The last weeks of August sizzle. Furnace days that pass like treacle. Hottest days on record, air so close it’s hard to breathe. Air so hot it’s impossible to get relief. Sleepless nights. Sticky, long days of hard brilliance. August is stuck in amber: it seems it will never end.
But finally the amber cracks. On the morning of the storm the world is damp with dew and the sun is a blazing orange balloon. We know the storm is coming, but it isn’t until the hour before midnight that it appears. Two booms of thunder and a neon flash herald its arrival. The next crash envelops the house, as though giving birth to it. Lightning flares every few seconds. Thunder grumbles. Rain hammers down.
In the morning the landscape is scoured clean. Green is greener, more vivid after rain. There is energy in the air. In the deluge, autumn’s blooms have blossomed: a bouquet of fungi along the paths. It has been a good summer for fungi, despite the heat. There has been a bountiful harvest of field mushrooms in the park and a scattering of fairy rings.
A day after the storm, it is cool enough to walk the wagonway. The hedgerows bulge with fruits. Birds nests of wild carrot, fat with lilac seeds. Horse chestnuts ripe with conkers, still encased in green. Bushes full of blackberries. The wind teases willowherb seeds from their stalks so that I walk through drifts of down. I hear the steam train chug and whistle down the nearby museum track.
The flowers are few now: a clump of willowherbs here, ragworts there, clusters of fleabane and sow thistles. Insects jostle for space on those blooms that remain: hoverflies, bees and flies, speckled wood butterflies. Dragonflies dart across the path moving between ponds and patches of damp ground. There is still little evidence of birds: a couple of wood pigeons, the song of a robin and the twittering of a few hidden blue tits.
In the dene, it already seems like autumn. The avenue of lindens has released a drift of tawny flower casings that look like heaps of autumn leaves. August is finally over and the scent of a new season is in the air.
I was introduced to the wonderful book Saxon’s Bane by Geoffrey Gudgion some time ago and I was thrilled to see he was crowdfunding to publish his next novel Draca through Unbound. The book is about a former Royal Marine haunted by his past and possibly by the old boat left to him by his grandfather. Half of the profits will go to the veteran’s charity Combat Stress. Geoff has been offered a great opportunity to promote the book at a festival alongside a ‘household TV name’ if it is published in time. Pledges are currently at 89% but he only has two weeks to reach 100% if he is to get the opportunity. That’s only 60 books, so please consider pledging to enjoy what I expect will be a great read and to help out combat veterans too! You can find out more here.
I love the lyricism and beauty of this posting. It reads more like poetry than prose. The book review and info about the author is also fascinating. Hope you have a fantastic fall. We are in meteorological fall as of yesterday, not that that means anything except to the weather prognosticators.
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Thanks Pat, yes us too and the weather does seem to have followed. I loved Saxon’s Bane – a thriller with a bit of old-fashioned folklore, just my cup of tea!
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So hard to imagine the UK sizzling under a scorching sun. Sounds tempestuous and punishingly fatiguing. Autumn must be a welcome respite; flashes of burnt umber come to mind after the amber. So enjoy reading your beautiful lyrical prose.
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Thank you – we’re certainly not used to heat like it.
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How lovingly you describe your environment and its entry into early autumn. I am glad the heat has broken.
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I’m very glad too, I would rather have today’s drizzle!
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Cooler days are upon us… it seems summer has flown right by.
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I think perhaps it has now Eliza.
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I agree with Pat. Your writing is so lyrical and captivating. I feel caught up in the rhythm and imagery of your words, delighting in each discovery along the way. Well done Andrea.
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Thank you Brad.
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A beautiful post Andrea, I am right there with you through your descriptive prose.
I am glad you are experiencing more hospitable weatehr now. We have had a cooler than usual summer, for which I am grateful.
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Thanks Lavinia, I’m glad your summer has been more comfortable this year.
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Only you can make the heat and humidity sound so lyrical! 😀
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Thanks Jaya, it doesn’t feel that way 🙂
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Andrea, you have such a gift. I felt the thunder, and almost expected to have spots in front of my eyes from the lightning. I loved seeing the photos of all the plants and mushrooms too.
