According to the calendar, it’s ‘official’ ~ Autumn arrived a couple of days ago and the Ranch Hands and I welcome the new season-our favorite. Although it’s fairly dark when we typically take our morning constitution (and on the crisp side-it was 39ºF/3ºC earlier in the week), we’re relishing the more civilized temperatures. It will mean however that we’ll need to carry a hand torch with lack of early morning light with each passing day.
The Ranch foreman was out of town for a couple of days visiting her Dad so today’s pickins’ are a bit on the slim side. Still it’s good to see that summer is finally beginning to move into the rear view mirror. Good riddance, I say.
So let’s get to it, shall we?
In my urban neighborhood, folks tend to get pretty wound up about decorating for certain holidays. And even though it’s more than 5 weeks away, a number of homes have already been bitten by the Halloween bug. Insert eyeroll here.
You may remember this porch from a recent post. Perhaps the newly installed ‘coven’ is there to protect the premises from future visits from any masked criminals.
From the back patio at my Dad’s, I marveled at the bluebird clear skies. It was a simply gorgeous day where we spent time relaxing and just soaking it all internally.
Notice the absence of any changing colors? I’m beginning to think it’s been so hot this summer, the majority of leaves will just go straight from green to brown without any seasonal color change in between, especially if there’s an early frost. In Denver, the average date of the first freeze is October 7.
The light during autumn tends to be golden anyway, but the pièce de résistance of time spent with Dad was yesterday’s sunrise. Just. glorious. color. welcoming the day.
So how were your outings this week? See anything particularly exceptional? We hope you have a great weekend enjoying this special time of year. Norman and I will be attending the Old English Sheepdog Rescue Picnic and fundraiser on Sunday (we’re hoping for loads of photo opportunities). Just picture for a moment, more than 40 “Norman’s” running around. I know, the mere thought makes me giggle just thinking about all those wiggly OES bums. Whatever you do, we hope you enjoy the beauty Mother Nature offers.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Charlee: “Ooh, Halloween! We have a house near here that puts up lots of decorations for every holiday but they definitely go all out for Halloween.
Chaplin: “Dennis always said he was pretty sure that Jack Skellington must live there, whoever that is.”
There’s a gigantic skeleton on our walking route. Both digs were a tad apprehensive approaching it the other day.
WOESWERSS!!! That sunrise was speck-taculur Miss Monika!!!
An such blue skiess; all wee have is gray on grey on gray **sighss**
Sum of our leevess have changed an sum have not; it iss all mixed up!!!
Have a wunderfull weekend!
**purrss** BellaDharma an {{hugss}} BellaSita
We are blessed with gorgeous blue skies (when it’s not smoke filled from wildfires which usually are not going on near by Dad’s home. The sunrises (and sunsets) at this house can be absolutely amazing.
Due youss’ still ahve wildfiress there?? There are 10 left inn British Columbia….
At leest no smoke here two….This sure was a ruff yeer all ’round THE wrold!!
**purrss** BellaDharma
Pee S: Pleese give Sweet Norman sum **kissess** from mee OKay? An a snuggel to Elsa two!
Sadly there still are active fires in our state, though a lot of the smoke comes from all the horrible fires in California. Norman and Elsa say thanks for the kisses and snuggles.
Wee wundered Miss Minika…it was such BIG mewss an then nothin meowed ’bout Firess….
Wee sorry youss still get smoke!! CATFISH…..this was not a guud yeer eether!
Tell Sweet Norman an Elsa they are msot wellcome
(an xtra **kissess** for that furry man poochie)
I’m guessing people are sick of hearing it (though it never stops certain stories from constantly being reported). This is the new normal for the Western US. *sigh
Same way up North Miss Monika…wee not like this ‘mew normal’ at all 🙁
We are equally troubled with this ‘new normal’ and hope the powers to be come to their senses about the problem and initiate some plan of action.
Miss Monika our Pee Em had an election an nothin changed…hee wasted $610,000,000 Billion on it (iss that even enuff 0’ss???
This mew normal iss bad; furry bad…even birdiess an 4 leggedss know that! 😉
Yeah I heard about that. I think he miscalculated winning outright rather than ruling through a coalition.
Xactlee Miss Monika xactlee!!! 😉
It is much colder here. The yellow leaves are blowing off the trees. I dislike fall…bald trees and the beginning of snow…..forget it. You had such hot temperatures in the summer. We had 4 days of excruciating heat where BC lost 500 people due to the heat. We are not prepared for heat cause we never get it until this year. We even have a small air conditioner now.
