Sunday, September 16, 2007

Signs of Times

According to the trees, autumn has arrived in the Ottawa Valley. Just a week ago, it was not so, but this morning, when we took Tim's coffee and bagels to the park where we sat in the car for a spell listening to the CBC, the colouring of the foliage had most definitely begun.
Aside: we were listening to Michael Enright on The Sunday Edition. He was discusisng the plight of custodial granparents with his guests. The upshot is that more and more grandparents are raising their grandchildren with little societal support although it is very expensive to raise kids — more than $160 000 to raise them to adulthood in this era. The way things are, the state gets to save on the large cost of foster parenting and offers almost no compensation to custodial grandparents.
Cuppa and I then took our unfinished coffee cups on a little walk through the park, and the chilliness of autumn was definitely in the air. Although there will be warm days yet, I trust, within a short week or so we have gone from summer attire to long pants and jackets. However, we found a sunny bench by the Canoe Club and enjoyed the autumn-like freshness before returning to the car and home.

An even a surer sign of autumn is that I actually allowed my body to touch Cuppa's in bed last last (no not that way ... she was sleeping). You see, we are a hot couple (no again) and require clear and distinct separation (something akin to church and state) much of the time, but, last night, with temperatures lowering to 4°C/40°F, I actually required a little external body heat and snuggled right up — okay not right up but sort of up.

Although we seldom last that long, we strive to keep the furnace off until the end of October. I wonder how long we'll be able to last this year?



(The park was still mostly green, but, as these two photos show, there were a few spots of significant colour.)


17 comments:

thailandchani said...

I'm so happy to see Autumn.. finally! :)


Peace,

~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com

Pam said...

What beautiful photographs. Your coloring is a bit ahead of ours, but fall is definitely approaching. My favorite time of the year except for what follows.

Will and I have the same problem when we try to cuddle, too much heat and we get uncomfortable.

Love your kitchen tales!

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

I had start a fire in the kitchen cookstove when the thermometer red -6C. There is a chill in the air every morning. Any yet, there are many warm days to enjoy the Autumn.

karla said...

Beautiful photos!
The other day Mark and I went for a drive and ordered some cafe mochas. I don't tend to crave hot chocolate like drinks until the weather turns cold.

We actually had to turn the furnace on yesterday because Nate woke up in the middle of the night crying and his poor little hands were freezing. The little monkey needs to stop kicking his blankets off.

Ginnie said...

I'm traveling north in early October so I hope Fall doesn't come in too fast. I'd hate to miss the spectacular scenery.
We've actually gone from 99 deg. last week to 58 deg. today, here in North Carolina. Crazy.

Mary said...

i can't wait to come and see those leaves NEXT WEEKEND! i'm so excited for our trip to see you!

wooohooooooooooo

Heather Plett said...

We actually had to turn the furnace on last week for awhile. But now it's back up to 28 C and we are basking in it.

ChrisB said...

I like autumn and those beautiful photos of your reminds me of my trip to New England last Oct.

Anonymous said...

I also try to keep the heat for as long as possible. Let's have a competition.

cat59 said...

Beautiful photos from the park. What a lovely way to start the day. It got down into the 50s here last night and we slept with the window open. So refreshing!

Gina said...

It is finally in the upper 70's here, and pleasant. Although it has never been truly cold yet.

Hubba-hubba is also too "hot" for me. ;)

Valerie - Still Riding Forward said...

I won't make Halloween probably, but at the price of propane I'll try for it!

mreddie said...

I don't care to be touched when I'm asleep - makes me restless. Great color on the trees albeit spotty. ec

Anonymous said...

Autumn has arrived here in Manitoba as well.. such a colorful time of year, although we have had quite a few unseasonably grey and damp days. Our furnace went on about a week ago.. just for those extra cool days.

Love the photos.. just beautiful.

Pearl said...

Aye, me hearty, there be more than a scruvy rat's pleasure there. Beauty fit for a pirate's rest that is.

Kathy Trejo said...

That last photo is gorgeous! I'm happy Autumn is here...my favorite season.

Norma said...

The sun through the leaves is what makes the throat catch in autumn. Thanks!