There has been more rain than I expected since my move to the high desert. Climate change… But of course it is welcome.
Thank you for another beautiful post. Best wishes to Geoffrey and this most worthy cause — and on his new book.
Hugs on the wing.
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Thanks so much Teagan, I’m sure the rain is welcome where you are though it is a worrying sign – as is our heatwave.
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Beautiful post, Andrea. Your photos are gorgeous. Yes afternoon, while writing outside on the patio, although it was 90 degrees, I could feel a taste of fall in the air. I’m hopeful our hummingbirds hang out a little longer.
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Thanks Jill – of course your heat puts ours to shame 🙂
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Seems you had a more dramatic August than us. And there’s scarce a sight of fungi along my walks. But wild carrot, yea, along Breydon’s edge. I love that plant, so sculptural. And you picture it so well.
So what will autumn bring? So far, we have shrubs heavy with berries.
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Yes August has been interesting…
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One wonders what autumn will bring.
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Andrea, you are writing this post so beautifully in poetic prose. At first I thought you were writing a poem.
Your walk through the landscape so near, so real, I am there.
Every word and picture counts, are alive.
As we have had the same climate here in the South I know how heavy it
has felt and how lifegiving the rain and thunder was.
Miriam
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Thank you Miriam 🙂
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Perhaps the summer heat was well worth it just to have your wonderful end-of-summer storm described so vividly. And I learnt a new word: dene!
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Thanks Bruce, I do love a good thunderstorm.
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You do write beautiful posts, Andrea. I am glad your weather has cooled. We are just going into spring now and I think our summer is going to be unbearably hot too. Thanks also for letting us know about Geoffrey’s book.
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Thanks Roberta.
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I don’t think I could find a more on point description of that kind of relentless heat. Although we had a week of horrendous heat here in July (96˚ the high) vs. August, I sure know that feeling. And there is nothing like a storm or cooling rain to usher it out. Fall is so welcome.
What kind of bee is that on the yellow flowers? They’re too pudgy for yellow jackets or wasps (I think.). Thanks as always, for a walk through nature.
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Thanks Jeanne, the coolness is definitely a relief. Those on the yellow flower are all hoverflies.
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I learned something new – thank you! I read up a little more on my own, and now am wondering if some of what I see around are not bees, but hoverflies. Still … I’ll only check out the wings from a safe distance. 🙂
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I felt the heat emanating from the screen with your vivid descriptions, Andrea. I wish your friend luck in reaching his goal!
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Thanks Susanne, me too because I want to read it!
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You describe the onset of my favourite season very well…
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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And thank you for the reblog 🙂
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Always a delightful read, Andrea. I, for one, am not sad to see August go. Cooler weather and colourful leaves are within reach and I am very happy for it.
Have a lovely day! Oh way… itès already evening where you are!
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Thanks Dale, roll on autumn!
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Yep… give it a couple of weeks, first, okay?
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We could use some rain here but are grateful we do not have a hurricane coming our way. Your prose enabled me to share in the coolness and feel the thunder. Thanks for taking us on your walk via your photos.
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Thanks Jo, yes, I hope that storm doesn’t do any more damage.
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All lovely, but especially the image of the thunder giving birth to the house! And the photos, too!
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Thanks Luanne!
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lovely…just sorry for you having to go through unusual though soon to become more usual heat —sigh—
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Thanks Laura…I do hope it doesn’t become the norm but I fear that’s a vain hope.
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I wish I had your descriptive talents of writing! Beautifully done! Autumn arrived here, too, seemingly overnight–so strange!
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Thanks Kerry 🙂
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It’s always such a sweet relief after a storm after it’s been so hot out. Beautiful pictures and musings/observations from your walk, and lovely writing, as always, Andrea.
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Thank you 🙂
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I am always moved by your prose poetry. I hear the thunder, I see the greening after the rain. It resonates as you describe what we have just experienced here – scorching days and now relief as fall beckons. We are used to it. Yet I still experience a bit of culture shock in the dogs days of summer and during the arctic days of winter. Imagine going from minus 40 degrees Celsius to plus 40 degrees Celsius all in one brief year. Oh, the wonder of it!
