TX garden. It was all too much trouble.
My TX pumpkins all in a row
Harvest moon rising in West Texas
My cat Scratch (also known as Kitzee) when she was about four months old, in October, 2005. Odessa, TX.
Trees along the lake near my house in West Texas. They would turn timid autumnal colors in November.
At Wilson's Creek, near Springfield, Missouri.
When I first left California I lived in the Missouri Ozarks - a drastic change from L.A. There is something haunting and extremely intriguing about the Ozarks. I loved it there -- all except for the endless severe storms.
Pumpkins and maple tree in the Missouri back yard.
Me, Myself, and I
on an Ozark October afternoon
Maple Park Cemetery
Springfield, Missouri
That place is haunted and I have stories to tell....
An unflattering photo of me
with two Ozark horses made of hay
(Maude and Claude)
Wilson's Creek
Civil War Battlefield
Beautiful collection of pictures and past memories.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed you don't like to wear much denim? LOL!
I actually hate denim, Maddie - but when I lived in the Ozarks I was in an inexplicable Denim Phase.
DeleteAfter all, where else could you wear denim without getting shot?? (*smile*
Fabulous photographs today, Jon. You are a fabulous photographer. As for the climate, you would have been welcome to enjoy our three days of warmth followed by torrential rain and chilly days. What the hell happened to summer, that's what I want to know.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the photos, Valerie. I would welcome some chilly days. It seems that summer has settled here in Tennessee and refuses to leave.
DeleteI am sooooo done with summer. It's supposed to be 99* today. :(
ReplyDeleteThen blog friend Jack went and commented they had to turn on the heater this morning -- at the Blue Ridge Parkway. Thank you for sharing these pictures again. Soothes my soul to realize Autumn DOES exist.
99 degrees at the end of September?? It sounds like Texas (and California). I think we should consider going to Canada, Myra. Well, I'm hoping that autumn might make a visit in October....
DeleteI was thinking of you on Thurs. when you started the new job. I truly hope things work out for you.
Fun to see photos of you, Jon. I have to say, I've seen a minion made out of hay, but never horses!!! We tried growing pumpkins here with the kids, but either an animal would eat the seeds or they'd rot on the vine.
ReplyDeleteI'd like Fall a lot better if it wasn't followed by Winter.
I would be perfectly happy it was autumn and spring year-round. I was surprised (shocked) when I grew pumpkins in west Texas, since it was the worst soil I ever saw. I had to use a lot of water.
DeleteI thought I could have a garden here in TN but my property is on perilous slopes and hills - with a jungle of weeds. The seeds that I planted yielded nothing.
They're talking possible frost up here this week and more rain. To the west of us Montana just had a big snowstorm. You guys out east and south are still in the heat wave! Sounds like we aree in different seasons, Jon--LOL! It should cool off pretty soon your way if we've getting colder and colder up here. :)
ReplyDeleteFrost would be nice, but I think I'll skip the snowstorm....until December. It's still 90 here, but the humidity has been low, which makes things tolerable. And the good news is that it's suppose to cool down next week.
DeleteTake care, and hugs for Annie
Jon, we're having the same kind of bipolar September as well. For two days it will be cool and no humidity, then the next four days it's HOT and very HUMID. Today was so damn humid outside that I could barely breathe.
ReplyDeleteYup, Autumn is my favorite time of the year as well. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I just wish the weather felt like Autumn, you know?
GREAT photos! I especially love the ones of the pumpkins because I ADORE pumpkins. They make me smile.
That photograph of your cat sitting among the decorations is priceless! Scratch looks as though she's part of the center piece!
The Fall foliage in the pictures you shared is STUNNING! I can't wait until the leaves start changing color this year.
Have a great week, my friend! And be well!
Ron, I used to hate the hot Septembers in California and Texas, and they seem to have followed me to Tennessee. It's still near 90 today but the humidity is low so it's tolerable. It's suppose to cool down next week (my fingers and toes are crossed).
DeleteI have lots of autumn photos and plan to share more of them. I can't wait until the beautiful fall foliage erupts. I always take lots of photos in the forest around my property (usually in late October).
I LOVE pumpkins!! And I also love any food that is made with pumpkin - like pumpkin bread, cookies, ice cream, etc.
I seem to have used another Google account when I posted my reply to your comment (I have two of them).
DeleteHey Jon, it's been quite chilly in my neck of the woods: 68 during the day - 45 degrees at night. I've been using my tiny electric heater for more than a week! This means huge electric bills, but I'm still delighted that autumn is alive and well in the city of roses: I love to see all the red and yellow leaves as I walk to the store.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the pumpkins! Shopping is so much more fun when there are pumpkins everywhere you look. I'd buy one, but I don't know how the hell I'd carry the thing home.
It seems like you are doing/feeling a bit better? I've been keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you (I love your creative use of words).
Your awesome pictures brought a rare smile to my face. In fact, I think I'll see if It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is available on YouTube. Thanks for the inspiration! And take care of yourself as best you can.
Dylan
Hi, Dylan - it's nice to know that there is chilly autumnal weather in your neck of the woods, but you're right - the heating bills are astronomical.
DeleteI am very frugal using the heat (in fact I freeze in the winter), but my bill always soars. I dread it.
It wouldn't be October without pumpkins - I love them. I usually buy one or two just to put me in a good mood. It would be very difficult carrying one when you're walking. Perhaps you could buy a very small one...
Unfortunately YouTube removed the full version of The Great Pumpkin due to copyright violations. They did it last year RIGHT before Halloween. Perhaps it's available somewhere else - I'll have to do an Internet search.
I'm feeling slightly better but still have a lot of problems. I just seem to be falling apart.....
