The End Of Summer And The Beginning Of Autumn

It’s time for change.

Grab up a chair and a cuppa…let’s just take a moment to talk a bit.

Is that a Pumpkin bread I see waiting to become the partner to a hot cuppa tea?

Yes, I thought so.

Let’s talk about the events in our lives and how the season change affects these events.

Have you noticed that much of the calendar year is defined with events.

The Captain and I host a monthly potluck/entertainment event at our church and I have come to notice that our themes are garnered and change with “events”

Friday night we hosted a Hawaiian Luau with everyone (about 55 people)  wearing colorful clothes and Hawaiian Leis.

It was a wonderful change of pace for everyone.

We served a bar-b-que pork and our friends really got into the spirt of the potluck as I saw wonderful cupcakes adorned with little drink umbrellas and cole slaw made with pineapple and coconut.

There were potato salads and casseroles and it all was delicious.

I think the Hawaiian Luau was a way of signaling the end of the hot summer. 

It seemed like August was the last hurrah for the simmering Summer months and now it is time to move on, to prepare to enter the unofficial start of Autumn. 

If the weather still seems like summer in your neck of the woods, you can call it Indian Summer if you prefer, which according to Wikipedia, “An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in spring and autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.” 

Whatever you call it, this change in weather is very noticeable here, as school has started and traffic has slowed to a creeping crawl for those big yellow busses ….

……and the sno-birds are filtering in adding additional minutes to one’s commute.

Businesses are adding a coat of paint to their outdoor furniture and their seating areas are all ready for “season”.

I’ve noticed that friends tend to stop and talk a little longer, but I don’t know if it is because the weather is cooling off and we are not standing in the sweltering heat… or if we are forced to take more time because of the increase in the seasonal population. 

Do you know what I mean?

Here is a funny observation I have made.

You know we live in SW Florida where there are seasonal changes, minor seasonal changes though they are, but…. it is as if the Autumnal clock has gone off and now we must wear clothing for cooler temperatures.

Not everyone of course, but a few are dressing as if it is really colder, while our temperatures are still in the high 70’s.

I’m smiling at this because…well, read on.

There is another anomaly. 

It never ceases to amaze me that when we do have cooler mornings, I see people, (especially men), wearing a hoody sweat shirt with walking shorts and flip flops. LOL

I mean, where is that coming from?

It does make me wonder if those men are sno-birds, …but they could be locals. 

Like I said, it makes me smile.

Another battle with the calendar, really knows no boundaries.

Up north, the grasses are turning brown and the leaves are beginning to fall from the deciduous trees and the once bushy bushes are beginning to look like clusters of sticks.

However, here in SW Florida, Tropical plants do not cease flowering and they and their palm buddies, are on a constant mission to completely cover our houses and yards in jungle fauna.

This is why the Captain and I assist our weekly lawn maintenance people (as in lawn mowing and maintenance all year long)…with a week-end dedicated to cutting back and trimming 

and power washing driveways and pavers.

Our hibiscus, gardenias, oleander, Mexican petunias, ixoria and Florida honeysuckle flower continuously… and we still eat al fresco on the Lanai or in the Secret Garden.

 I like the welcoming warm glow of the lights in our home as we enjoy the casual evenings on the Lanai, as the daylight hours fade.

Do you like the change in the seasons?

Finally, I have a Sunday Scripture I would like to share with you.

Daniel 2:21,  ^“He changes times and seasons;,he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning”.

And with that, I say Blessings Always, it is always fun to “chat” and have a cuppa with you.