It’s still hot in Brasstown, but I can see the signs of fall everywhere I look. Goldenrod and iron weed are in full bloom along the edges of pastures, meadows, and roads. The colors of purple and yellow make a beautiful contrast that gives a hint of the colorful garments the trees will soon wear.
Even though we’re still mowing and weed-eating we can see the green areas are beginning to turn brown. The garden beds are dying back and the ones we’ve torn out look as bare as they did in early spring.
This time of the year we’re always anxious for the first truly cooler morning. Over the years The Deer Hunter started the tradition of marching us all outside to the porch or the deck to feel the first deliciously cool air of the changing season.
We’ve had one cool day so far. I went out to set the chickens free and was welcomed by the airish weather. It was 54 degrees.
Chitter was off loafering, Chatter was at her house, and The Deer Hunter had long since left for work.
I stood on the back deck and savored the cool air. I finally decided I had to at least call The Deer Hunter since we didn’t get to enjoy it together like usual. He agreed it felt wonderful but warned me not to get too attached to it—for we still had many hot days to get through.
Yesterday Chatter and I completed several outdoor chores that had been piling up and this evening The Deer Hunter, Chitter, and I mowed and weed-eated. On both days it was so hot my shirt was soaked with sweat by the time we finished, yet I could feel a change afoot in the air.
If you listen close you can hear it in the frantic whine of bees and the scurrying of squirrels as they gather acorns. You can see the first yellow or red leaf here and there along with the unmistakable brown edges that have formed around all the green.
Signs of fall of the year abound in my mountain holler.
Last night’s video: My Favorite Summer Time Casserole – Easy, Quick, and Versatile!
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Tipper, so grateful that you have kept Appalachia in the forefront of my life. I often discuss with my Sis, who does not read your blog. She is learning through me an appreciation of all that is good about our region. We talked about pretentiousness just last evening, and how this has crept into the lives of some. My dad stressed not getting “above our raising” but did always stress learning all we could.
I agree with some posters who miss and are concerned about members of our Blind Pig blog family! I wondered always about B Ruth, and I was saddened when Bradley died a few years back. Sis laughed when I told her my daughter “put on a spread” at her cookout. She said I should mention that expression to you to see if it was Appalachian. 🙂
Pinnacle Creek-I’ve heard put out a spread used to describe a good or big meal my whole life 🙂
I haven’t seen goldenrod in decades here in southeastern Massachusetts. Friday morning was the first day waking up to cold temperatures, and it’s going to be chilly tonight as well. I got down the blankets. Hot days and cold nights that will turn our leaves on the trees red, orange and yellow. All the trees here, except one are still green. One across the street and over is half brown. The phone company was out in August supposedly pruning trees in advance of storm season to lessen the likelihood of limbs taking down power lines and cut down a cluster of three beautiful full oaks so I wonder why they didn’t prune or remove that one.. or if they did something to that one. The sky over that way looks so bare.
The persimmon tree in the woods behind my house is beginning to show fire red in the top. That’s my first sign that Fall is nearby. That’s the one that was standing beside a pine that got struck by lightning when I was in the back yard mowing.
Hi Tipper,
I have a suggestion for your zucchini casserole. Why don’t you try laying some uncooked lasagne pasta on the very bottom of the pan and stack the rest of the ingredients just as you normally do on top of the raw pasta. The juices from the veggies will saturate the pasta during baking and you will have a nice firm, stable foundation for your casserole made of perfectly cooked pasta. That’s how I make my lasagna and the pasta comes out perfect every time. It will also add some protein to the dish. It looks delicious. Bon appetite.
Tipper, pass this comment on to Chitter. When someone accuses me of loafing or being lazy, I tell them I am not doing either one, but I am just being energy efficient!