Anyway, I'm glad my autumn photos inspired you. Please take care. Big Hugs.
DeleteDylan I found The Great Pumpkin on DailyMotion. It's an old faded copy, but it's still fun to watch.
Here's the link:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6j5ujn
I hope the link works. If not, just go to https://www.dailymotion.com and search for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
Jon, thanks for the link! I tried to find The Great Pumpkin on YouTube, but didn't have much luck: I hate when that happens. Oh well, now I can watch it (full screen) in October - I'm really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI hope October is a less painful month for you. I'm pretty much living my life one moment at a time, so I'm astonished when everything is not falling apart. *Great Big Hugs*
I am also waiting for the elusive cooldown. I was looking at the weather map to find something to blame it on and all I could come up with was the humongous hurricane out in the Atlantic. I was thinking perhaps this massive storm was preventing the cold front from descending.
ReplyDeleteIf so then we were saved from major trouble on the East Coast. The temperature will drop on Friday the day it is forecast for Lorenzo to hit Ireland.
It was near 90 again today. I'm about to give up hope, but - you're right - a cooldown is expected by Friday. I never thought about those massive Atlantic storms, but they probably do have an effect on our weird weather.
DeleteJust a few more weeks of hot weather, then the weather will be perfect. Love the photos! Was born in Mo. and spent most of my childhood in the Ozarks. Noel mostly, because my Mother managed a motel there. Lots of fond memories. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteHoping your health will improve once this heat wave is over.
I loved the Missouri Ozarks and felt at home there. It was my first taste of country life and I preferred it to the big cities that I was previously used to. A lot of nice people in Missouri and Tennessee.
DeleteI'm looking forward to the predicted cooldown next week.
Hello, Jon - I finally get to comment. The weird thing is that Whisper Mist totally disappeared, so I had nothing to go by and couldn't get another name since our Internet provider totally crashed this summer. By crashed, I mean crashed ... nothing for months. Someone royally messed up during an upgrade process which lead to thousands without email or Internet service. They said I was one of the few who didn't call with complaints every second of the day ... lol.
ReplyDeleteI got six months of free Internet and phone, plus another six months free for being a valued customer. No point in complaining, they were working round the clock to fix things.
Flowergirl suddenly appeared when I tried to login to Google. I don't like it much, but for now I must keep it until I can figure out how to change the darn thing to something else.
Lot's to tell you about, but I don't wish to hog your blog space all at once. I remember some of these pictures, especially the pumpkins all in a row. I hope October turns out to be a much better month for you. I know how much you love Autumn. Good talking to you again.
PS ... Dylan, a big hello to you. I'll check your blog to see if you're online or not. I haven't forgotten you or Jon. My ability to write has slipped considerably though,so fair warning on that front. Take care !
Helga - what a surprise! It's so good to hear from you. I was worried about you, but my intuition told me that something was wrong with Google and Blogger. I know that several people can no longer leave comments on my blog. Being without an Internet connection for such a long time would have driven me crazy - - but I'm glad things are finally straightened out and
DeleteI'm glad you're getting some free Internet service as compensation.
Anyway, please take care and keep in touch. Dylan hasn't blogged in a long time, but he leaves comments on my blog and misses you very much.
My email is still jonvtenn@aol.com
(I'm very slow at answering email, unfortunately)
I initially wrote a longer reply to your comment but accidentally deleted it.
DeleteI'm typing this on my laptop in bed - due to my injured leg and it's very uncomfortable and awkward.
Hi Helga/Flowergirl! Welcome back! I had a feeling that something had gone wrong with your internet provider,and that you would eventually return and tell us everything. This is really good news! I hope you are well - you have been missed by many big time. October is the greatest month :-)
DeleteDylan
Your pics are great. Autumn is taking her own sweet time about getting here, too. We've had a record-breaking number of record-breaking high temperatures this year. Flirting with 100 degrees this late in the year is getting to be real old, but supposedly, cooler temperatures are heading our way next week. (AFTER yet some more record-breaking heat.)
ReplyDeleteIt's over 90 degrees as I'm writing this (on Wednesday) but the humidity is low today. Autumn seems to be late in arriving, but I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
DeleteLate in reading this post, Jon, and sure wish I could send you some of the cooler weather we've been having here in Nashua, NH, the past couple of days. Fall has FINALLY arrived after some late summer high 80 degree days and I couldn't be happier. Finally I can ear long sleeves and jackets again. Sorry to red your heat wave is unrelenting which really is miserable at this time of year, my favorite as well. I enjoyed the photos of yourself and the pumpkins. We also grew them when we lived in VA, but they were planted too early and we had them way ahead of Halloween. It was fun to carve them and light with candles...I miss that.
ReplyDeleteDenin is one of my favorite go-to clothes choices.
Hi, Dorothy - I think the dreadfully hot weather is finally over. It was 90 degrees two days ago, but today (Friday) was in the 70's and it's supposed to be cooler nest week. October is my favorite month - a perfect time of year.
DeleteI am sorry that you're suffering, but thanks for the photos - all of them fascinating. I want to hear the stories about Maple Park Cemetery, of course. The Ozarks looks great - I have heard much about them and they sound really fascinating but i don't suppose I'll ever go there now. What made you move there after LA though? the pumpkins were a pretty good yield from that barren sounding TX place. Did you ever eat them, or just admire them?
ReplyDeleteJenny,I'll probably write more about Maple Park Cemetery later this month. The Ozarks is indeed a fascinating area, rich in history and intriguing legends. I initially moved there to be near some friends. The only thing I disliked were the seemingly endless severe storms and frequent tornado warnings.
DeleteI tried eating baked pumpkin a few times and didn't particularly like it. I mostly enjoy pumpkins because they are so decorative for autumn and Halloween.