Autumn Starts Today!

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year; the crisp air, the colorful leaves, the smells of wood burning in the neighbors fireplace, it truly is a mixture of the summer and the winter seasons. As the nearby farmers bring in their harvest and the bounty is shared with us all, you can't help but love the smells coming from nearby kitchens.  The smells become so enticing you want to visit just to see what's cooking and hopefully, it's pumpkin or apple pie!

It's wonderful to watch all the creatures of the outdoors dig and store and hide their stash for the long winter to come, and the birds migrating to their wintering grounds.  Why, just this morning I heard a couple of Canadian Geese flying from the old Hall place - Bridle Ridge Acres. Soon the sounds of chainsaws will emanate from the woods as the wood pile is stacked high in anticipation of a long cold winter, and the inevitable target practice begins for the upcoming hunting season. The small game birds are first; the Dove and Quail.  Squirrels and Rabbits quickly follow allowing the hunters to hone in their skills and tracking ability.  Next, the season leads us to the larger game birds; Ducks, Turkeys and Geese and finally to the Big Daddy of the hunting season: the Deer.

Usually by deer season, there has been a significant frost or in some areas a little snow signalling the last days of Fall.  And after a great big meal to give thanks, we await the onslaught of winter. The days so short, the weather cold and damp, the first few weeks of December pretty much put an end to my outdoor adventures til spring.