change of season

Into the sunrise, as we transition to fall

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Somewhere in the distance the call of autumn can be heard. It’s faint and far-off right now, but it’s noticeable in small ways. There’s a change in the slant of the sun, and the air has a different smell. Some days dawn with warmth, and others have a cool chill – a sign of the seasonal change.

Even the call of the loons is different. It seems more lonely, especially as it rises above the steam coming off the lake. There will soon be a change in the migrating birds, both those coming and those leaving. The wood ducks have been sighted as they are passing through in their journey from north to south. The Canada geese have taught their young how to fly and soon, after their wings have strengthened significantly, they too will head south. With the rapidly decreasing daylight hours, the hummingbirds are active now in preparation for their departure. And the adult loons will soon be leaving, followed later by the juveniles.

There is a “weathered” color to the leaves now. The once-vibrant greens have faded, and we are starting to see hints of color. That symphony of color will only grow and crescendo in another four to six weeks. The steam will continue to rise off the lake in the mornings until the water temperature plummets below the air temperature.

It’s all a reminder to me of the passage of time, the preparation needed for the transition to winter, and the importance of appreciating each and every day and relishing the opportunity to embrace what is offered up to us.

The pendulum season

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We are in the pendulum season – where it is spring one day and winter the next, in which ever direction the pendulum settles. We’ve enjoyed a false spring of moderate temperatures where everyone had a smile on their face. Then quickly winter came again, with it’s surprise snow, cold winds, and freezing temperatures. The other morning we woke to a fresh coating of two inches of snow. It had rained before turning to snow, allowing the wet snow to collect on the branches and trees.

It’s a slow and unreliable process to change from winter to spring, and all we can do is swing with the pendulum. We keep winter coats, hats and boots handy, along with a light spring jacket. I have seen some open water, especially in the creeks where there’s a current flowing. And with that we’ve had mallards and swans that have come back into the area.

Eventually the pendulum will swing all the way forward to spring and we will put our cold and snow behind us. We’ll look to greening grass and leaves on the trees – it can’t be much further ahead!

The end of fall

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And just like that, Mother Nature has flipped a switch and we’re at the end of fall. It’s been a glorious and unusually long season this year in the upper Midwest but like all good things it has come to an end. Five days ago the wind was still, the sun was shining, and the only colors remaining were from the oaks with their remaining rusty leaves. Today the temperatures have fallen, the wind has removed any remaining leaves from the trees, and we have a forecast of snow.

Sometimes the change of seasons can be disconcerting to me, especially the ones where the days become shorter and the darkness becomes longer. But I’m reminded that just like the leaves that have fallen from the trees, it is all temporary. There will still be beauty in the coming season and days but it will be in a different palette – one of white – and the landscape will take on a new cloak of loveliness.