Hurry-Up-Autumn
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: Hints of #Autumn (or Spring)

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, specifically Eastern Washington, summer’s end is upon us.

A sure sign of the end of summer is the wildfires and subsequent smoke in the air. The two big wildfires near Spokane are in reasonable containment at this writing.

Smoky Spokane in September 2020

Hints of Autumn

Something about the dry foliage and dusty, hazy skies signals that summer is waning and Autumn is closing in quickly.

dry brown wildflower
purple thistle in a brown dry world
Dried Wildflowers: White meadowsweet and purple thistle
red and yellow sunflowers against blue sky
summer's end signs of autumn
Primary colors of summer’s end
spent sunflower
Dilapidated sunflowers
These sunflowers are spent!
Dried and gone to seed
Dried sunflowers wave goodbye

“And the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves to sleep and autumn was awakened.” – Raquel Franco

Hint of Autumn in the Aspen trees
Hint of Autumn in the Aspen trees

Once the chill begins here in Eastern Washington, Annas Hummingbirds begin their migration south by the end of August.

Hummingbird at feeder
Bye-Bye Hummer!

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.” – J.K. Rowling

Hints of Spring

For my fellow bloggers living in the southern hemisphere, spring is closing in! There is a certain joy in watching the Earth re-awaken just as there is in the inevitable journey into Autumn and Winter. Both of these times of year are reasons to celebrate.

Ponderosa at Sunrise
Late winter is losing the battle
sunrise on aspen tree bud
Spring Awakens
Creatures and Critters
Ravens are very active in the spring!

Hints of Another Road Trip

Speaking of wildfires earlier, you may remember that my dad and step-mom were nearly burned out of their home in September last year. In three weeks, my brothers and I are helping them move to Arizona from the Sierra Nevada foothills. We have a two-day drive from Spokane to Sacramento, then two more days moving them from their home to Arizona. Then we have to drive back. It will be worth it to ensure they will be safe. And closer to the rest of the family.

Turkey Hill Home
View of Dad’s home after the Mosquito Fire, Sept 2022

“There is something deep within us that sobs at endings. Why, God, does everything have to end? Why does all nature grow old? Why do spring and summer have to go?”
~ Joe L. Wheeler

Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week

Each week I find inspiration from my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I enjoy incorporating these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
  • You have all week to link your post!

This Week’s Featured Bloggers

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers, poets, and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared their photos of summer’s end, and hints of autumn and spring. I add these all week as new links are posted.

Please visit my Sunday Stills Photo Challenge page for the latest updates to September’s and October’s weekly themes.

I am taking a blog break starting September 1st but will be back for the monthly color challenge on September 10th. I’m dealing with a LOT of logistics and paperwork, and quite frankly, the Labor Day holiday falls on that weekend, and I could use a short break.

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142 comments

  16. Living on the northern hemisphere, autumn is our favourite time. We like the change of colours in the nature and it seems that nature relaxes after a busy summer and before sleeping in winter. I like your first pictures of decay, they remind me of memento mori emblemata of the Baroque.
    Thanks for sharing
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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      • I got it figured out. I bought new sandisks for my camera and had to upgrade a card reader in my that connects to my computer. Won’t get that piece now until tomorrow. Guess it’s been years since I upgraded my disk 😀 😀 Opps.

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  21. Hi Terri, I’m still not quite used to fall coming so quickly even though it’s been two years. That said, it’s been in the 90s this week and up to 116 in Scottsdale. It should be a little cooler by the time you come down here to move your dad. Your fall pictures are beautiful – even with cobwebs! Don’t you love cobwebs? I definitely will miss SS.

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    • That is still pretty warm there Marsha! Yuk. Cloudy and cooler here today and rain tomorrow. I think our hot days are gone. I’m only going to be on break for next Sunday, then I’ll have some posts prescheduled for Sunday Stills the rest of September. I have so much admin stuff to do for dad’s move plus some paperwork to ready for our financial advisor meeting this week.
      Glad you liked those cobwebby shots. The birds here are flocking to eat the seeds and take baths, so funny when Brodie chases them away looking all satisfied! Let’s chat soon!

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      • I love fall best of all. I’m looking forward to it arriving. It’s still predicted to be 95 today. I hope we get to see each other during your busy trip. You have a lot to catch me up on. 🙂 Lots of prayers and love as you get caught up and ready to go. 🙂

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      • Hi Marsha, Autumn is my favorite time of year, too, and you can bet the “late summer” decor is already up in the house 🙂 I saw your hot temps-eek! Raining here 56F! I’m up to my ears with forms and online utility applications today. We will make time to see each other somehow–I know Jodie and Donna reached out too!

