Goodbye Summer--- Hello Fall!

I have been so in denial about summer’s ending that I have mostly refused to check my email this weekend—not wanting to acknowledge that classes, and the whole semester, begin this week! It seems that I have been more reluctant than ever to let summer end—it began so beautifully with an emergency management conference in Emmitsburg  (always lovely to see old colleagues and meet new ones),

Elizabeth’s visit, which included beach trips to Cape May,

Rehoboth
and running up to New York City to meet Sophia’s young man, Tait,

and an Amish buggy ride through Lancaster County.
Next came some shopping, and a few college tours for Elizabeth.
In July, Ed and Fawn and I enjoyed a day exploring Herring Point

and having lunch in Lewes. That’s also where I took some great shots with my new Sony camera.

Finally, August brought a trip to SanFrancisco ...

...to attend the ASA annual meeting, which included being picked up at the airport by my son, Michael, and meeting his lovely Annie.

This was the cherry on top of an already lovely summer! ASA also included a pre-conference tour of sustainable wine growing in Sonoma...

...which also included wine tastings... (yes, note the plural!)...

And I also took a combined day trip to Angel Island (exploring the history of Pacific immigration) and to

Alcatraz (to explore the history of this island as a notorious prison from which everyone wanted to escape but very few actually did!).

In between, I finished Chapter 4 of my dissertation and have been working on purging papers stored in the garage. This weekend I’ve purged and cleaned my office, rearranged the furniture and now I am soooo looking forward to writing there in the coming months!

Yes, summer is over… sigh…The Old Farmer’s Almanac  

forecasts a terrible winter much like the brutal one we had last year. I’ve decided to treat myself to some great new boots (already ordered) and a great cashmere sweater to make it all bearable. Haven’t found the sweater yet, but this will give me something to do and look forward to. I’m also mentally preparing for revising Chapter 4 and drafting Chapter 5. It will be great to be done! It’s been a long time coming.

In between I will also be developing several new programs at work, as well as Chairing the Curriculum Committee. It’s also time to put the plans together for a family beach vacation at a pet friendly place for next June. In my spare time (haha!) I will continue to purge—and that feels oh so good!

Hello Fall! I might as well get used to you being here J.

Fall Walk

I've been trying to keep with my walking and just had to capture how fall has settled in... 

Most of all, I was really taken with the sky at sunset... Beautiful!

Crisp Fall Days

It's amazing how one can live in a place for many years and yet not experience one of its finest spots-- yesterday we took the dog for a walk in a park near the reservoir. It was an oasis from suburban life-- rolling hills, a stream with small waterfalls, stone walls designed to create outdoor seating areas, and a meandering path dipping down into a valley among a canopy of trees. It used to be part of a wealthy estate, and was donated to the citizens to enjoy. Fawn loves it! Although- as a walking dog goes she doesn't do so well... walking with Fawn means letting her take the lead and stopping and sniffing when she sees fit. However, she loved it and so did we, and I can just imagine walking there when snow covers the ground.


I love Autumn and the crisp air, but this Autumn seemed to have gone abruptly from warm weather to very cool. Overnight leaves have fallen, and I guess it will be just one more brisk wind before all the leaves have fallen from the trees. While talking my brisk exercise walk this afternoon I noticed that it's time to do a final grasscutting before the mower is stored until Spring, and since we've had several frosts already, I could see that the hardy mums are starting to look dilapidated. This afternoon's grey skies and crisp air are reminders that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. One of the joys of living in the US is Thanksgiving, a very American holiday. It's a time for families to gather and feast together. It's my favorite holiday since it revolves around food and family rather than gifts.

So-- where am I going with these rambling thoughts? I'm on the verge of finishing "reading" A Farewell to Arms. I'm sorry to have it end-- this book has made my walking so much more pleasurable. The characters have become so real, and John Slattery's reading of this book has brought WW I into the present. I shall miss it!