I love autumn almost as much as I love winter.  Life slows down.  It is a calmer, more peaceful time.  I'm able to be outside more often as the temperature becomes more bearable for me.  The mosquitoes are gone.  The can of insect repellent can be put away.

The colors of fall create an earthy palette along the roadside ditches and the trails.  I leave early for work because I stop many times and marvel at the beauty as the morning sun highlights the treetops.  The yellow of the aspens is even more brilliant when the sun's rays strike the color laden branches.

When the leaves fall and I hike the trails, I listen to them crunch under my boots.  If I walk in the morning when the leaves are wet, I watch the sunlight reflect off the dew or rain drops.  They are nature's sparkling crystals.  

The empty branches on the underbrush allow me to see the wildlife that remained hidden behind the thick, green, summer foliage.

The haunting calls from the flocks of geese and cranes catch my attention. 

Their graceful flight patterns remind me of a choreographed ballet, swooping and gliding through the air.  I've seen pelicans, cranes, and geese overhead; all heading south.  I wondered where they were coming from and where they were going.

My skis and snowshoes are waiting for the snow to fall.  Until that happens, I'll wind down just as Mother Nature does.  I'll take in the sights and sounds of autumn.  I'll breathe in the cool, crisp autumn air and take every opportunity to spend time outside.