Another interesting read and all the comments to take note of. We are STILL warm and very HUMID here in upstate Florida and I think all of us down here are looking so forward to a little relief from the 90ish temps. I am seeing a lot of what we call ‘webworm’ in tree and have been noticing them from early July. Not sure if that is the correct label, but in trying to describe them…it is a large group of what looks like spider webs amongst a group of leaves in trees that look like they harbor spiders. Mind you , I have never gotten close enough to observe them to see, only from far away. But I have been told, when we first moved to northern Georgia, that the webworms were a true indication of a nasty winter to come. So, we shall see. God Bless
You write so beautifully. I hope you have plans to put down on paper your wonderful life in Appalachia. It would be a bestseller for sure.
I live in Maryland, much like North Carolina, we have our mountains, our ocean & everything in between. And we have our magnificent change of seasons, not one I don’t look forward to & love. But the real joy, for me, is in their changing. Those days when you wake up to crisp, cool mornings that turn into 90° afternoons, fierce thunderstorms & pouring rain or seeing the snowdrops & crocus peeking up green through the snow. I love the quiet snowy evenings that blanket everything in white sparkles & the bright sunny mornings that quickly melt it all away.
I know some don’t pay attention, with their busy lives & constant electronic distractions, rushing from their homes to their cars & back again, but I, like you, can’t imagine my life without the natural wonders of this glorious Earth.
Thank you.
Here in Middle Tn, the colors look different now–don’t know how to describe maybe faded & dusty. I love fall!
Oh yea, we can feel the change in the air around here in South Carolina as well Miss Tipper. Fall is my Absolute Favorite time of the year, the cooler crisp morning temps, turning of the leaves & Deer Season make it very special for me. I love the way you describe it all so well.
Brasstown must be truly beautiful in the Fall. I’m a new subscriber and I’m looking forward to seeing the changing of the seasons in Appalachian on your You Tube channel . Our seasons are much more subtle where I live in Florida. Yet you can feel the change in the air even here in Florida. My husband and I will be out in our yard and my husband will say I feel the difference in the air, Fall is here. The hot muggy air will be gone for awhile, though you can always still get a humid day in Fall. We will have to wait until October to feel the difference. My husband and I are taking a trip to New England this October to visit family. It’s been awhile since we have been on vacation and I’m so looking forward to the vibrant colors of the foliage . Tipper, enjoy your autumn in beautiful Appalachia.
Fall is my favorite season. I can tell some of the trees here are beginning to take on that yellow color. I can’t wait for that early morning crispness in the air and that smell that lets you know fall is arriving. I just enjoy watching the trees change colors before the leaves drop, picking out pumpkins and mums to decorate with. Living in town, we don’t have a spot to grow pumpkins. My dad on occasion would grow some but never had much luck with them. Ya’ll are blessed with all the beauty of those mountains. Randy, I know that variety of sweet potato. It’s a popular one. Have a blessed day everyone!!
I can see fall coming even here in flat country, the farmers have already started harvesting corn and the high temps this week have only been in the eighties . My maters, okra and peas are winding down. I’m ready for fall, this has been one hot and very dry summer. Only had 2 weeks since the first of May that I didn’t water my garden twice.
Y’all are probably a couple weeks ahead of us here in the center of the state, just because of being a little closer to the mountains. Usuallywe are a couple weeks behind on the peak of the leaves changing.. But there’s no doubt that even here fall is getting closer. I think the grass is starting to slow down a little bit and not grow quite so fast.
I have not seen any comments from Ed Ammons (forgive me if I didn’t get your name correct) this week. I hope he is ok, I think he has health problems too. I sure miss Larry-AWGRIFF- I did not catch the problem he is having, but that is ok, it’s not necessary for me to know. I will be praying for both of them. After being a member for awhile, it seems the other members sorta feel like family. Does that make Tipper our mother?
Randy, I’ve been really sick but they changed my meds and feeling a little better. Hope to comment before long.
I am sure glad to hear that you are feeling better. If you have been reading the comments over the last few weeks you know I am having a problem with one of my eyes. I am being told it will get better but it may take 1-3 months. I will be praying for you to continue to get better. You have left some mighty nice comments for me. Thank you
Heavy dew on the grass this morning, sunny, and 70 fabulous degrees here in SC PA. Yes, fall is coming here too, but I love spring and summer. Summer has seemed to fly by and I do not want it to go. Luckily, we are to have I think a warmer end of September. Growing up in northern Illinois, I loved fall and can still see my Daddy raking leaves and the smell of burning leaves. Indian summer is what we called it and it was wonderful but short-lived. You have been so busy making a garden and showing Corrie how to put up your bounty from the garden that I am sure you are ready for a little rest period.