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  22. I’ve already been blackberry picking; it won’t be long before I’ll be sweeping up fallen leaves, and the horse chestnut trees are giving up their conkers just in time for the new school year to start next week. Schools returning after a six-week summer break are a sure sign that Autumn is upon us.
    We’re so lucky in the UK not to have to worry about wildfires. Given the wet cool conditions this summer, we may have to worry about flooding come the winter.
    Your autumnal photography is lovely, Terri. You’ve captured the new season so well. I bet you can’t wait for cooler days and nights after the record-breaking heat you’ve had.
    I hope all goes well with the family move and your trip to help your dad and step-mum to move. Enjoy your break.
    http://hughsviewsandnews.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/img_4433.jpg

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    • Thank you, Hugh! Now that you mention it, school starts this week! The yellow school busses trundling up and down our rural highway is a sure sign of autumn as well.
      We start the actual move in mid-September but there is so much planning to do before we go. We’ll be away from home again for 2 weeks but I’ll be on my blog during that time.
      Your image of the leaf-strewn pathway looks gorgeous. Can’t wait! Blackberry picking sounds fun, too!

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  23. Hi, Terri,
    Lovely photos–the dried sunflowers make a very artistic image. I love the descriptive J. K. Rowling quote; she has a way with words, right? I don’t envy you for the big move. Moving my Mom three miles was enough to do me in. We’re on the East Coast and in the path of a Hurricane. Hopefully, it will fizzle out or calm down before it hits the Outer Banks. Enjoy your break. Joe

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    • Thank you, Joe! The sunflowers are now in various states of blooming and seed. The birds love it. I have a ton of paperwork related to home rental utilities and other things to sign while I take a short break. I’ll be glad when we can get them moved in. Stay safe as that storm runs through your area.

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  26. Those hummingbirds are stunning, and after a hot summer, I am sure many people will look forward to autumn. We have had extensive coverage here in N.Z. regarding the fires. Lovely images of your autumn, Terri.

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  27. We’ve had smokey skies here intermittently since early July, no summer just thick grey clouds even when there was no smoke, and stifling humidity with barely any sun. We still have over 600 fires going with evacuations in northern British Columbia, evacuations in our Northwest Territories (where we never hear a drop of news about, typically), my own province of Ontario, and Quebec. Half the world is on fire. Good for you moving your folks to Arizona. Enjoy the journey. 🙂 ❤

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  34. Oh! Terri that’s a huge job moving your parents. I guess the will feel sad and happy,it’s hard to up sticks and start again but it will be so much better to have them nearer to you all and of course so much safer.
    Do enjoy your break and look forward to seeing you back on the 10th September. I love your fabulous photos and quotes.
    Here is my post sorry it’s late 💜💜💜💜

    Sunday Stills Autumn .. Monday.

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  39. I’m glad to hear the wildfires near you aren’t too bad, and that you’re able to help your dad move somewhere safer. I enjoyed your autumnal shots but I’m not ready to face the end of summer just yet so I’ll pass on this week’s challenge 😉 Enjoy your break and I’ll catch up with you for the colour challenge in a couple of weeks!

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  46. Wow Terri, the sunflowers were so vibrant a post or two ago … they look “sad” when their happy faces just dry up and they hang their heads. Your Fall is creeping up fast and I hope you have a kinder Fall than last year with your early November snow. Maybe El Nino will affect your area in a more positive way this year. We are expected to have a warm Fall and mild Winter. Like you, happy to leave the Summer’s wildfires behind, I am likewise happy to leave the Summer heat and volatile weather behind. Last Thursday the dew point and humidity were the same as we hit almost 90 degrees … we were projected to reach 95F and a heat index of 100 to 105 F. But the high dew point/humidity spawned seven tornadoes after dark … the closest to me was 15 miles at Lake Erie Metropark where I walk on weekends. Luckily it was at the golf course so no major damage and hopefully the critters were okay as well. Other tornadoes touched down 30-40 miles away from me. I was petrified listening to the news and following on Twitter as the tornado and severe weather neared. Fall cannot come quickly enough for me and hopefully it is not too warm that we continue having severe weather outbreaks.

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    • Natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes are terrifying, Linda. Let’s hope an El Nino season calms them down. We still have quite a few sunflowers blooming, but half as many are already fading. Today, I noticed a lot more shade from the neighbor’s pine trees on our lawn. It’s coming! Sept 1st is meteorological autumn 🍂 😍

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      • Last week’s severe weather knocked a good year off my life for sure. When I walked every day to and from the Park (before the mechanic said “you must drive more or risk electrical issues with the car), I would notice the subtle changes to the angle of the sun and its shadows as August waned and September arrived. Our morning meteorologist keeps reminding us about September 1st and meteorological Autumn, especially these last two chilly mornings!

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  47. You really are moving into autumn. I was surprise to see autumn color in New Hampshire before we left. It is so early, but the temps are cool. Cold nights warm days and the leaves will change. Lovely photos. I loved your last quote. It is always hard to let the current season go. Even in Arizona.

