Fall 2009

Readers, I've taken a short sabbatical from writing over the summer. Not from a lack of things to say (I've always got something to say) but just a kind of ennui with the whole thing. But many readers -- OK, four -- have prompted me to get back at it, so here I am.



Fall is definitely here when you hear the kabang of nuts falling on the tin roof of the neighbour's shed. It's also fall when in the dark of an evening's hot tub you hear the raccoon family munching on said nuts. It's ducking as the local jet fighters, better known as humming birds, caroom crazily over your head, protecting their turf, chittering frantically in their eensey weensey tiny bird voices. It's here when you look across the lake and discern burgundy amongst the green leaves. It's here when you sense the need to cram in as many golf games as you can since the good weather can't possibly last. Fall is pulling out gone-to-seed radishes from your garden, sharing oodles of cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini with friends and praying the geraniums still have more bloom time. It's no longer back-to-school for us although I do intend to go back to piano lessons, yoga lessons and to following Canada's Food Guide. So many good intentions, it almost feels like New Year's. It's a time of warm days and cool nights and the breezes hold a hint of chill, just enough to want a sweater. Yes, it's Fall.