It’s pitch black when the alarm goes off
it takes a little longer to rally these days…
But, if you wait long enough,
warm rays creep in,
slow and easy,
caressing the cliff
as the Syncline face wakes up.
Coyote Wall Syncline across the Columbia River in Washington, from Mosier. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Low, grey fog over the Columbia,
rising with daybreak,
and your spirits rise.
Indian summers… coax you from bed.
Now, cue 3 dozen quail in the yard
who rummage around the bird feeder
as I rummage around the coffee maker and
blue jay has taken over the #1 spot
pushy guy
even though Robin, the early bird, got the first seed.
All those colors – royal jay, rusty robin, copper quail
seem to work it out
with me, flesh-tone one,
in mellow Mosier.
The last squirrel stands his ground proudly.
He flaunts by, squirreling away seeds and walnuts and acorns.
He’s savvy, sneaky,
he has defied all attempts to send his species packing
as he defends his post
under my house
with his identical twin.
Our house. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
And the calico cat,
sleeping above the squirrels, one floor up,
is suddenly no longer content….
to simply flatten me against the mattress,
like it’s summer.
Now she’s a cave dweller. A purr machine.
She’s a spooner now.
Undercover smother.
Mosier fall on Old Columbia River Highway (30.) Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Morning sky has changed,
seemingly overnight. As if!
Comical clouds,
ominous clouds,
get your butt to work clouds….
And the sounds outside are different
and the smell of rain
and a hundred million more
rain drop friends
are headed this way.
Smoke on the water for my commute. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Fall is for Pendleton Round Up and
Hood River Harvest Fest and
Trick or Treat on Oak Street and
I heard Timberline got 11 inches of powder overnight – hint of things to come.
And I heard that “sticky flies” were here last week–
the Parkdale farmers’ almanac of what’s up with weather.
And my car’s still loaded for windsurfing,
even though wind came and wind went…
Mt bff windsurf bud, Doodle. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Doodle over the Hood River waterfront. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
cuz Indian summer is really SUP season –
Columbia River under the bow,
with my dog son - my dachshund
in a life vest… with two wetsuits now.
And that sliver of skin
between my ankles
and my sandals?
Now, a laser slice of ice…
and maybe that’s how bell-bottoms were invented?
I can’t wait for a whole new wardrobe…
… of leaves!
Karin’s kids in leaf attire - Minna and Motts. Photo: (c) Karin Erickson
My kids in leaf attire - Elvis n Dude (RIP) in Mosier. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
Their happy go lucky rustle - rattle
always makes me smile.
And…
this is the time
we all come together,
all huddle inside,
to celebrate…
the fall of summer
and the spring of winter sports.
before Snow Man
comes to town.
My friend Chris Fitzsimmons’ grand dogs.
