LATE AUGUST

 It's late August and the sun is drifting back southward with a crisp red corona. When fog or clouds form, the halo on the point looks biblical. Cue the ominous music?

There's seasonal cutting back among the stalks. And then there's loading up for the next litter...

Always considering somewhere else to live. How about Meaford? One of those pretty lakeside towns, but Jekyll-and-Hyde when the storms howl in.

The Salmon Derby has returned, but restricted due to you-know-what. Smaller tent, no stage shows, curbside fish dinners pick-up only, and distancing. But still a fun family event. The lineup to weigh-in was about 40 people long.

At the weigh-in the early leaders were only about 25 pounds for the salmon and 15 for trout. The eventual winners should be about 40 and 20. The fishers will be out there all week, dipping their rods in heat or rain. Here's another scene of the long lines to weigh-in.

The fall harvest includes peppers the colours of a Mexican fiesta. Before, during, after. Stuffed peppers ---- comfort food for the ebb of summer!

THE ANNUAL FLIP?

Every year about this time there seems to be a  flip between "hot summer" and "late summer". The days are still warm but the nights are cooling off. That has happened up here and with it many other signs of the seasonal cycle. Tomatoes in the garden are warm to the touch and bursting with real flavour. Local fruit like ripening peaches make the best pies.

Plants, bushes, and trees have had a big growth season. More weeding to do. Stalks taller than the gardener!

Bears, foxes, and monarchs haven't been seen for days as they blend back into the woods or literally take off on a long journey. These two butterflies are acting oddly, comatose in the grass or clutching a porch curtain. One theory is they have ensured the next generation and are ready to die. But this chipmunk had a good looong drink, ready to live.

August full moon is the natives' "sturgeon moon" because the late summer is when the sturgeon used to be most abundant. Sunrises these days are molten, a crescendo of shimmering red. Late August is also when the salmon start their run to spawn and perish --- but they have to run the gauntlet of fishers first.

So is summer on the way out or not? Is the top halfway up or halfway down??

THEY'RE BAAAACK

 A lot of deja vu this week. For example, there weren't many apple blossoms this spring but ---- voila ---- suddenly red apples are emerging all over the place. Maybe it's the 42C giving them a sunburn?

Newly formed monarchs are on the wing, fluttering as high as geese practicing their V's. The elusive hummingbird moth is seen once a year --- there it was out the window.

Birds that usually hide in the shade are out in full colour daily. Cardinals, goldfinches, etc. And oh yeah, the gimpy turkey is back after 3 or 4 months in the woods.

Another returnee is a black bear, one of several roaming the area. Dim in the dawn, and in no hurry to leave as we watched a few feet away.

The Pond Keeper is back, in boots and work shorts like a country singer. But why is the Country Couple baack in the city?

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Seems like less activity up here than usual ----is that "dog days of summer"? Blazing sunrise and flare are like the red of Canada's Olympic team, and the gold of many medals. 24 in 21!

Dog day or not, there's always something new. Local geese have been prolific. The endangered butternut tree suddenly revealed lots of fruit. A Red Admiral butterfly clung to a screen window, pondering to be an in-sie or an out-sie? And despite the name, a first sighting ever of a Common Whitetail dragonfly.

Those monarch caterpillars continue to get the royal treatment. Who's watching whom --- the girl or the creature? The protective tent gets taken down as the caterpillar has crept away to be a well-hidden chrysalis.

More visits from that bear, this time while we were away for an hour. Garden underpad got ripped apart in search of --- grubs? And the usual temptation at the bird feeders --- no leftovers.

Lazy hazy summer treats include bbq burgers on the patio, a weekly Chinese special, and yummy TropiCanada muffins, a house specialty. From the name, guess what's in them??

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun...