Don’t let the summer weather fool you. The calendar says it’s September.
It’s been hot, and it feels odd to have July-like temperatures in early autumn when the leaves are turning yellow and red.
My photo library continues to fill up with memories, but inspiration still escapes me to put words around them. So for this month’s Changing Seasons, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Click on any photo to enlarge.
Hiking forest trails
Cycling trails both near and far
Reluctantly doing yard work

… and to end, instead of a photo of Theo this month, a selfie …

Changing Seasons is a monthly photo feature hosted by Max at Cardinal Guzman.
Sadly, after 3 years, Max has decided that at the end of this year, Changing Seasons will come to an end. I have really enjoyed this challenge and reflecting on the month I’ve had.
For the remainder of the year, I will also be including a photo from each of the prior years of this challenge. Thanks Max for this great journey we’ve been on.


Missed this one! Just went over to the Cardinal to have a look at his September and to check out the participating links. I used to do that every month up until June this year when I ‘dropped out’ due to my illness and then family illness. Since returning home in August with the invalid it has been a constant run of visitors culminating in three weeks of the Aussie family staying nearby, so blogging and keeping up with blogs has been somewhat erratic. I’m trying to think whether it was through Max’s challenge that we met. I have really enjoyed visiting the other participating blogs and seeing what has been happening each month, but I can appreciate how difficult it is to host such a challenge. I have run two, but each one only for a year.
Love the Buddha head btw 😀
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I’m not sure, but for some reason I think I ‘found’ you via M.R. Stringer.
… but yes, I’m going to miss this challenge. I may just continue to do a monthly summary anyway. It’s become a bit of a habit.
I knew that you had been struggling with a cough, but I didn’t realize you had been very ill. I hope you’re feeling much better now … and your son? How is he doing?
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I haven’t been seriously ill, just a cold in May that was difficult to shake and left me very tired all the time, then having to leave home for a month with daily hospital visits and all the anxiety that produced; little niggles with aching joints and a foot that isn’t quite right plus a recent sore throat/cough. All add up to the knowledge that I am not as healthy as I should be! My son has just returned home so I have empty nest syndrome now too! He has made a good recovery from the surgery, but it has changed his life. I have loved having his company especially for walks and having the Aussie family over for three weeks was very special. Life feels a bit flat at the moment.
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I hope you bounce back. Stress can really wear us down and ends up making us sick. Hopefully you’re past all that now and can recover yourself. May you and all yours be healthy from here on.
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Thank you Jo, I’m determined to improve my health.
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I think it’s something we should all be very mindful of improving!
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[…] https://mylifelivedfull.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/september-and-its-hot/ […]
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So glad you’re getting some warm weather! We had snow here yesterday and today is the first day of the second month of spring. The weather is crazy everywhere.
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The difference is you can look forward to warmer days ahead, while our’s will only get colder. Yesterday Gilles closed the pool and that’s always a bit sad at the end of the season. Last weekend we were sitting in the 30s and this weekend, morning temperatures have been only around 6C. The sudden shift has been a bit bone-chilling.
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Nice Buddha Joanne. Any plans to travel to South East Asia. Jo and I are thinking about it.
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Unfortunately after my missed trip to Thailand last year after my bike accident, the opportunity to travel east has evaporated 😦
Hopefully I’ll get another chance one day, although it’s unlikely going to be on a bike.
Where are you thinking of going?
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Next year I hope
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Oh and possibly South Vietnam and Cambodia
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The summer has been cold here too. I planted a lot of vegetables and stuff, but the crops were small. The cucumbers turned out to be super-miniature! Hopefully we’ll have a warmer one next year!
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I was at an apple orchard last week, stockpiling my fall supply of my favourite apple, and they said this year’s harvest is very poor. I was lucky to go early because they expect to run out soon.
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how cool to share the photos from year’s past – and isn’t it fun to see the years go by as we evolve – or stay the same – in blogging modes….
and I think i recall the chess pieces – but maybe someone else blogged about that winery to anyhow, the real reason I wanted to leave a comment (cos sometimes I just scroll and go…. ya know)
but your self is absolutely artistic – the long angle of the bridge and the water and the centering – dang girl – you take a good selfie
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Thank you so much. I really like that photo too. It was what I was aiming for and it actually worked!
