There are any number of associations that you may have with the expression "Indian Summer." Most people think of warm, unusually warm Fall days. Indian Summer. Our local TV news person said the other day -- we're in for some Indian Summer! The Farmers Almanac begs to disagree: apparently to qualify for that description, we would need warm air that briefly invades in November, following a hard frost. Not so for us: we did have a frost, though not a hard one. And it was in October.
Me, I think of a 1975 French song by Joe Dassin called "L'Été Indien." It's not that I turn to France for definitions of Indian Summer. I mean -- how ridiculous! It's a North American concept. (And the lyrics say as much.) But when I first heard the song forty years ago, it stuck. And it's sticking today as I wake up to the warmest, driest 27th day of October.
Breakfast, in the sun room. Don't even think it could be elsewhere. With a window cracked open.
After, Ed and I both do catch up work indoors, but I can't sit still. Avoiding the rooster as best as I can, I do some garden pruning...
...the late Fall kind that I should have done weeks ago even as it doesn't really matter: nothing will change in the composition of the plants at the farmette between now and the end of April.
The hens look on.
("what do you think -- will she throw us a treat?")
In the afternoon, I suggest a spirited hike and Ed agrees. We go to a place that's not to far from here, maybe half hour?
Indian Lake.
I've been coming to this county park since I first discovered it some three decades ago. My daughters love it for the walks. Ed likes it for the challenging cross country ski trails. I like it for the the quiet, the seasonal shifts and today -- for the end embrace of the most beautiful autumnal weather.
We hike, we deviate from trails and follow foot paths, we sit on benches to take in the views. And I take a few photos. So, hum your favorite autumnal melody and follow along.
Honestly, this month has been remarkable. So many shades of sky, so many colors on the tees, so many days where you could stay outdoors for hours and never notice that it is actually remarkably close to winter.
Me, I think of a 1975 French song by Joe Dassin called "L'Été Indien." It's not that I turn to France for definitions of Indian Summer. I mean -- how ridiculous! It's a North American concept. (And the lyrics say as much.) But when I first heard the song forty years ago, it stuck. And it's sticking today as I wake up to the warmest, driest 27th day of October.
Breakfast, in the sun room. Don't even think it could be elsewhere. With a window cracked open.
After, Ed and I both do catch up work indoors, but I can't sit still. Avoiding the rooster as best as I can, I do some garden pruning...
...the late Fall kind that I should have done weeks ago even as it doesn't really matter: nothing will change in the composition of the plants at the farmette between now and the end of April.
The hens look on.
("what do you think -- will she throw us a treat?")
In the afternoon, I suggest a spirited hike and Ed agrees. We go to a place that's not to far from here, maybe half hour?
Indian Lake.
I've been coming to this county park since I first discovered it some three decades ago. My daughters love it for the walks. Ed likes it for the challenging cross country ski trails. I like it for the the quiet, the seasonal shifts and today -- for the end embrace of the most beautiful autumnal weather.
We hike, we deviate from trails and follow foot paths, we sit on benches to take in the views. And I take a few photos. So, hum your favorite autumnal melody and follow along.
Honestly, this month has been remarkable. So many shades of sky, so many colors on the tees, so many days where you could stay outdoors for hours and never notice that it is actually remarkably close to winter.
Really nice.
ReplyDeleteWe used to camp at Indian Lake, N.Y. with a bunch of friends annually.
I like the first photo. There must be the most wonderful current of autumnal scent around your house!
ReplyDeleteDo you have to rake, when you have such a large area and so many trees? Can you just leave it to do whatever woodlands do without us humans?
We don't rake up the fragrant pine needles from our six big old white pines. It's deep and cushiony out there. I'm sure many little mammals happily overwinter down below.
Ed never raked before I moved here. But I do have to remove some of the leaves -- mostly from the flower beds. I do that in spring. I just rake them to other parts of the property where they eventually decompose of blow out into the fields. We really should mow over the leaves that cover our grassy areas, but neither of us is motivated. Short answer: no, not now. Yes, a tiny bit in the spring! :)
DeleteI love the smell of pine. I wish we had white pines closer to the house (they shed more than any other pine)! Our maples are beautiful but monstrously big. Too huge. Out of control. Limbs periodically splinter off. Nothing you can do about it but admire their glorious age!
Yesterday was gorgeous, and you're right about this October. I was so worried in September when it was so cold so early, but I'm so grateful for this last string of days. My cat was thrilled because I opened windows yesterday AND took her outside twice, once on leash and the other to just explore. She's quite moody when things stay all closed up around here (i.e. all of winter!). Enjoy the wind today!
ReplyDeleteOh, are you right about the wind!
DeleteThe yellow farmhouse surrounded by all that brilliant fall color and bathed in light is just so perfectly gorgeous, as are the two of you on your splendid fall walk. ox
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! I intend to bring Fall to you right down to Florida!
DeleteWhat a beautiful life you have! As always, the photos were delicious. I was out yesterday. I live about 2 miles from the main road, so as I curved though the woods I was struck by the unique rainbow of fall.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I hope you realize I'm always only teasing about Oreo. I would not like it one bit if I had a rooster chasing me! :)
Oh, I do know that, Irene! I explain to Ed that I'm not really *scared* of Oreo. I just do not like being pecked by him!
DeleteI'm glad you had a chance to gaze out at the colors. It's Fall's big gift to us.