Summer is almost over. I've had one morning with the temperatures in the 30s. Lots of morning dew and I've seen the first chevron of geese heading south. The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen hopefully before the first frost.

It was a very busy summer and I was blessed with lots of visitors. I discovered a few new hikes both hard and easy but all rewarding. My daughters and their families visited for the first time. My granddaughter saw her first river otters at the "Wild Center".

I made new friends when Carlos and family stayed here during Deb's Summer Music Workshop. I did my first fly fishing and, thanks to Tom my instructor, I caught a 15" brown trout on my first outing.

This was a really good summer!

I'll be teaching at a local community college starting Tuesday. I'm teaching 2 remedial math classes. I've been away from the classroom for a while and I'm looking forward to returning. This will make for a busy fall.

I'll expect and welcome more company as the leaves turn. Last year the reds and golds showed up on the mountain tops in the middle of September. By early October, the colors have moved down to my area. Peak "leaf peeping" is the from just before to just after Columbus Day.

Here's a picture from last year.

For those who love to read, here's an interesting article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/books/review/Straight-t.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Be well