However, I should mention that my first attempt resulted in the photo that I am now using for my profile picture. It was such a colossal boo-boo that it made me laugh and I just had to keep it 🙂
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ha – that is hysterical – cos I noticed the profile picture – and thought it was a nice :different” kind of one (love the original ones) and good to know the back story
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hahaha!! Trust me, I wouldn’t normally choose a photo that highlights my nose 😉
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🙂 well I don’t see the nose at all – I see the fun glasses and part of a face with maybe some scenery –
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Thanks. You made my day 🙂
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🙂 right on
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Extremely delightful photographs with extraordinary assortment…
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Thank you 🙂
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Very beautiful photos with great variety.
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Thank you 🙂
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The weather has been off everywhere I think. I love your statue with the plants around, even if the plants aren’t doing their usual thing. It’s been fun to read your monthly posts, but you can keep doing this on your own, yes?
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Thanks Ally for the support. I think I likely will – if only because it’s become such a habit, and quite frankly, I like doing it. I can’t think of a better reason 🙂
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Sometimes I think we have to go silent for a while, Joanne, and recharge by drinking in the sights, smells and sounds around us. I’m glad you’re honouring your need to do that, and that you’re sharing those sights with the rest of us. I too am in southern Ontario and many of these sights are familiar to me. Thanks for sharing them.
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The beauty of the blogging community is that they ‘get it’.
I’m not one of those people who always has something to say. Being around people – even those I know very well – takes energy and sometimes, like you say, I just need to be quiet and recharge.
Thanks for validating that.
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It’s been unseasonably hot here as well. Thanks for taking us on a photo tour of your season! 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
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We visiting w family and I have just not had time to get to all the lovely blogs I follow. So its nice to have a moment to see serious you with the wetlands behind! Climate change is definitely changing weather patterns in some very seriously impactful and other just strange ways. Lovely pics!
Peta
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P.S. Beautiful hostas with Buddha … great combo!
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Thanks 🙂
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Thanks Peta. I wondered where you were since you haven’t posted anything in a while. I figured you were off busy doing something 🙂
I hope you’ve had a great time visiting with family.
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All great pictures – in particular I love the statue/sculpture at Champlain Heritage Park and the lighthouse.
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Thanks 🙂 The park had several statues, each commemorating the history of the area. They were all beautifully done. I’m in awe of creative, artsy people.
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You pretty much described how I’m felt all year…lots of images and good times, but I lack the inspiration to put words about how I felt or feel about them, so Wordless Wednesday has been working for me this year. I’m still shooting as much as ever, just posting a lot less.
I’ve the grumpy looking turtle, or tortoise I can never tell which is which, and that lighthouse is lovely! Your Hostas are stunning!
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Glad to hear this phase of no inspiration isn’t just me. I start posts that never get finished. Oh well, once it starts I assume it will be a torrent.
I don’t know a turtle from a tortoise either, but the claws on this guy fascinated me. He was considerably less impressed with me though 😉
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Love the mail box and the turtle…such a large head opening. Nice to see the earlier years….all great pics!
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Thank you 🙂
I was quite fascinated with that turtle with his long tail and big claws. He didn’t share my enthusiasm though 😉
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There’s no reason why you can’t keep up the changing seasons posts on your own!
Yes, often hot here in L.A. right up until November but I guess that’s no big surprise.
Always nice to see your pics Joanne!
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I’m starting to get that impression that there really isn’t any reason why I can’t continue carrying on as usual. Thanks for the support!
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We’ve been having our usual lovely September weather here. No changing of the leaves (palm trees stay green year-round 🙂 ) though, so I am envious that you get both the warmth and the color. Love, love the lighthouse. If I were a ghost, I’d like to haunt someplace like that.
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The lighthouse was one of those hidden treasures that I didn’t know existed until I stumbled across it by accident. Those are my favourite discoveries 🙂
I’m going to continue to milk this gorgeous weather for as long as I can. Winter will be here much too soon!
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September in the SF Bay Area is our summer! But it’s dry – no rain. Love those haunted towers!
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I’ve heard that residents in California like September best.
Usually it much more temperate here when September rolls in – not nearly as hot as it’s been. No complaining though. Winter will be here much too soon.
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Love the lighthouse!
You’ve got heat, we’ve got cold! Here in Alberta we’ve had a week of killing frosts, one day of snow… hope it warms up soon – time to ‘winterize’ the yard!
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Yes, but you had a very hot summer and we were sitting chilly in the rain!
Mother Nature is seriously confused – or angry. I haven’t decided which.
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Your photos are brilliant, Joanne. They truly do speak one thousand words. ‘Hope that the warm weather stays for just a bit longer….and that your ‘inspiration’ returns soon!
