I know it is still stifling hot in most parts of the country, but I am beginning to feel the very first beginning signs of fall. It is in the air; and some of the trees are already beginning to turn colors.

I am already beginning to get “fall fever”. And along with it comes visions of beautiul places like Vermont, Cades Cove in the Smokies, and our own beautiful mountains here in East Tennessee. We really have such a wonderful place to live, I can’t really be jealous of other places in the country. When Mother Nature spreads her blanket of fall colors in the mountains, it is something to see!

I just saw a man with the back of his pick-up truck loaded down with fire wood; a sure sign of the beginning of fall. But I’m glad I didn’t have to cut it and load it in the truck. Having had plenty of experience of that in the past, I would just as soon pass on that for now.

I just had my first trip of the season to the apple orchard. All they had at the present time was galas, so I purchased some of those to tide me over until September when the man at the orchard said the others would start coming on. Now if that doesn’t mean fall is around the corner, I don’t know what does.

I’m sure we will have plenty more sizzling days of summer left yet; but hang in there…..Fall is on the way!!

I was first introduced to great photography by Tom Payne, a local photographer who left here for the big city but has now returned home to his roots. When I first saw Tom’s work, I was simply astounded that someone could take a picture and make it look like a beautiful painting. His work has graced the pages ranging from the Los Angeles Times to National Geographic Books.