Labor Day Weekend

Here we are at Labor Day Weekend, and my comment to that is "already?!  Really?!"  Our summer is just getting going and already I can sense fall in the air.  The other night I had to get up and get an extra blanket from the linen stash in the laundry room.  My little dog was socked in to my side searching for warmth as much as I was.  I checked on my daughter and she too was hunkered down under her covers.  While usually I am excited by the first chilly nights signaling the change in the seasons, this time I was just like a little kid - "it can't be over yet!  I want a little more time! I wan't a few more warm days and time for the pool and the bar-b-que!"  There was more evidence this morning.  As I headed east on Scholl's Ferry Road the sun was just coming up over the horizon and it wasn't the beautiful yellow of summer,  it was the golden hue of autumn.  It's so evident the way it shines on the top of the trees.  In the summer, it is bright yellow and full of the heat of the season, but in the autumn the sun is different.   The yellow has phased into gold, gentle and warm - the strength and heat zapped.  I love the change of the seasons, but from summer to autumn is the hardest for me.  I am a child of summer.  I love the heat, swimming in our pool, cooking and eating outside, and enjoying the beautiful weather in the Great State of Oregon.  As a child I grew up at the beach and summer seemed so much longer.  Probably because I wasn't sitting in an office, but playing outside all day, swimming in the bay, eating Lance crackers on the beach, building sand castles, climbing trees, riding bikes, and catching "lightning bugs" in the evening time.  Once it starts, the fall comes quickly.  By the first day of Autumn the trees have begun to change colors, the evenings are cool and the days are only warm.  There might be one hot day thrown in there, but not many.  In October the skies begin to gray and by Columbus Day the chilly weather turns wet.  By Halloween the rains have come in earnest.  With the occasional sun break comes the colors of autumn.  The striking contrast of the changing trees against the grey skies.  It is truly a photographer's paradise - stunning!
There a couple of things that are changing besides the seasons.  My daughter is entering Middle School this year.  A big change.  She's going from the second smallest school in the district to one of the largest.  She is anxious for the school year to start, although I sense some hesitation.  It's a confusing feeling to be excited and terrified at the same time.  We have changed our "ride" going from a mid-size SUV to a more fuel efficient smaller model.  I have mourned my 2007 Sportage.  I loved that car.  One of the best I've ever owned.  My new little Soul is great though.  It's starting to really grow on me.  I love feeling like I'm playing a live game of Mario Kart, plus it has all the bells and whistles.  The ultimate in gadgets.
I suspect that the chores will get done a little faster this weekend.  Afterall, we are on a schedule!  These last few days of summer won't last long, so we need to get to it!  Have a good weekend everyone!
Cheers!