I’m still waiting – hints in the air, plants, sky, night sounds. Down here in Florida it will still be a little before I can expect that first cool breeze that lets me know I’m behind in my fall gardening! I LOVE that first evening. Walking my dog every morning and evening was a wonderful experience for me and I was always so excited for that first hint in the air. Just imagine all the moments a dog has when sniffing their surroundings each day – experiences I can’t begin to know. My dog did teach me to enjoy those walks in whatever weather came out way – always something to see or feel or smell or hear. I tried hard to take that time to enjoy nature and to say my prayers. It felt so ‘right’ to be giving praise to natures creator as I noticed it all. I miss those walks so much. Our neighborhood has grown, reducing the wildness and neighbors have large, barking, snarling dogs that have no manners and threaten our existence as we pass so it’s the back yard for us. Not the same! How I miss my old homestead on 10 acres full of peace, quiet and nature. Makes me realize the changes that deer and other wildlife go through as we humans encroach on their territory. I try to remember that when the deer eat my garden! Fourteen very large turkeys were in my front yard yesterday and I had tried several times to get them to eat a bunch of wild bird seeds I threw out but they would run into the woods across the street then come right back ignoring the seeds. History tells me they will be on someones table soon. -A special treat awaits me everyday – I just have to look for it.
We have goldenrod and Joe Pye weed blooming. I too, love the “airish” cool of autumn coming. We’ve been getting a few mornings of that here in the mountains and like you, I step out onto my porch to feel it on my face each morning. My kale is up and my french radishes are doing wonderfully.
My least favorite time of the year is definitely in the air here in KY. The heat and humidity just won’t let up and neither will the rain. We are expecting another wet weekend that will keep us indoors while so much needs to be done outside. I still have a few tomatoes left in my garden and the potatoes will need to be be dug before I can take the fence down and turn the bush hog loose.
thanks for the weather report; i’m heading up there to the folk school tomorrow. i’ve never been up there in early fall before! it’ll be stifling here for another two months yet.
So lovely the change of seasons, thank you for expressing it so well! I enjoy reading your posts and watching your videos, it feels like home!
Oh Tipper, you make me stop and smell the roses when you post. I also enjoy the changing of the seasons and especially the first cool mornings. I look forward to those cool mornings for a cup of coffee outside to enjoy the leaves, air and animals scurrying around and flying around making their preparations for the coming season. You make all of us stop and appreciate what is around us and how much we all have to be thankful for. Please keep on reminding us to enjoy life, even the sweaty and tired days.
I eagerly look for that chill in the morning air every year, too. I felt it briefly one early morning a couple of weeks ago. Or was it my imagination wanting it so bad? I wish Fall lasted for 6 months – with the leaves turning their shades and hanging onto to the trees a lot longer than they do. You blink and you miss all those glorious colors. I love the smell of burning leaves, too. My favorite season is coming, I can feel it just around the corner!!! You have got me investigating every inch within my view for the hints that it is not far off!!! Sweaters, hot cocoa, cool mornings, and dried rustling leaves for a carpet – that is what the word “cozy” means.
Donna. : )
I have also noticed that the leaves on the elms are starting to turn. I’m at the edge of the panhandle of Texas. Sunday is supposed to be in the high 70’s. I’m ready for this summer to be over. I’m done with the heat!
Tipper, I have never heard the term loafering before. Loafing, but never loafering.
