Autumn is here!

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Summer has come and gone. Autumn has finally arrived! And we still are supposed to limit our engagements to a few people at a time and in outdoor locations if possible, thanks to COVID-19. California's new cases count has steadily decreased and the state has allowed some establishments to reopen (like gyms and salons). We are still cautious—wearing masks, observing physical distances, and working from home (if possible)—to prevent contracting the illness. Especially now because the fall season is expected to be another challenging time for hospitals regarding respiratory illnesses. One of the things I did to prepare for the fall is to get my flu shot during my last doctor's appointment. Everyone else in the family is doing this too, all to protect the youngest among us: the two young boys we've been blessed with. 

Anyway, the fall heralds the arrival of cooler weather, finally! During my latest morning walk with the wee one, I had to wear a sweater already and he wore a long-sleeved onesie and fleece pants (forgot to cover his feet up). Also, birdcalls have started changing. I've noticed more ravens (or are they crows?) perched on rooftops and lampposts, with their cries a sure sign that winter is approaching. And the food items on sale are also changing. Pumpkins are popular again, both in stores and in restaurants. Our neighbours are putting up Halloween decor too. I just doubt if there will be kinds on a trick-or-treat mission when the month ends.

Biboy and Barbara kindly bought us a box of fresh produce from Larry's Farm in Fairfield. I was surprised that we have tiny ears of coloured corn, a small pumpkin, and a giant white onion. Just for scale, I photographed them along with a regular-sized tangerine. Are we supposed to eat the corn and the pumpkin? Or are we supposed to use them as decoration?

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