Autumn is on its way early this year. I have been hearing crickets since last week. Normally I notice them at the very end of August or the beginning of September. This year they have been chirping night songs since August 19th and early mornings for the last few days. I love autumn so this makes me happy, but it was a very short summer. What will this mean for food prices and winter weather?

Matsutake are creeping into the produce aisles now. These fragrant fall mushrooms will become more prominent on the shelves with their other fungal brethren in coming weeks, but I am always happy to see the early ones. Late summer is wonderfully abundant time for vegetables and fruits. As the weather cools I get hungrier and there is all this marvelous food waiting for me. Thank you, Mother Nature.

Election season is upon us as well. There are station-side rallies every day and loudspeaker trucks are driving around shouting out props to the people and politicians. Across the way a neighbor’s pet beagle howls every time the female voiced trucks pass by. Poor puppy, I know how you feel. I want to scream at the political jargon and noise, too.