mint Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Got to be at least 5 days ago when I came home one morning from walking the dog and said to OH, "I do believe autumn will not be long coming."He replied, "Yes, I know, there was heavy dew on the car this morning!"So, there is a certain freshness in the air, the shadows are longer, the nights are drawing in and the trees are just changing colour.My fig tree is at last giving up its fruit.Hot as the days are, there is just that indefinable something in the air.Please share with us your experience of the first signs of autumn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Chilly 8°C at 5:30 this morning...[:(]Glorious 28°C this afternoon [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 5.30? Just what on earth were you doing at 5.30, Clair?I was in the Land of Nod and would be for at least 3 more hours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I just wake up early in the morning... [:)]I quite like it too, except when the cat wakes me up chasing her live snack under the bed... [:@] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I'm like you, Clair - early mornings, but I don't have the cat and live snack problem!I can tell autumn is almost here by the condensation on the tomatoes when I pick them each morning. I've been picking cooking apples too- another sign.Roll on 2 weeks, back to the Gard, leaving behind grey days like today - it was windy, chilly and showery too - Bank Holiday Sunday! To be fair, the forecast is better for tomorrow.Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Pity those at the Festival GG (we can hear evey beat) they may get chilblains [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baypond Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Back from France and it is now dark when I leave for work at 5:20 am. We have already booked another weekend in September to try and catch some late summer sunshine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Autumn has arrived when I have to turn on the heating in the car to go to work at 8.00a.m.[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Nevermind, Jen. OH said to me today, "This time next year, you will be preparing to go off to Compostela!"Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We are going to be wild with excitement, n'est ce pas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 C'est vrai, Sweets, but first I've got to get my short, fat, hairy little legs [:-))] into walking mode. Sooooo, I'm off to Font Romeu in the Pyrennees to walk a little this week. If I'm not back on line by next Sunday, send out the 'secours'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Don't worry, Jen, I'll come and get you myself. Me, I'm joining the local rando group but I've fallen a bit behind with the dumb bells!Ah, autumn, lovely walking weather. Just been round the plot with the dog; beautiful evening, la lune gibbeuse (tell me I've got the term right, PLEASE, Clair) is looking enchanting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Same in this part of 24, evenings are drawing in, had to change the timers for the watering system, not having to water so often, heavy dew most mornings and as somebody said, there's an almost imperceptable something in the air, change is coming - and many fewer tourists tho St Cyprien was full of Brit holidaymakers today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Around here they reckon it will only be a couple of weeks until the walnuts fall. Everyone is mowing or scuffling like mad under the trees to make the job of collecting them easier.The tobacco is already drying in the hangars and they are cutting the maize.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Excellent memory, Sweet! I had to double-check!I take the same walk most mornings, waking stick in hand, listening to Woman's Hour or another interesting BBC podcast on my IPod, through the woods and along the old farm track, up to the country road and down the main road, before attacking the steep hill back to the house...pfewww![:-))]There are several juniper bushes along the track and I am keeping an eye on the berries. I aim to pick them before the blackbirds take notice of them! I have watched them all summer, from green to grey and now almost blue. It must be autumn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 So, it's sloe gin to keep warm, Chez Clair? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Purely for medicinal use! I am told they helps ward off the winter colds [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I realise summer is waining but look on the bright side - there is still the fruit harvest, the grapes are coming on well and the mushrooms are on the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Oh, Dog, I am NOT sad, far from it!But, I can't do mushrooms, don't know what they should look like and every mushroom that I have shown Madame la Voisine, she has shaken her head at!Mind you, I have a suspicion that she only does that to put me off them so that there would be more left for her [:'(]As for my walnuts, I am sooooooooo looking forward to gathering them and putting them in great big boxes.I, too, have a regular walk, Clair. I go through the pinède behind my house, walk through several fields, get on to the semi-chemin, stop just short of the metalled road to the village and then walk back home.The maize has indeed been harvested but the cobs that I picked up off the ground have VERY hard kernels.The deer have been out and about but I think the chasseurs will be out in force soon and I just hope the babies will not be shot this winter![:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 Shooting unarmed animals started here last week and the pigeon muderers are preparing to start next week.On a happier note I made lots of windmills out of plastic bottles, bamboo and poly wrapping paper. I stuck bits of gaudy shiny polypropylene on them to scare away the birds, deer and boar for my 90 year old neighbours vines.My neighbour loves them and just sits and watches them rotate! He reckons I should sell them to other farmers.His son has found some 10mm wide thin plastic that suspended between two sticks buzzes beautifully in the wind. I tried to explain that if you do the same with wider plastic film with rotating joints in varying points you can make great arcs that fly. So far the largest have been a kilometre long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 [quote user="Clair"]There are several juniper bushes along the track and I am keeping an eye on the berries. I aim to pick them before the blackbirds take notice of them! I have watched them all summer, from green to grey and now almost blue. It must be autumn...[/quote]They need the first frost before picking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Thanks for the tip [:)].Glorious sunshine this morning with a strong warm wind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprogster Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Still unrelentingly hot in the south Var, with day time temps still well into the low thirties and night time temps not going below 21, with relatively high humidity.This has been the hottest and driest summer for several years and the locals are all complaining and waiting in eager anticipation for cooler temps.Days though are drawing in and it is not getting light until after 6.00am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mareille Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 [quote user="powerdesal"][quote user="Clair"]There are several juniper bushes along the track and I am keeping an eye on the berries. I aim to pick them before the blackbirds take notice of them! I have watched them all summer, from green to grey and now almost blue. It must be autumn...[/quote]They need the first frost before picking.[/quote]You can slways put them in the freezer for a few hours if the frosts don't obligeChris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViVienne Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 in the uk we lit our fire last night it was so cold.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Shivy wrote the following post at 31/08/2009 11:39: in the uk we lit our fire last night it was so cold....Yes, it was a really grey and miserable day BUT today is gorgeous so make the most of it.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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