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Thanks Donna. It looks like it will continue to stay hot until Thursday. No complaints here 🙂
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Geez, it’s been cold here, and we’re much further south than you. I like the photo of the snapping turtle. It looks like it’s waiting for some poor unsuspecting pedestrian to step just a little bit too close.
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I wondered if that was a snapping turtle. I was in awe of his claws … they looked deadly. What surprised me was how fast he moved – kind of scared me
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I can take the heat, but this drenching humidity of 80+ and above is killing me. 🙂 Great photos and selfie. I love that lighthouse and its red door – beautiful. 🙂
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The humidity has been brutal – it’s never my favourite. I feel sorry for anyone without A/C.
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There are quite a few New Englanders who choose not to have any type of A/C in their homes. I applaud their stamina, but I can’t do it. Heat – maybe. Humidity – no. 🙂
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I’m with you, Judy. Humidity is the worst!
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I love seeing your photos, Joanne – I feel like I’m on an adventure with you. Please keep sharing the changes of the seasons. And don’t worry – winter’s on its way. 🙂
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I’m banking as much sunshine and warmth that I can before winter arrives. It feels so odd to be sitting outside during the early evening and it’s still hot – but dark.
Not looking forward to any white stuff. I keep hoping this climate change thing will send the snow to Florida instead 😉
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I have no idea how climate change is going to effect weather patterns. I want a couple symbolic snowstorms and then it can be spring.
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That I could live with too.
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It’s hot here too, but I’m loving it! Also, great selfie!
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Thank you 🙂 I’m not complaining about this weather either. It’s been long overdue!
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Some great images there, and a lot of English place names. Was going to go out on my bike today but decided the garden needed my attention, that’s my excuse !!!! 🙂
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I got caught by the English place name this week. I was looking for kayak rentals in a community north of here called Keswick. I was really excited when I found this place that does all kinds of really cool outdoor adventure stuff.
…. then I realized it was Keswick, UK
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😁
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Great collection of photos- love the selfie. I guess we’d better enjoy this crazily hot autumn…the way the squirrels in our neighbourhood are frantically stripping the acorns from the oaks, it could be a rough winter ahead!
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That’s what I’m afraid of too. That’s why I’m spending all the time I can outdoors now!!
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Aw, a biking selfie on top of the lovely natural landscapes 🙂 It’s a shame the challenge is ending, but I get it, it must have been extremely demanding to manage. Enjoy your great weather, here, the winter has come early and suddenly.
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Sad to hear your weather has gone chilly. It’s much to early for that. On the other hand, temperatures hovering around 35C in September is very unusual too.
I’m sad the challenge is ending, but I appreciate the work that goes into it. Three years has been a great run.
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The weather has gone crazy all over the world. But it’s just weather. I don’t know why I get so upset about it!
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It’s what we do 🙂
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I am glad to see you out and about. It’s unusually warm here as well and now I want it gone. I am ready for open windows and some crisp air.
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We’ve had our A/C on more in the last week than we have during the entire summer.
… but I’m not complaining. I’m stockpiling as much warmth that I can, while I can.
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I am complaining (foot stomp) I want my fall..now. 🙂
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I, with Dan, love the lighthouse, but I enjoyed them all. Hot, hot, hot here, too. I’ll be glad when it cools down considerably mid-week! Happy Sunday, Joanne.
janet
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We’re expecting much cooler weather by the end of the week too. Since the summer was so cool and wet, this heat has actually been pleasant. I’ll be enjoying the rest of this late summer while I can.
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90’s are more than pleasant for us, Joanne, but we’re doing all right. 🙂 By the time they get out and get the AC fixed, it will have cooled off. 🙂
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I’m with Dan. I love the lighthouse photo and that it might be haunted. Maybe you’re not feeling inspired, Joanne, but your photos are inspirational.
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Thanks Susanne 🙂
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It is hot here, too. Stupid, stupid hot.
I’m sorry this series is ending, but I trust you will keep offering lovely photos and narration 🙂
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I’m in such a habit of doing a monthly summary, you’re right, I will likely continue on 🙂
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You have some beautiful photos here, Joanne. I like them all, but I love the lighthouse. Stone, with a red door, all buttons pressed.
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I’ve been sitting on that lighthouse photo for a long time. Wonder what took me so long to use it.
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It’s beautiful
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Cold summer . . . warm fall ~> wonder what winter will spring on you?
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Yeah, I’m wondering too
I’m hoping Mother Nature sends all the snow this year to Florida for a change 😉
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