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  48. Hi Terri, I’m sorry to hear about the bushfires burning nearby and the impact it’s had on your family. I wish you all well for the upcoming move. Your photos and quotes tell of a definite change in seasons and I’m so thankful for us that we are going in the opposite direction – into spring.
    They are saying that our summer ahead could be treacherous due to the dry winter in parts of the country and we defintely don’t want a repeat of the Black Summer fires of 2019/2020.
    Take care Terri and hopefully all your planning and paperwork works out well for you. Enjoy some time away.
    My post is all about my garden awakening https://debs-world.com/2023/08/27/sunshine-with-definite-hints-of-spring-sundaystills/

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  49. Wow, we sure see the effects of dryness and fire potential here in Australia too….so seeing it so close to family makes it scary as! May the move go well. That’s a tough time for anyone, let alone those getting older. I am grateful that we are seeing the signs of Spring here but after a very dry winter, bush fire potential is high. We live in the city fringes but fires affect us all as you well know. I enjoyed looking for and finding signs of Spring. Thanks for the link up . https://www.denysewhelan.com.au/denyse-blogs/hints-of-spring-in-australia-sundaystills-65-2023/

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    • Great to see your comment, Denyse! A lot of moving parts to helping my Dad and Step-mom actually move, but we’ll get it done. We plan to drive that way in 2 1/2 weeks. I dread it a bit, but in the end it needs to happen to keep them safe. We’ll keep our collective fingers crossed that wildfires will stay well clear of both of our areas.

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  51. I do see some signs of the seasonal transition… but I have not taken a picture of them. I may need to so that I can participate.
    Your photos are fabulous. I was not aware of your Dad’s place burning. Where are you moving him in AZ?
    Happy Sunday, my friend!

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  53. I love the quotes you found, especially that first one, and as usual, your photos are stellar. I just happened to post about this very topic a few days ago so my link is ready, very unusual for me! I hope the move goes well, lots of logistics but I am sure you’ve got the bases covered as you are organized and energetic. No worries about the break, we will still be here when you get back.

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    • There were way more quotes to choose from about autumn than one could ever print, LOL! Thank you, Bernie! I always appreciate your comments. My break will be relatively short. I will only miss the Labor Day weekend, but plan to post the rest of the weekends even while traveling.

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  61. I was saying today how it already feels like Autumn starting, there’s a chill to the wind. I do love this time of year, regardless of meaning 6 months of cold and darkness, those fiery colours making up for everything else. Great post, Terri. I’m glad you joined in.

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  64. We still have a way to go yet before we usually get hints of autumn and still live in hope of some more summer. But after this season here in the UK, which has been strange to say the least, I rather suspect that autumn will be upon us sooner than normal and sooner than we would like 🙂

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  66. Hi Terri, there are no hints of Autumn for us here in South Florida, just more heat and the threat of a hurricane on our Gulf side. Our changes typically appear around November, when the snowbirds return. That’s how we know winter is coming. I love your photos of the dried sunflowers. Good luck getting your Dad and stepmom moved. I know that will give some peace of mind to everyone.

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  67. So glad the wild fires seem under control, Terri. I love the beginnings of colour in the first photo. Seeing dying flowers is a bit sad but I do love autumn and the vibrant colours.
    Hope you have a hassle free trip to move your dad and step-mum and a peaceful and relaxing break. I’ll be away from the 8th September for a week but I’ll try to have a post ready for the 10th.

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  69. I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, even though, I know it’s about that time. Great choices for the transition photos – the sun in the background of the sunflower with spider webs is stunning. Of course, I love your hummer photo too! I hope you have a great trip and that the weather isn’t too hot for the move. It’ll be so nice to have them in a new and safer place! Safe travels to you!!!

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    • Thanks so much, Shelley! We get two more days in the low 90s then bam! It will get colder by next week. Pacific/Inland Northwest weather is always a head-scratcher! As for the move, I hope it cools off some as we drive through Nevada and Arizona. A few weeks away yet, but plenty of details to deal with.

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  71. A lovely ode to the seasons Terri – we are awaiting the arrival of autumn here in the south but it’s not in the short-term future for us. The good news is September means our visitors will head out and our friends will all return from their summer get-aways. Happily we don’t face fires here but we are in our busiest storm months so I guess no matter where one lives, nature has a way of humbling us all! Loved how you included spring for those in other hemispheres, and also that you reminded me autumn is not far away!

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    • Thank you, Tina! Autumn was slow to start last year but seems on track this year. I was so used to Sacramento’s Autumn which began closer to October. By early November here in Spokane, last year, we started getting snow. I’m sure your waves goodbye to the tourists is a great sign of Autumn!

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