Summer Leftovers?

Yes, is almost the end of summer, and I have some leftovers for you. Not to worry I am not talking about stale potato salad, slightly composted greens and dried out chicken, but instead some pictures from the summer that I have not yet shared with you.

This gull is giving me the "Aren't you supposed to be back at work with everyone else?" look; the gulls did not seem to miss the people and umbrellas, but they may be missing the handouts and food leftovers.

I had a discussion recently with some friends about the origins of the term Indian Summer.  I have always thought that the term Indian Summer refers summer like conditions lasting through September and into October but since I didn't know for sure what it meant I thought it timely to do a bit of research.

Flowers into seeds:

According to Wikipedia: "The expression 'Indian summer' has been used for more than two centuries. The earliest known use was by French-American writer John Hector St. John de Crevecoeur in rural New York in 1778: "Then a severe frost succeeds which prepares it to receive the voluminous coat of snow which is soon to follow; though it is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer."

Here are some theories about its etymology (from Wikipedia):

• "In Colonial New England and New York, Indian Summer referred only to a January thaw, when American Indian raiding parties could be expected in the western and northern areas: the ground had briefly lost its snow cover so tracking the Native American raiders back to their winter camps was much more difficult for the Colonials. " 

• "In The Americans: The Colonial Experience, Daniel J. Boorstin speculates that the term originated from raids on European colonies by American Indian war parties; these raids usually ended in late autumn (due to snow covered ground), hence summer-like weather in the late fall and mid winter was an Indian Summer, a time raiding parties could be expected. "

• "It may be so named because this was the traditional period during which early American Indians harvested their crops of squash and corn." 

I have usually heard the term Indian Summer used when summer weather lasts well past the fall equinox (third week in September), not necessarily preceded by a period of cold weather. It is probably too soon to say for sure but I have heard predictions of an Indian Summer for this year; fingers crossed that it happens.

A colourful array of summer produce (tomatoes, eggplants and artichokes):

The summer's progression of colourful flowers: Lilies, sweet peas, lobelia, vicars mead, fuchsia, roses, day lilies, rhododendrons, echinacea, laitris and euphorbia.

 

 

 

 

A nest, now vacated, that a neighbour found and gave me:

 

And a few bunnies:

This one had a close look at me, then realizing I was not a threat started rolling around on the ground, occasionally stopping to have a look at me.

I took a short video of him doing a bit of cleanup following a roll in the dirt:

This is one of the many baby bunnies from early in the summer:

 

Here is a whole family, and then their mother watching over them:

One last video taken from a dock on one of the gulf islands this summer:

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this "leftover" version of summer photographs.

"Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart." Thomas Fuller
 

 

I have just finished a painting of a large wooden mask that I saw at an indoor garden. It is a watercolour that I have called "Sun Washed":

Thank you for dropping by, hope you enjoyed your visit and Happy Whimsy Wednesday.

Until next week ...............

End of Summer?

This week, in the northern hemisphere, school has started after summer holidays. Even though it is not officially the end of summer, that being after the fall equinox, it marks the end of traditional summer holiday season.

We are long past the "Dog Days" of summer, an expression for the hottest days in the middle of summer, which has astral roots:

""Dog Days" (Latin: diēs caniculārēs) are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August, which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures. In the Southern Hemisphere, they typically occur in January and February, in the midst of the austral summer. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather." (Wikipedia)
 

This past week and weekend, the "last" of the summer saw furious summer activity, as children and adults  tried to pack as much of their summer to do and to see list into the remains of summer holidays.

Early mist over Vancouver, a moored boat and a lone rower

 

 

Fishing off the dock at Jericho beach

 

The early summer here was cool and wet but the fine weather did come and yes we did have some "Dog Days". The weather has cooled now and the days are getting shorter, perhaps we will get an "Indian Summer", but more on that next week.

 

For now I want to focus on this last weekend of summer and share a few images with you.

 

 

Are we born knowing the Ice Cream Truck song?

The beaches were packed with swimmers, surfers, sailors and picnickers and the traffic was heavy at the end of the holiday weekend as people poured back into the city from camping, hiking trips and visits to the cottage.

 

 

Well here is a blast from the past, "See You in September", the Tempos from 1959:

 

Probably should have used this in May or June, but maybe it's not too late to relive this one now.

 

 

I had great news this week, my painting "Sweet Serenade" was accepted into a juried show at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery on Granville Island (1241 Cartwright Street). Sweet Serenade is a watercolour, 11" X 8", and will be included in the "Autumn Salon" Exhibition September 25 to October 7, 2012.

 

Here is "Sweet Serenade":

 

 

I am so glad you dropped in for a visit with me today.

Happy end of summer "Whimsy Wednesday", until next time......