Too early to give up shorts.

Too early to give up shorts.

This morning when I woke up, I could not face to prospect of surrendering my Bermuda shorts for a pair of warm, comfortable, blue jeans. While I look forward to a long, cold, snowy winter, I am just not ready to put on the mid day working uniform that prevails over half of the year at Killington. I just won't do it!

The last couple of days at Killington highlight the coming change in the season. Cool (some visitors from the south would say cold) temperatures have descended across the mountains. Daytime high temperatures have been struggling to get out of the 50's. Night time temperatures have been heading to the low 40's. The weather forecasters are saying it is just a "short term" intrusion by cold air from the north, but we all know it is a harbinger of things to come as the season inevitably progresses from summer to fall.

The cool, damp, weather has basically locked in place the color progression of the local foliage. The temperatures have not been cold enough to make a difference, and the damp atmosphere is still nurturing the forest canopy. The depreciated sunshine caused by thick clod cover will have an effect in the long term, but for the mean time we are in a holding pattern.

Mary's flower gardens know something is going on. The cool moist temperatures have all of her flowers perking up as straight as can be; similar to flowers in a florist's refrigerator. Unfortunately, their days are numbered just like the foliage canopy of the forest. As long as the atmosphere stays moist, it will be difficult for a killing ground frost to develop. But it is only a matter of time.

So where does that leave us?

I will cling to my shorts as long as possible, and then some.

Chef Frizzie in the kitchen has already started to make the seasonal shift on the menu's. This week he has featured a collection of hearty chowders on the menu, aimed at satisfying restaurant guests searching for some solace with the demise of summer.

Never to be out done, of course, Mary has broken out her warm fleeces to wear around the inn. Her, em, "body mass" being a little less than mine, she needs to work a little harder to maintain her core body temperature. While I carry an extra layer of insulation with me at all times, she needs to head to the closet for insulation augmentation.

The cool temperatures we have seen the last couple of days are due to break early next week. Temperatures are due to rise again. While we will only hit the high 60's and low 70's with the next intrusion of warm air, it will feel like summer has returned once again to the Green Mountains, while we wait with anticipation for the return of winter.

Wherever you may be.. keep it in the fairway...And before you hit the course, you may want to look for a wind shirt or a sweater.