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Thank you Paula, it is wondrous – I love to live in a country where there are diverse seasons to enjoy.
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Wow! I can really feel the changing atmospheres in your words. Amazing!
I always find fairy rings and dragonflies so exciting. Like something from a secret world.
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Thanks Francesca, but of course they are from secret worlds… 🙂
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Beautifully written as always, though I envy your hot August. Here we had rain and it is still raining!!
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Thanks – I’d swap you some sunshine for some of your rain!
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Any time 😊
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Amazing images of the heat at the end of summer, Andrea. Your photos are beautiful.
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Thank you Ina.
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Beautiful writing as ever, Andrea. You also manage to get such lovely photographs of your surroundings and the plants you see. We have the cooler weather but have had no rain so far and we desperately need it.
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Thanks Clare, there’s a definite cooling in the air, but our days are still relatively dry here too.
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You have a wonderful turn of phrase, Andrea. ‘August seems stuck in amber’ particularly good; I wish I’d written that. And thank you so much for the plug about Draca.
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Thanks Geoff and you’re welcome, it looks as though you’re nearly there.
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Ah, the relief of the storm! I think September is my favourite month. Things start to arrive in September I find – like ideas. I went for walk in my local park and during the night the beginnings of a circus had appeared and the marking out of where the big top would be. Perfect metaphor for September!
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Have you read Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes? I’ve literally just finished re-reading it, and it’s about a carnival arriving in the middle of the night in autumn – I hope your circus isn’t like that one though 🙂
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I haven’t read that one but I did read a Stephen King book once which had clowns in it and I’ve never viewed clowns in the same way since!
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Clowns and carnivals seem to lend themselves to spookiness!
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We have had a spectacular summer haven’t we Andrea.. Hot, humid some days, and yes those Lightning flashes, like I have never seen before.. Changes in the air,..
Loved your narrative throughout your pictorial delights of natures hedgerows of flora and fauna,
Nothing more cleansing that a storm, or walking in the freshness it leaves in its wake..
Beautiful Andrea.. thank you for sharing.. ❤
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Thank you Sue and yes our weather does seem to get more intense each year.
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🙂 true, I think we may see more extremes in the coming years.. 🙂
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My fireweed is a little further along than yours ☺️ autumn is here and winter is just around the bend.
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I hope you get the chance to enjoy a little of autumn before winter sets in Tara 🙂
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I sure am Andrea.
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what a wonderful tribute and farewell to August. We had a rather cool summer on the island! I like sticky hard brilliance sometimes!! Your storm sounds wonderfully dramatic.
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Thanks Cybele, it was very dramatic! Sorry for the late reply, you ended up in my spam for some reason…
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Gorgeous photos, Andrea, and gorgeous prose to go along with them!
I can count the hot days we’ve had this summer on three fingers. The weather was late warming up, but I don’t like it too hot or humid anyway. 🙂
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Thanks Jennifer 🙂
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August has been so cool here, thanks to the rains. But the heat you describe is what we get in October – relentless. Love the description of the blooms after the showers and the pictures that go with it.
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Thanks Smitha, I’m sure your heat is much more relentless than ours 🙂
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God, come October and we’ll be dripping again 🙂
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I missed August in U.K. But suffered a rainy July! This brings it into my mind so clearly and love the photos. It’s finally rained here too!
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I’m glad you got the rain you needed there even if you had too much in July!
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I’m enjoying the transition from summer to autumn here, but with it comes a crazy-busy schedule and I am having a hard time keeping up! The book Draca sounds really good, and I love that it is for a good cause. Have a beautiful day!
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Thanks Kate, I’m glad you’re finding time to enjoy the transition!
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I love the freshness of everything after rain and the onset of Autumn. You’ve captured them both beautifully.
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Thanks George, and we have lovely fresh autumn winds today!
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Gorgeous blackberries! And I love seeing the bees–we need to keep those furry guys healthy and thriving . . .
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We do indeed, still plenty of them about today getting their fill of nectar.
