After The Fall

Sure. It all seems so pleasant and unassuming at the moment. Looking out my window, there is not a cloud in the sky. Truly beautiful. But, the air has a slight chill. A hint of what is to come.

The weather stopped being warm a few weeks ago. The turn came in late August. Snap! Just like that. One morning, I awoke to this scene.

A gray day. An ominous cloud stretching across the sky. Gray days are nothing new here. But, coupled with the change in temperature, the falling leaves, and the sun's rapidly advancing march South, the signs all pointed toward the impending dormant cycle. So, I took the picture above to illustrate the change. But, this is what I really saw.

Seasons shift rapidly here. Although technically Fall now, it seems as though we've moved past it already. The leaves just need to catch up. The final nail in the coffin will be when all the outdoor seating areas at cafes and restaurants are disassembled and put away until next year. I hear that will take place in mid-October. Then, outdoor life here will slow down noticeably. And it will all be about dressing in layers. Crisp morning air. Frost. Runny noses. Hot chocolate!

Still, on a day like this, I think Winter just got pushed back a bit. But, it's out there. Waiting.

UPDATE: Okay, we're in Day 2 of Indian Summer. Who knew?

Scene: Photo Vignettes III

Lördagsbarn Stopp!
Surbrunnsgatan and Stora Badhusgatan, Göteborg, Sweden
September 20, 2008 2:24pm


Lördagsbarn Gå!
Surbrunnsgatan and Stora Badhusgatan, Göteborg, Sweden
September 20, 2008 2:25pm

The Trials and Tribulations of a Spastic Hund

Yes, hund is Swedish for dog. And, isn't this a picture of one sad little hund? But, looks are deceiving. The bandage is more for protection than a determinant of actual injury.

So, how did this come to be. It starts, as usual, with new and unusal behavior from Zoey. In this case, she started acting strange in our favorite backyard restroom area behind the Otter House. Last week, she began to tiptoe (best description I can come up with) at the edge of the grass. She didn't seem to want to walk into the yard, let alone do her business. Occassionally, some unknown force was nipping at her feet and head. Then, she would sit down and stare out away from the yard. Curious. We had to move onto to other pastures, equally as green, but farther away.

So, some of this may be my fault. I failed to notice the small bugs on her. They were, in fact, mosquitoes. And, it appears, they were biting her. Somehow, I thought given the colder temperatures that the bugs would have gone to their permanent slumber. Apparently not. Zoey began licking her paw. Swollen and a little red. A bite.

Now, dogs seem to think their saliva has curative powers. They apply it everywhere. To everything. One side effect of continuous licking is hair loss. Another is irritation. Zoey had both. Thus, the bandage. Which lasted all of 15 hours. She is a clever girl. Still, there was a little time for the affected area to heal.

No need to send cards or flowers. The patient is doing well.

Scene: Photo Vignettes II

Leo Pacifier

Højbro Bron, Copenhagen, Denmark
September 6, 2008 4:14pm

Zoey Pacifier
Norra Allégatan, Göteborg, Sweden
September 5, 2008 1:48pm