How Did They Find Out?

Who told them? Regardless of the fabulous weather and blue skys today, at 11:44 AM it changed from Summer to Autumn. I have taken to eating lunch out on the deck, but I was not alone.A new neighbor moved into the area - this Chipmunk! I guess he/she decided lunch time was a chance to eat. I watched it for the longest time when I realized what it was doing.

Ol' Chipmunk Cheeks was really eating. Apparently someone mentioned that it was Autumn and that meant that Winter was closer rather than further. Time after time, the cheek stretched to capacity as they filled up with sunflower seeds. After about five minutes, all I'd see was :

as Chipmunk Cheeks headed down the woods path to stockpile food over Winter and next Spring. Maybe the animals know something about Winter that we don't - Will somebody please tell us?

Sigh. . .Frost. . .Autumn

Fall is beginning to . . .well, fall. While I've had a very light frost back in late August, a wide scattered one is predicted in the next few nights. That first frost tinted many of the bracken ferns yellow and curled a few leaves in the garden, I guess its time to realize that Autumn is falling.

I heard a few guns being sighted in for the coming deer and turkey season; fishing is slowing down; and the last of the tubes and canoes have made there last fun runs down the river.I guess it is only a matter of time before the few maples and oaks at the cabin begin their colorful leaf drop and we'll be in the "brown" stage until that dreaded first covering snow.

The birds are flocking back up after breeding this year - the Red Breasted and White Breasted Nuthatches have rejoined the increasing crowds of chickadees at the feeders. The Woodpeckers of various types are eyeing the suet feeders but still prefer the sunflowers yet. I've been seeing the last few migrants headed south and expect most will be gone by the end of the month.

At the end of September I will have been at the cabin for my first six months and can decided if I'm looking forward to the coming first full winter with dread or anticipation. Oh, I've lots to do yet - put the garden to bed, clean the yard, ready my winter supply of wood, arrange the pantry, check the well and insulation in the crawl space. So there's still lots to do and lots of days remaining before that first cold snap and hopefully before the first snow.