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.
My arms feel like rubber bands but the wood is split and stacked. It was a beautiful day to be outside. The sun was shining. The sky was blue with only a few wispy clouds.
The birds kept me entertained all day. They didn't seem to mind the noise of the log splitter. White-breasted nuthatches and chickadees flew back and forth from tree branches to feeders. Blue jays squawked and dived down to the seed feeders.
Whenever the splitter was off, I could hear cranes overhead. At least 8 flocks of cranes came into view. They circled and appeared to join together into one big flock. They were on the move today.
A large pileated woodpecker came for a visit. I heard it first and tried to determine where it was. It flew into the yard from
the forest behind my yard and landed on an old poplar snag. From the snag, it landed on a log on the ground. There must have been some tasty bugs in that one. It kept the woodpecker busy for a few minutes before it flew up to a stump just a few feet away from me.
I watched the woodpecker and it watched me. Once it determined that I was no threat, it flew up to the suet feeder. It amazes me that such a big bird can hold onto that cage and still be able to peck at the suet.
As I split the large logs, I found grubs inside of them. I'm sure the woodpecker would have loved those juicy morsels.
I didn't get out to the trails but nature came to me and I enjoyed the show.
The drive to work is becoming more scenic each day. This morning the sun was rising on my way in. As it came over the treetops, its rays shone on the reds, oranges and yellows of Mother Nature's canvas.
The colors were stunning. The water in the pond was as smooth as glass. The reflections were brilliant. I had to stop and take in the beauty.
My favorite autumn colors are displayed on the chokecherry trees. The reds 'pop' amidst the yellows and oranges of the aspens.
The weather is holding out as the first day of autumn approaches. I noticed flocks of cranes flying overhead and Canada geese gathering in the fields.
I'm looking forward to an extra day off next week. There's a big pile of wood waiting to be split which will take a day to complete. This means that I'll still have two days left to get out and enjoy the beautiful sights, sounds and smells of autumn.
