Photoessay #852 - Suddenly fall

We've enjoyed some nice warm temperatures thorugh this Puget Sound summer (I could have done without the day it hit 103). Here, we consider 80 degrees to be real warm, too warm.

And a beautiful indian summer (if that's a pc term for early fall warm days).

But yesterday, fall all of a sudden. No question, the breeze blew and the temperature dropped, a few shades darker over all.

I took Teddy to the dog park in the later afternoon and we all shivered. On the way home, I noticed that phenomenon where the background sky is dark (really deep rich blues and greys) but the foreground shows brighter, almost brilliant.

The shot from the front of my drive across the cul-de-sac towards the east.

Some weather context---

For several years we've driven 300 miles to the south to Eugene to watch softball. You can go nuts trying to figure out if those darn games will rain out. Looking at weather forecasts trying to divine if 70% chance of rain vs 60% chance of rain and wind...which one will get the innings in? I continually scan the clouds all the way down I5 wondering if the promised .5 inch of rain will happen. Often the Pac 10 games didn't start until 3pm. "What are we doing?" grumbles Dennis, "Waiting for it to rain?"

Susanna fondly remembers a game against Stanford with all of those spring storms roiling around the Willamette Valley where they put on and took off the tarp four times. You can bet it's only the loyal parents who make it through the entire game (remember, no International Tie Breaker in the Pac 10).

OK, back on task. One time, the forecast promised 65 degrees. Hot dog, I thought, bring the sun screen and the tea-shirts, it's going to be nice. Meanwhile the parents from SoCal look at the same forecast and think "65 degrees? Brrrrr, winter, better bring those warm coats!"

Weather wimps!!!

I remember the one time I went to the Fall Bat Buster tournament in Orange County in southern California. The sun went down and it was a little cool. I had my sweatshirt and socks on. Meanwhile on the other sides, the other team's spectators (from San Diego) wore their ski parkas and huddled around portable heaters. We howl derision at them. "Cold?" calls out one dad "Try the Naval Station in March!" And we all collectively shiver. Watching games in sub-40 degree temps at the Everett Naval Station as the wind whips off the sound. I have never been so cold.

Upate: the injured player I recently featured is doing well. She should be able to play again very soon.