By Jamie Rieger

The evidence is all around us; the birds that are congregating in large groups and preparing for a long trip, the children have returned to school, the thick layer of dew on our windshields in the morning, and the leaves that are just starting to turn from green to golden, orange, and crimson.

Yup, the signs are all there. Autumn is on its way and far too soon for my liking. Not that I like excessively hot summers, but it sure doesn't seem like we had much of a summer at all...or a spring, for that matter.

I can't recall one night all summer when it was too unbearable to sleep and did not find any of the days too intolerable either. It seemed as soon as the temperatures would start to shoot upward, a good rainfall or thunderstorm was knocking it back down a few notches.

And, the notice that summer has kinda passed us by this year is not just me. Many of people have said the same thing. Some people who were not able to get their gardens planted until mid-June are only now being able to pick ripe tomatoes and dig up potatoes...and many are not seeing a bumper crop of either this year.

Being an optimistic person, I still see hope for warm, suonny days on the horizon. There is nothing better than an Indian summer in the fall when the leaves have already fallen. Warm weather makes the whole raking task go more pleasantly than being out there doing yardwork wearing a toque and gloves.

And, warm weather for Thanksgiving dinner is always appreciated. I can recall more than once when we have been able to eat our turkey dinner at the picnic table in the backyard. So, there is still hope.

Mother Nature has not been kind this year and I thinik we, in southeast Alberta are due for some kindness from the old girl.

A nice, pleasant autumn followed by a mild winter would be just the cure to fix these summertime blues!