Jean
You’ll no doubt get use out of it in future summers. Way too sad the way our earth is heating up.
Beautiful golden sky – Fall is the “golden season” and it’s just beginning to arrive here in Virginia…..a few trees are showing a bit of color and there’s a nip in the air! Fires in the fireplace won’t be far behind. Meanwhile, have a lovely weekend!!! Thanks for the beautiful photos.
Hugs, Pam
Thank you, Pam. We’re always grateful to be able to share Nature’s gifts. Have a super weekend and enjoy the beauty of autumn.
What a beautiful sunrise. I have missed seeing the sunrise at the Wetlands. Now that Annabell is a lot better take Benji back there in the mornings. Looking forward to seeing my African Daises develop.
Thanks, John. It was a beautiful way to start the morning. Glad to hear Annabel is better. Give my favorite ‘down under’ pup an extra ear rub. Have a lovely weekend enjoying those daisies.
I haven’t paid particular attention to the changes in the trees, but the summer was horrible for insects, that much I know . . and felt.
As in too much rain?
Yes!
Beautiful sunrise!
Thank you. It was quite the wake up call!
I’m guessing those witches won’t scare off the bandits!
That’d be my guess too. But you never can tell for sure, right?
That OES rescue picnic sounds like a great time for all! Enjoy!! We will be doing what we normally do when the weather permits – spending most of the day playing in the back yard. When you have a dog that doesn’t like riding in the back seat, it makes it hard to go for family car rides.
I’m lucky Norman travels very well. These picnics have been a hoot in the past, I expect the same this time as well. Fingers crossed the rescue raises some significant funds to help our mission. Enjoy a fun day in the backyard and give the fur kids nice ear rubs from me.
I tend to agree with you about the skip the pretty colors this fall. But we’ve had so much rain that I am hoping…
Have a great time with all the “Normans.” It’s sure to be fun.
Weather patterns are screwed up all across the country. Hopefully you’ll see some leaves changing colors soon.
Beautiful sky and sunrise. I’ll bet your dad loved the visit. I know I always do when the daughters come a calling. Have a super weekend Monika.
Thanks, John. He does enjoy our visits. He’s especially fond of Norman who absolutely adores him. Enjoy a fantastic weekend!
Sounds great. Have a good one as well.
The sky in one of those was “Kismet blue”.
It most definitely was.
We’re still in summer here, but the daylight gets shorter and shorter each day. I’m ready for fall. Great shots.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups and a smooch to Norman. ♥
Thanks, Sandee. I enjoy 4 seasons and this one is my favorite. Mild weather is always welcome especially after our scorcher of a summer. Enjoy your weekend!
Have a great time at the picnic! Sounds like a blast!
Oh the shenanigans will be front and center!
“the majority of leaves will just go straight from green to brown without any seasonal color change in between”
I hope not, because we’d love to see the colourful autumn leaves in nearby Lost Maples State Natural Area. Thanks for the gorgeous picture of the sunrise.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Pit
Hopefully you’ll see some down your way. But here in the city, I’m not holding my breath. 😕
fall on paper at least. Cute decorations. I’m happy for slightly less intense sun time actually, maybe our bedroom that gets sun and retains the heat all night will cool off a little. I love fall…
Autumn is my favorite of all the seasons, too. I only hope some moisture is in the near future.
Love your “bluebird clear skies”. Perfect. And the best part of the year so far — no smoke, perfect temperatures. I think it’s trying to make up for the rest of the summer.
I’m with you on not seeing too many leaves changing yet, and the possibility of going straight from green to brown with our first frost. There were some aspen that had changed on Kenosha Pass this week, but not lower down.
That is a blue, blue, BLUE sky! And that sunrise… whoa.
Don’t even try to get me talkin’ about the early Hallowe’en decorators… eyeroll times twenty over here…
Happy Friday to you and the ranch hands!
Costco has had their decorations up for over 3 weeks. WTH?? 😳
We’re blessed with lots of blue skies…a byproduct of the lack of humidity. 😉
Don’t. Get. Me. Started… More like WTFFFFF!
Blue is beautiful, for sure. Of course, the clouds and sunrise or sunset are a whole ‘nother story!
Haha! You’re so right!
That sunrise stopped me dead in my tracks! Apart from the open spaces which I don’t have at home, it was just exceptionally gorgeous. A great way to start out the day.
Best way to start the day!