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I love my trail travels with you, Andrea. Ah, your way with words! You make August sound lovely. And August is not so lovely to me. But you are right: August was stuck in amber! And now September seems stuck, too. Although it was only 83 today. Autumn is peeking around the corner. Beautiful photos.
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Thanks Cheryl, I’m relieved we’re now in September, although September often never lasts long enough!
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Such a beautiful transition story, Andrea. Love the mushroom bouquet. I think they are edible. Once a year I go mushroom picking and make a September meal – fried mushrooms and onions, and new boiled potatoes, all topped with a good spoon of sour cream.
I too find a lot of energy in September. It is an energetic, generous, delicious and colorful month 🙂
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Thanks Inese, that sounds like a wonderful autumn feast, though I’d be too nervous to pick mushrooms without an expert, even though I’m pretty sure I can identify the more common ones 🙂
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I got a few very reliably looking mushrooms last Sunday, took pictures of them and sent to an expert. He told me to better put them in the bin haha. Which I did of course.
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Our glorious summer has ended abruptly with November-like rain lashing us from all sides…during a brief sunny respite, I headed out for a walk through the forest down to the beach revelling in the fall scent in the air. Your lovely summer words remind me of what is passing, it’s time for all that is young and beautiful to grow or go to sleep…
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Thanks Kimberlee. I’m sorry your summer ended in a washout! We could do with a bit of rain, it seems to be very dry at the moment.
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Summer came back yesterday and it was beautiful…
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How beautifully you’ve caught the wild harvest happening around you. Rain really does highlight nature’s details, especially after a long hot summer.
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Thank you, it does indeed.
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I love those fungi. I’ve not seen many where I live, due to a combination of chalk soil, heat, and very little rain. By the way, I just checked out Geoffrey’s page on the Unbound site and pledges have now reached 101% for Draco. I was hoping to come in at the last moment with a pledge, but have had too many unexpected expenses lately, mostly medical — optician, dentist, vet etc, etc. Anyway, I still hope to acquire a paper copy of the book if it continues to be available, which hopefully it will. Not sure how Unbound works re second print runs. I’m guessing a whole load more pledges would be required. Like you, I loved his novel, Saxon’s Bane. In fact my whole family read it and loved it, which is very unusual!
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It does seem to have been pretty dry all around lately, I’m longing for some more rain! It’s great news that Draco is over 100%, it was actually you who introduced me to Geoff – I think he might have been one of your guest storytellers, and then I loved Saxon’s Bane when I read it.
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The blooms of late summer/early autumn are so special. Nature’s way of saying “It’s not yet time to give up on beginnings”. Rich words and photos, as usual, Andrea. Enjoy these last few days of summer.
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Thanks Julie, and I always begin again at this time of year…
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Hello, Andrea. Today (Saturday) we put the covers on the benches, ready for Winter. It was quite a slap in the face; it was the equivalent to someone placing their on my shoulders and shaking me, saying, “Helloooo, wake up, this is happening.” But, fortunately for me, your beautiful piece turned back time and softened the blow of Summer’s good-bye. Thank you, and as always, Best wishes.
Mick.
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Thanks Mick, summer is still lingering here – it doesn’t quite feel like autumn at all, even though September is always the turning point for me. But like you, we’ve been preparing for the coming colder season.
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September is the turning point here as well, Andrea. The Swallows have left the stables, and no longer return on an evening to roost. Sadly, we lose so much at this time of year, but, on the other hand, we gain so much. I’m not going to try to hold onto summer this year, I’m going to let it go, and concentrate on the future, rather than hang onto the past.
The more effort that we make now, the smoother and more enjoyable the ride ahead. But as the last threads of summer slip through our fingers, I shall remember to stop and smell the roses.
Enjoy your Autumn Andrea.
Mick.
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We do lose a lot, but I’m always ready for the next season to turn. I hope you have lots of autumn colour and interesting migrants to make up for those that have gone.
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When I read you, I feel like I’m reading Mary Oliver. Only, she tends to be more metaphysical and you’re more lyrical. I especially liked “But finally the amber cracks. On the morning of the storm the world is damp with dew and the sun is a blazing orange balloon”
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Thanks Nitin that’s a very flattering comparison!
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