Autumn is coming.

A strange year for my part of the country--rain at least weekly.  The grass is still green and growing.  I'll have to mow one more time most likely, which is a month later than the last mow most of the time

There are garden spiders spinning webs in the upper corner of every doorway to the outside world, so is I've had a face full of webbing every time I forget to clear it with a stick first.

The hurricane(s) have the weather pretty cool already, but still up to 90 late afternoon.

I have plenty of outside projects left, but the wasps have been busy building nests and have been particularly waspish--everyone has been stung at least once by the foul-tempered creatures.  Anyone that has said "leave them alone and they will leave you alone" has not offended a nest of yellow jackets by breathing 10 foot from their home.

Momma cat removed her kittens from the yard after one tiny baby stuck its head into a triangular space of wrought iron and then couldn't figure out how to get it.  I heard the yowling, went out to find 6 cats staring intently at the poor little thing, and got him out, despite the flailing of razor sharp kitten claws.  He just needed to raise his head up, but was pulling down and back instead.  It left of under its own steam soon after, following momma.  When she came back the next day, there were only 3 kittens.  I assume it suffered some damage to its neck that was fatal later.

The leaves are very nearly all vibrant green.  We are having none of that early brown and dry leaves from lack of water in the heat.  But the grass is getting that slightly leggy look, despite the weekly mowing, the end-of-summer look, that, green, then you mow and under the green is yellow and brown.

I had my first cold, or virus, or weird and sudden allergy attack that felt more like a cold or virus.  Still have an occasional cough from it and sleeping later, sleeping more, took some naps and such.

I'm surprised to learn that I can not have enough energy when ill to paint or read.  Maybe it was the cold medicine.

I am looking forward to Fall this year, officially starting this week but who knows how long till it actually starts.  When I was a kid, school started the day after Labor day and ended by Memorial Day.  We had a few hot days in school, and with nothing but open windows and a couple of those funny wire-faced desk fans rotating, and we didn't die, and were not allowed to wear shorts.  Pants or dresses for girls (but no jeans rules, we were pretty early on that, the bigger city was still insisting on all girls wearing dresses and no jeans on boys), and long pants for boys.  I don't even remember sweating more than at home, but of course, most of the houses still didn't have air conditioners.

Less than a week from the first day of fall and three days over 90.  And it's humid as usual.  With rain again next week--probably related to hurricane season--that big ol' butterfly flapping over the ocean.

September is a birthday month in our family.  It's funny how birthdays congregate in certain months in different families.  Right now there are 3 in September, none in October, 2 in-laws in November, 4 in December, 1 in January, 1 in February, 1 in March, 1 in April, none in May or June, then 1 in July and August.

That was pointless.

I'm waiting for the first freeze, so I can trim trees and bushes, dig up bulbs, mulch leaves, clean off wasp nests and spider webs, wash windows, and not spend 5-6 hours a week riding a lawn mower.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great lawnmower and riding around mowing, having to stay attentive, it has its Zen qualities.
I'm getting to know my yard intimately, which has changed every time I hired someone to mow for a season.  This is my second full season and when I can't do it anymore I either put in a backyard full of goats and guineas and just mow the front or head to something with no yard.

I love the yard, but it is a yard that spends all its time trying to return to its wild state---and I like it best when it is only tamed enough to keep the neighbors from being able to turn me in.

Instead of no yard, maybe I need a place with no neighbors.