I am so ready for some outdoor time. September is the busiest month of the year at work and my favorite month of the year for trail time. I managed to get a couple short jaunts in to enjoy the beautiful fall colors but they were only about 40 minutes long. Better than nothing.
I love being on the trails in the early morning. The sun casts long shadows over the trail. The yellow leaves on the aspens glow in the morning sun.

Each season has its own smell. Spring is fresh. Summer is floral. Winter is crisp and clean. Autumn is earthy. 

The smell of ripe berries, decaying leaves, and wet earth remind me that Mother Nature is shutting things down for a long winter nap.

The smells, the colors and the calls of gathering flocks of birds preparing for a long flight make autumn a wonderful time of year to explore.

I woke to a layer of snow on the yard this morning but the temperature will rise later in the week and will melt that snow for some added moisture. This coming weekend is the first one in the last 5 that I'll be able to spend some time in the woods. I can't wait.