Each year as summer transcends into autumn I’m often enveloped in a mist of melancholy. The shortening days and encroaching dark evenings bring with them a feeling of loss. Not least the loss of long carefree summer days kissed by sunlight and warm breezes.
So it was with some gratitude that I revelled in the recent Indian Summer. Cotton dresses and sandals were retrieved from their winter hiding place, sun-tan lotion applied for walks and sojourns by the sea. At home lunch was invariably enjoyed outside in the garden amongst the second flush of lavender and roses. Cosmos and Fennel literally towered in gigantic proportions, vying for attention with the already abundant berries. It was strange to see the sun, already low in the sky shining for all it was worth like a June sun, casting unfamiliar shadows around the garden.
This was just over a week ago and the heatwave has now broken but a weak remnant of the warm continental air is still felt, albeit in the freshening wind. I’m currently wearing a strange combo of summer/semi-winter clothes. But no tights yet Kate!
Thank goodness for those wonderful couple of weeks, I may not be embracing autumn with open arms just yet but at least I feel ready to accept it.
Jeanne
x
19 comments:
I think you're right Jeanne, I view our summer this year as being split between April and last week and because I was away during August I don't feel the loss of summer badly at all. But I have to say you're a hardier flower than I am; it's not just the tights that have made it out of the drawer .. I'm wearing the boots too!
Have a lovely week
Kate xx
It's been raining here for weeks - no indian summer on the Isle of Man this year! Thanks for sharing yours though...I can almost picture myself there too :)
I know just how you feel - I too have that feeling of melancholia at this time of year. I drift through these days of damp, dismal weather. We still have roses and echinacia flowering and it was a joy to sit in the garden just one last time on that very warm weekend:)
We have been quite warm here also, in the 80's. This weekend will bring on a cool spell.
Eileen
Dear Jeanne, so good to see you back.;)
These days I blog and visit when I find a chance, but with my new life, it is mostly spend off line.
We too had the most glorious week of Indian Summer, but that is only a distant memory by now and we already had our first frost, albeit in the night only.
I agree with you, I am a perpetual summer child and I will miss summer, particularly as we really had none this year.
Still, autumn has its charm too - I only wish I still had a fireplace.;))
xoxo
All I can say is roll on spring. The shorter days are here already and the clocks have still to go back. We've had nothing but a dismal drizzle since the heatwave broke. I think you can tell that I'm not embracing autumn at all.
We have been very blessed by the indian summer haven't we - and I loved every minute of it. I'm not keen on the thought of winter, but it will soon be spring!
The last four days have been just so on Long Island, as well... my crimson snapdragons even made a surprise third blooming as a result!
Funny thing, though... the extra warm days seem to have thwarted the trees coloring up. The maples' green leaves are just drying up brown and falling off, instead of turning their usual reds, purples, and the like.
I was thinking to myself how our second honeymoon summer has made more accepting of approaching autumn.
The strange thing is I love the poetry of autumn and winter - I love snow and frost and the colours of the coldest months - but from the october viewpoint I fear the arrival of dark evenings, the increase of viruses (with three at school) and the bleakness of grey days.
Your writing is really beautiful.
I do know what you mean Jeanne, though we had less Indian summer in Cornwall than the rest of the country it seems. I have been firmly back in tights for a while now. Hey ho, maybe November will surprise us x
Hello Jeanne !!...yes the last weeks where great !! love from me...xxx..
Oh yes, I know. The Indian Summer was gorgeous while it lasted. We've still got loads of runner beans in the poly tunnel. I picked all the 'tough' ones off a while ago and lo and behold, that lovely sunshine and they were flowering their little heads off again. Love your pictures, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne,
Glad to hear the sunshine did you well. I have to admit that I am not that much of an autumn lover too. Spring is more kind of season! I am already looking forward to see the first spring flowers. Hopefully I will find some time to plant the bulbs this weekend.
Happy evening,
Madelief x
You put it so well Jeanne, this feeling I have about the Autumn coming on. I never thought of it as loss, but that is exactly what it is. Loss of what I live for, warmth, flowers, my children bringing their children home, my favorite cottons and digging my hands into the soil. It wouldn't hit me so hard if our Winters weren't 5 months long. It takes forever for the snow and ice to leave us here.
I will make the best of Winter, I always do, but letting go of the sunshine is so hard.
I will think of you in your beautiful England snug in your snug while I spend time going through my British magazines waiting for the Spring.
hugs from here...
I know what you mean. Indian summers are beautiful. This past weekend it was in the 70s here, not too hot either, and just beautiful weather for long walks. I hope every season brings something beautiful to you.
I love the way you've expressed what so many of us must be feeling. I've also been sitting amongst towering cosmos and fennel (autumn cosmos seems so much bigger than its summer version!) and a friend was actually lamenting yesterday that she was fed up with her summer wardrobe!
You're reading my thoughts exactly Jeanne. I do not look forward to the shorter days and loss of light and want to hold on to the remnants of that indian summer for as long as I can! Lesley x PS What are tights?
Jeanne, I too get that sad feeling, I thought I was the only one. The fall especially makes me think of loved ones who have passed on and how I am growing older. We too have had our Indian summer, I think it's the perfect time for roses--warm but not scorching hot. They are at their best at this time of year. Soon it will be time to bundle up and brace ourselves for winter. I'm not looking forward to it. It would be a great time to catch the movie you spoke of. It sounds just like the sort of thing I would enjoy. Have a wonderful week.
... and the weather this weekend is totally glorious again! I hope it is where you are. x
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