Picture of the day - September 1, 2008

Labor Day: The real beginning of fall

Photo courtesy of Claudia Meyer. Although the calendar says the first day of autumn is still some three weeks away, for all practical purposes it really begins today. This is Labor Day, the day of the year on which many folks enjoy their last outdoor cookout and most kids enjoy their last day of splashing around in the pool. The leaves will soon begin "turning", and before we know it they will become nature's carpet, blanketing the ground with the magical colors of the season. For me, Labor Day has always been something of a bittersweet holiday. While it is typically a day spent enjoying the outdoors in the company of family and friends, it is also the unofficial end of summer. On Tuesday we all head back to work and school, and before we even realize it the last "calendar" days of summer are gone and we're left scratching our heads wondering how we missed them. Of course fall comes with its own pleasures such as the beauty of the aforementioned autumn leaves and cool nights that are just perfect for sleeping, but I also know that a long winter will be coming up pretty soon. I suppose while we're scraping frost from our windshields and shoveling snow from our driveways, we can also be dreaming of spring...   Click here to comment on this picture.   Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!                                 Place the "Picture of the Day" on your website, for free! Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"