Where Did the Summer Go?

Has fall arrived already? I don't know about where you live, but it sure seems like it here in Southern Alberta. The apples are falling off the trees showing up in bags on my countertops, given to us by several families who want to share. The youngest has already made our first batch of fall apple crisp and it was delicious. My absolute favorite dessert. I'll have you know I was a very good girl and only had the bowl that was given to me and didn't steal any of the leftovers. I know, miracles do happen. But I'm planning on another batch tonight. I mean, I can't let all those apples go soft now, can I? Waste not want not is what I always say. I see some apple stamping pictures in my near future too.

The last of the corn seems to be out already from the local farmers. I was so shocked about this when I went to one of the myriads of stands within blocks of my house to buy some. I totally missed it this year in the corn department. So in order to get my yearly fall fill, I, in a panic, bought two dozen. We'll be eating a lot of corn in the next week. And apple crisp. We're nothing if not all about a good balanced meal around the Living to Tell household.

The nights are cooling right off too. Last night it got down to 2*C. Two degrees off freezing! Now that is getting nippy. I'm clicking onto the weather network constantly to figure out whether I should cover my poor tomatoes or not at night. I would absolutely cry if I lost these lovelies right before they were ready after babying them all summer long.

My entry closet is burgeoning with jackets. My families and the dayhome kids too. Jackets accidently get left each night because the days get warm, sometimes even hot by afternoon but they arrive wearing coats because it's cold in the early morning. The weekend was on the cold side, with rain on Sunday, but I'm sure Indian summer is just around the corner. That always presents interesting clothing choices. Mornings are cold so we automatically reach for long jeans or pants and warmer shirts and a jacket and by noon it is smoking hot, sometimes into the high 20's (C) which is getting close to the 80's (F). Layered is definitely the way to go with fall around here.

So far so good on the wasp front this year. Usually by now, I sometimes won't even go outside there are so many and they're usually crazy at this time of year, flying right at you and not leaving us alone. I think it's because they're beginning to get nipped at night with cold and it makes them psychotic or something. But I've only seen one or two, so maybe the neighborhood has finally gotten rid of some nests. That reminds me I have to get hubby or son to fill the wasp traps with pepsi or coke. Last year those things were full. Blech. Man, they make my skin crawl.

At the grocery store yesterday, I found a sure sign of fall. Pool noodles, which regularly sell for $9.99, were 44 cents. That is a sign for me to stock up. Around here we don't use them in the pool. Instead thanks to my son, the dayhome kids have a round or two or ten, of trying to beat on all 6' 2" of him after he cuts the noodles in half and bops them a few times with it. Needless to say they don't last long so this is when I stock up.

Another sign of fall, at least to this book loving blogger is the Fall Into Reading Challenge coming up. I know I'm weird, but I love getting a list together for this. It is fun looking for books I want to read in the coming months.

What are the signs of fall in your area and have you hit them yet or are you still basking in the end of summer?