Sounds and Sights of the Seasons

Yesterday when I was out in the yard, I happened upon this fellow.  Unfortunately, he was dead but still intact and I wondered about him.  Was it the heat?  We are still having days in the high 90's but there is a change in the air; the evenings and mornings are cooler and some of the Locust trees in our development have turned  a brilliant yellow.  This year has been different all over the country; we haven't had the number of grasshoppers we normally get, mosquitoes have been less as well(thankfully since I get horrific allergic reactions to bites), but one thing we are already hearing is the cicadas.  I had never heard of these before we moved here but old wives tales state that when you hear them, you've got six weeks til the first frost.  Oh my, we've been hearing them for several weeks now.  I can't say that I am wanting to stall summer; although I love it, I also love autumn.  Autumn is a time for candles, sweatshirts, quilts and sewing more quilts, reading and not getting up so very early to beat the heat.  We have many family birthdays in the fall and our new little grandson will be born mid-Sept., so there are lots of parties.  This year my brother and sister of my heart will be out for the big Stanford-Boulder game, which we will be attending with them. I always love it when they are here for a visit!  I am wondering if other areas of the country are seeing signs of fall already? 
Have a beautiful day!  Noreen