Leaves are tired now after a busy two months. Many are dull and looking spent, ready for the burst of autumn colour and a quick requiem. I always feel sad as the glory of the summer leaves fades.
We had an extended period of heat and humidity this summer. Thankfully it was windy most of the time, making the heat bearable. An electrical storm and rain last week changed the weather however. Since then, it’s been windy and cold, with temperatures below normal. Warmer clothes are the norm now.
There is a bounty of vegetables from the garden this summer. Every day we eat tomatoes. Cucumbers, yellow beans, and peppers are on the menu often. Cabbage is ready to be picked as well as onions. I will preserve some tomatoes since we have too many, even after sharing.
This time of year the shorebirds are busy along our coast as they prepare for migration. I enjoy watching these creatures as some skirt the waterline. Others blend into the rocks and sand along the shore and you can’t see them easily until you watch quietly for movement. Such a simple, wonderful pleasure in life is comforting during these troubled times.
We have had some tourists here this summer, but limited to other Atlantic Canadians where the Covid virus has had minimal impact thus far. Here on Prince Edward Island, we’ve had 45 cases due to travel with one not recovered and without hospitalizations or deaths. The damage to the economy is huge however and recovery will be slow. And that is without a second wave which could be more devastating than the first.
The children are headed back to school next week and anxiety levels are high. Our two granddaughters, in Grades two and four are in different cohorts, with 30-40 students each. This will mean huge exposure if an infection occurs. This insidious disease which is asymptomatic for days can spread far and wide from one case at school.
The research about the virus, its long term effects such as neurological or cardiac impairment and the possibility of re-infection are scary findings. Masks and the other precautions are a way of life now and into the foreseeable future.
My husband and I lead socially diminished lives, restricting ourselves to our grandchildren and our daughter. For now anyway. With school re-opening, we may lose them again as during the first two months of the lockdown. At least my husband and I have each other even though there are times when the house isn’t big enough. It is good we each have ways to keep busy. However, staying physically active is a must and the physically distanced communication with other walkers along the boardwalk is a lifeline for us and many other seniors here.
There will be many apprehensive people in Canada and beyond this autumn.
31 comments:
Hello,
I am not ready for the cold weather, it is cooler here this morning. We are seeing the leaves falling, it seems like an early autumn. Hubby and I do not mind keeping the social distance, we live in a rural area with many hiking trails and not many people. The virus here has a continuous wave, going up and down. We are coming up to a new flu/virus season and last years Covid has never left. I feel for the parents of the student's during these times. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great new week!
I have grown accustomed to always having a mask around my neck or over my face. It's one thing I check before leaving the house in the morning to go to my coffee shop. And I keep a spare in the car, just in case. Today I may go to Costco early in the day when there are fewer shoppers there. I continue to try hard to get enough exercise without my gym. My Zoom yoga is a real lifeline for me. :-)
Yes, the return to school is a Big Unknown, isn't it?
I can't even imagine cooler weather setting in already. It's been our hottest week of the year here in Florida and no relief in sight. Being out in nature is definitely comforting. I hope you don't have to distance from your daughter and grand children again but don't take any risks. Social distancing from our children has been in place since March. I hate it but at least we get to see each other even if we can't get our usual hugs. Have a great week and a great new month ahead :)
it was interesting to read about the changes in canada already. here, it is still very warm and we are still swimming in our pool. it is still too warm for bike rides!!
my garden had a terrible year, this is the second in a row...i may not plant next year. it is so nice that you share, i always do also when i have a good year!!
new jersey has had a terrible covid history, with an uptick starting. kids are going back to school, colleges are partying, it is only a matter of time here!!
we are lucky to have spouses for company, for soon it will be winter and we will really rely on each other!!!
I sometimes think we are living in a bubble here in WA Marie, a bubble that could burst at any moment! Our spring is beginning as your autumn approaches, both beautiful seasons 🌸🍂
Argh! Previous comment lost due to internet outage. It was lengthy (for me) too. :)
Hope your Back to School goes well. It may be more problematic in Ontario. We shall see what we shall see.
Covid and the restrictions have really changed our lives.
Hoping things can return to being together and enjoying company.
Take care
Sue
Apprehension everywhere...
~sighhhhhh~
Thanks to the Wuhan Virus. To which China did not alert the world.
#&^%$*&%&&&
🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁
Great post !Like very much how you write and express your self.
The school openings.Yes here at my place, it is terrible!We now have 70 students in high school infected so all youth in town from 19 to 27 is on a ten day carantene.High schools locked down.You know the studenst takes work at the nursing homes and then it is all back to March month when we had a lock down.It is scary how easy the virus spreads around.The kinder garden also have many infected.
It is better to have self isolation if you can.I can not since I work at the hospital.
Ihope you will take care and I wish you a great week!