That photograph certainly tells me fall is on its way y’all!!! Up here in WV ( God’s armpit) it’s getting cool at nights and early in the morning with a bit of fog on the mountainside. The deer march around like packs of dogs and we are inundated by them. Why DNR doesn’t see the issue is beyond me (but there’s that.) My flowers are winding down but my morning glory are doing well!!! The hollyhocks are also lovely. I canned 7 quarts of chicken and vegetables yesterday. Looking to do 7 quarts of beef and vegetables today with some beef and cabbage in the mix. I can see a very positive side to a heat ready meal especially with the economy being so unstable. Tipper, you get a jacket on in the coolness and everybody stay warm out there. Mommy always said this is pneumonia weather. I’d say she was right since she was right about EVERYTHING! Now I’d say your kale and fall garden are getting stirred up. I got Brussels sprouts and what they do is a anybody’s guess cause I’ve all but waved a white flag… lol
Miss Sadie, our Brussels sprouts are totally destroyed with bugs. We planted some gifted ones last year & had a bunch & they were so much better than bought ones. I didn’t even know what they were & finally realized the bumps were sprouts!
Fall is my favorite season of the year, somehow I get a feeling of it being a time to ease up and relax a little bit after working hard all summer in the garden and mother, grandmother and later on my wife having put up a lot of food for the winter.and from the other hard summer work.For 10 years my Parents heated their home with a wood heater and I would keep a years supply of wood cut ahead for them, I would start cutting in the fall of this year for next year- hope that makes sense. For several years years in the month of October, my wife and I would go up to the Burnsville, Bakersville area of NC and spend two nights at Nu Wray Inn at Burnsville. I dearly love the mountains ,especially in the fall. One of the signs I notice when cutting grass is.the change in the crabgrass and also the change in the weather, seems like you can feel fall in the air.
Gloria Hayes, I left a reply last night for you on the 5 things post, I did not see your reply or question until late last night. It was too ffar back and also to late at night to post comment. Nothing special about his soil, those watermelon and cantaloupe varieties are known to grow big. Everything else he grows are the common varieties, including his watermelons. He grows the Covington sweet potatoes and buys the plants in NC. Out of that many potatoes there will occasionally be a extra large one. My daughter also liked the white potatoes. Tipper, I hope it was ok to do this.
Yes, I can feel those first early signs of fall. It always makes me both happy and sad. Sad to see summer and all her fruits go away and happy to see the cooler day come! I guess one of the real high points of where we live is the distinct changes of the four seasons and we have these glorious mountains all around us. The mountains are glorious through all the four seasons!
I remember that morning, it was 52 here and damp do I was a tad chilly. I look out side and see all the yellow leavrs falling and fluttering like butterflies. ebrry once in a while one flys off
Hey Tipper, reading this post reminded me of some old tales for predicting winter. You’ve likely heard them.
Exactly six weeks from the second bloom of the golden rods will be the first frost. When I lived in Towns that proved true for four years in a row.
When the ants are climbing up your walls to get to the attic, there will be at least one good snow. This can also mean a very wet and rainy winter, too, if you’re in areas not prone to snow.
When hornets build there nests close to the ground, there’ll be a bitter winter.
From another Randy, I hope the ant perdition is not true, I have had s problem with ants during the last couple of weeks. I think they are looking for moisture they would be at a sink. The summer has been very hot and dry around here., this also means no fog in Aug. so hopefully very little snow. We did get a decent rain last weekend but nothing like the three corners area-SC, Ga. and NC. More rain predicted for this weekend starting tonight.
In my neck of the woods, the leaves have already started changing. Thats a bit early even for us. We have started to have some of the wet fall weather that we get later on and today is a very foggy morning. The little lake resort town 5min. from me, was a ghost town last night. That’s how we know; all the summer people have gone home after labor day & summer is over. There is a historic little amusement park on the lakeside. Hubby & went for a cruise on the bike & they had already started dismantling the kiddie rides. A few mornings, last week, both girls commented as we went to the car that it ‘feels like fall’. Early Fall is a spectacular season in NY (my favorite season), but later on it just gets rainy & damp. The dews are very heavy now & don’t dry off at all. It makes it hard to get the 2nd or 3rd cutting of hay to dry. And every year I try to save seeds, but they rot or mold before the seeds would be mature.