Thursday, October 20, 2011

Oral Weather Report

Those who say southern California has no seasons are merely immune to their subtlety. There was a teeny, tiny nip in the air today, so tiny we'll have to call it a niplet, but we know fall is coming on.

This is a confusing time. On our walk today, Boz and I saw one sleeveless neighbor, one in long sleeves and another in a sweatshirt (I am of the sweatshirt variety). We'll figure it out as the niplet advances to become an actual nip.

We'll know winter, once again, by subtleties. Most everyone will be in sweatshirts and sweaters by then (I'll be in my wool coat). The light will be less gold, more white. And our nip will have a bite to it.

18 comments:

Dina said...

What a photo!
They always say Israelis like to live in Southern California because the weather is like ours.
By coincidence we just last night had our first niplet of cold air after a very long summer. It sent me scrambling for a fleece shirt and the feather blanket this morning.

You and I are the same variety, Petrea. As fellow former Illinoisians we feel a special need to keep warm.
Looking forward to more of your winter subtleties photos.

Shell Sherree said...

Mm hmm, I pull on the woollies at the first sign of a niplet. {That's a mighty fine word, Petrea.}

Patricia said...

I grew up in LA and I remember being so excited at the first hints of fall after a long hot summer. I always insisted on wearing something like a sweater and plaid wool skirt on the first day of school. So there I was, the hottest, sweatiest kid in class. I think I watched too many movies about the way fall was supposed to be and Southern Cal would just never cooperate!! Anyway, have a lovely fall day there in Pasadena.

Petrea Burchard said...

Dina, I can imagine Israelis wouldn't tolerate Chicago weather, being used to such warmth! No, the Los Angeles area is more like it.

Thank you, Shell. Me and Shakespeare.

Patricia, the image of the hot, sweaty kid made me laugh. The first day of school this year was a heat wave! But it's finally cooling off now and we've even had rain once. I hope we have a wet winter.

John Sandel said...

That spider has a little too much free time.

Speedway said...

Ha! Spiders doing macrame!

Otherwise, that sign has me in the dark.

Steven said...

I think I have the cure. A bowl of hot soup from one of those great eateries close to you.

I'm keeping my comments food-based this week.

dive said...

What a glorious photo, Petrea: beautiful golden light, rolling green hills, everlasting nature versus the transient decay of man-made objects, plus the bonus of the mystery of the unseen sign.
Wonderful!

Petrea Burchard said...

There are some bodacious spiders at Hahamongna.

If the sign ever said anything, I don't know what it was. But I love the thing.

Keep 'em coming, Steven, you're making me laugh.

You too, Dive, you give me heart.

Susan Campisi said...

Gorgeous photo! I love the fall light. I'm dressed in niplets fashion today: sweater, boots and scarf.

Bellis said...

It's "layers" weather here just now. I was very cold when I set off on a hike up the Arroyo at 8:30 am,but once the sun came out and the fog dispersed it turned into a lovely warm summer's day. We're lucky the fog clears up here - Santa Monica pier was freezing all day yesterday.

Can't imagine where in Hahamongna this giant spider macrame is.

Ms M said...

I love your photo, too. The light is haunting and dusky. We're having niplets of cool, too. It's a gorgeous time of year with autumn colors!
BTW, for some reason, your photos still come up in that stupid FB-like frame when I click on them. But photos on, for example, Dive's blog, don't. Is there something I'm not doing?

Petrea Burchard said...

Niplets fashion! Susan, it's all the rage this year.

Bellis, it's right by Johnson Field. The spider macrame may be gone but the sign's still there.

Ms. M, I changed the settings once and I've changed them again. Let's hope this time it works. Thanks for letting me know. I do not like that cheap Facebook imitation (I don't even like it on Facebook)!

Steve Scauzillo said...

Love this shot. I know what you say about seasons. Coming from the East, it took me awhile to "see" them here.

Julie said...

I'm curious, what's considered nippy in LA? I grew up in Ohio where you were in shorts until the temp went into the 50's. Today I threw a sweater on only to realize that I was bundling up in 80 degree weather. El Paso has seriously distorted my sense of temperature.

Petrea Burchard said...

Me too, Steve. I grew up in Illinois.

Hi Julie--I'm not sure it's temperature that gives us our nip. We've had fog the last few days and the mornings are cool, in the 60's. It warms up into the high 70's/low 80's in the afternoons. But the light is different. The air has changed.

J.J. in L.A. said...

Haha! Niplet. I like it! I'm of the '3 layers of clothing' variety. It's a good thing I live here because I would probably die of frostiness in my parent's home states (Minnesota and Connecticut).

Petrea Burchard said...

Yeah, J.J., the heat is one of the reasons I moved here.