They’re forecasting rain and snow today. But it’s still autumn, I silently protest. It’s not even December yet. Let’s just say rain and hope for the best.

Weather is neither kind nor vengeful. I know this. Yet I must harbor some ancient belief or prejudice that makes me permeable to the meteorological mood.

One reason I like the climate of Washington, D.C., is that, despite its muggy summers, it’s a surprisingly sunshiney place. If a “mix” is predicted (like today), it’s more likely to be rain than snow, sunny than cloudy.  That’s a mix I can live with.

The Shenandoah Valley, snapped from I-81 on Saturday, when no wintry mix was forecast.