I think autumn has come

It was on my walk with Callie the Collie yesterday morning that I felt it. The weather has been nice for a few days now — no rain this week until this morning — but there is a definite fall-like chill in the air. And the birds are starting to fly south.

Geese, don't you think? Whatever the bird is, it is flying south.

Besides, the grapes are definitely approaching full ripeness. Earlier in the summer, I thought the grapes out back were looking pretty miserable. But now they are in their full glory. This morning's rain is not a good thing. I hope they can start the harvest soon.

Lots of wine grapes

I wish I knew enough to distinguish Gamay and Cabernet Franc and Côt (Malbec) grapes from each other, but I don't. Even with the close-up picture below, who knows? If you do, tell me.

Which grapes are these?

These dry cool days are great for sunrises and sunsets. I can't stop taking pictures of them. But then you know that if you look at this blog very much.

Sunrise yesterday over a stand of pine trees
out in the middle of the vineyard

We still have September and October to go before the chill really sets in. At least I hope so. Even in years where we have a nice summer, September and October seem like the nicest months of the year. This year, with any luck, they will be a hell of a lot nicer than chilly, damp May, June, July, and August were.

Sunrise over La Renaudière at Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher
in France, 28 August 2007

Can you tell I'm enjoying the new camera? I don't miss the old ones at all. On the one hand, that's kind of sad, but on the other, it's just great. Callie has started to get used to the rhythm of our walks. She stops and waits, staring at me with curiosity, as I take photos. She doesn't know how to pose yet, however. When she sees me trying to take her picture, she turns away from me every time.

As far as 2007 goes, if anybody ever asks me what our summer was like, I'll say: "I don't remember. Which day was it?"