Anxiety is high the world over. We are moving into Spring now (a beautiful season). For the moment my city is free of the virus, but we are on high alert. I hope your beautiful home area stays free, and that your caution is rewarded. Stay safe, stay well.
Today I saw a little girl walking to school with her grandmother. I felt sad because of the uncertainity she faces in not getting the virus. School started today for everyone.
It has certainly been a very different year to the norm and I do not think it is going to change any time soon. Stay safe, Diane
Yes, it seems that in a couple of days we have gone from summer to fall. I do look forward to cooler days and nights and cozy sweaters.
I like your accurate description of the coming fall.
Its so great that you have a vegetable garden and are enjoying the produce. Socializing is challenging right now. We, like you, are limiting it to our kids but school presents new challenges! Stay well.
Our cold weather is a ways off...I think. I don't look forward to the real cold weather, but I do look forward to fall. Kids at my granddaughter;s school had the option to do the on-line learning, but she wanted to go to school so bad. She just loves the kids, loves the teachers...loves it all. So far there has been two positive cases in her school...and they have been in school for 5 weeks I think she said. I was very apprehensive at first...now I try to just pray for all to stay safe, but not dwell on it.
We did not stop seeing them...but that was it as far as visiting. Our neighbors have come over and sat and visited outside a couple times. I do the shopping...
I suspect that it is not just people in Canada who are worried about the coming months / years. There are signs of spring here - but I am held to my garden and suburb. Lets hope next week brings better news.
Cheers - Stewart M - Locked Down Melbourne
The weather in Southern Ontario has become very pleasant of late. Yesterday we had a wonderful walk at about 23 degrees which is just about perfect. And the birds were great too. A very cooperative Northern Waterthrush and a family of Red-eyed Vireo were two of the highlights.
What a beautiful description of autumn in your 1st paragraph, especially so, as it is a season we do not experience.
Harvest is nearly over and the birds are preparing for migration. A sense of normalacy in an otherwise abnormal world.
We are heading into my favorite seasons: fall and winter. I am not a summer person at all. Yes, the impact on all people of the Covid 19 virus is invasive. If you are lucky enough to avoid catching the virus - you can't avoid the need for everyday practical precautions and the limits on activities. It is a scary virus as well. Soooo many symptoms as to be hard to detect initially if you have a common cold or something more scary. And the lingering health issues and death rates can't be ignore in some people - unless you are living in the US and then ignoring this pandemic seems to be the "in thing" to do (I didn't realize we had so many ignorant people living here :-( ). Anyway, stay well.
Your garden sounds very productive. But it seems as if your summer only began recently!
How quickly your fall comes in. Here it's still in the 80sf and there are several weeks left in the growing season. But the humidity is starting to drop, my allergies are easing up, signs that fall is out there somewhere!
You enjoy all your outdoor time so much. Are you hardy enough to get out in winter, too?
So well said Marie and I can relate to it all. You presented the fears that many of us have but I must tell you the one part that really touched me ... you wrote:
"There is a bounty of vegetables from the garden this summer. Every day we eat tomatoes"
and my mind went immediately to home-grown tomatoes! They are world's apart from the ones you get at the grocery store. I was born in 1933 and that was still in the depression. We had a huge garden and I still remember the taste of tomatoes warm from out in the garden. A big bowl of diced tomatoes swimming in our homemade sauce and poured over rice !! ... it made up for all the meat and other food that we couldn't afford. Enjoy them while they last .
Here I have noticed some leaves starting to turn colour.
I shall be isolated from my grandies as soon as school starts up again, so I am planning to see them this week. The oldest one (12) will be going back to school, the other three (11 and 9) will be trying home schooling. Either way, its a brave decision!
you have a good harvesting of vegetables....good luck.
yes, we all socially "isolated" due to this unexpected pandemic.
Love fall and spring.
Have a wonderful day
We are still isolating by choice here too, but have resumed with walking laps at the nearby mall. It's quite a workout for us after having been couch potatoes for a few months. It feels good to be moving again! Best wishes to you!
Nice report from the island.
I am so glad I discovered your blog. I have visited Nova Scotia once and love it there. In fact, I wish I could live there. But I live in the mountains of North Carolina and I enjoy it here. When you speak of fall coming soon I am jealous. It is still in the high 80s here on Labor Day. But I took a walk with my little dog today, early before it got so hot.
I wear a mask anytime I go out which is not often. Living alone I feel safe in my home and have a sign on my door that anyone who enters must wear a mask. So far it works well.
impressively written as always dear Marie
i can imagine how sad you feel while saying goodbye to summers as i feel same when our really short winters leave
nature heals souls deeply indeed ,in every aspect of her there is strong message for her admirers and you are so fortunate to receive these messages :)
here school are reopening on 15th of September we are happy that kids will rejoin their routines ,hope you will be able to see your grandchildren once in while Marie :)
stay blessed and beautiful as you are always !
Post a Comment