Autumn Burned Brightly

"Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees." ~ Faith Baldwin

Psssst.. wake up! It's time for a morning walk in the woods. I know it's chilly and damp in here, and it feels so nice to stay under the blanket but hear me out.

I glanced out of the cottage window just now, and though the sky is heavy with grey clouds, I think the sun is considering making an appearance. The trees across the lake don't look very autumn-like, do they? But just wait until that break in the clouds allows the sun to streak through from behind us...

Ahhh.. I see you're scrambling to get your hiking shoes on. Grab a coffee on your way out. You'll need it to keep warm.

No doubt, you'll need to make a quick stop here, first. There's so many of you who are suddenly waking up to this autumn day. Good thing it's a two-seater.

Just follow Benny. He knows his way around here.

Did you see this sprig of colourful leaves hit me on the head just now? You couldn't get more freshly-fallen than that.

About a half mile down the road, we come upon this lovely marsh. Let's just have a look from here and then continue along the main road.

On our left, you can see the famous Badger's Burn. Famous for what? I don't know but I think it's a clever use of a rusted old chair.

I love how the sunlight filters through the trees. See that dash of white up ahead? It's just Benny making sure we're still with him.

The moss-covered rocks always catch my eye while out walking this road.

That coffee is beginning to remind me that we should head back about now. Benny is already making his way home. I think he might have heard a distant gunshot - it's hunting season around here. I can't imagine that anything short of starvation would motivate me to shoot a deer with anything but my camera. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera on me the morning we saw two does directly in front of the car on the road to town. They were there again a couple of hours later when we returned. I grabbed my camera at that time and walked over to where they had been. Alas, a photograph was not meant to be had but the mental snapshot will stay with me forever.

And here we are back at the cottage. Ladies, the outhouse is to your right if you need it. Of course there are facilities indoors, as well. You guys can't fool me - I saw each one of you sneak off into the woods for a moment.

Thanks for joining me on a country morning walk. Time to cook up a hearty breakfast.

Of course, I'm not still at the cottage. There's no internet connection there but I thought I'd revisit via a few photographs, and bring you along with me. I hope you enjoyed your morning hike.

Shades of Autumn

There's no holding autumn back now. Subtle hues of honey and bisque have deepened into mature tones of amber and bronze. Fiery shades of scarlet and orange ignite and sear the countryside with their flames.

It's a particularly vibrant autumn this year. The sun's warmth carries the scent of fallen leaves, and where I walk, sweet-smelling apples are strewn across the path. The light fades early these evenings, and the nights are crisp and fresh. Indoors it seems right to have a pot of soup simmering on the stove, and if I enjoyed baking, there'd probably be an apple pie in the oven. Today, it's sunny but cool, so grab a jacket and zip it up. We're going for a walk.




The park path which winds around the lake displays its autumn foliage. You can see that there are still a large number of green leaves, and the grass is still healthy and lush. This is the reward from summer's frequent rain. (Please click to enlarge)




A small grove of trees proudly display their scarlet apparel. (Please click to enlarge)




At the base of a tree, a cluster of mushrooms appreciate the moisture from the earth around them. They explode in brilliant shades of copper and caramel as they peer out into the late-day sunshine. (Please click to enlarge)




There are many apple trees along the way. The fruit is sweet and tasty, but by now, all of the low-hanging branches have been picked clean. This duck was trying to grab this one out of the water, but was unsuccessful. (Please click to enlarge)




As the brilliant autumn leaves are reflected in the lake, this duck appears to be swimming in crayon-drawn colours. (Please click to enlarge)




Similarly, this cormorant preens before a backdrop of vibrant hues. (Please click to enlarge)




Up close, one could almost imagine that the lake is on fire. (Please click to enlarge)




The grass is dry. Let's sit for a bit and enjoy the beauty of this little pond. Can't you just feel your shoulders relax? (Please click to enlarge)



At the base of this stem, the leaves blush with tinges of crimson. As you look toward the tips, the red bleeds through and ignites the fronds. (Please click to enlarge)




The warm glow of red-orange maple leaves are classic Canadian autumn to me.




Back at home, vines grow across the fence, providing a colourful wall between my back yard and the neighbour's. (Please click to enlarge)




A purple leaf emerges from the green vine along the fence. (Please click to enlarge)

Now that our outing is done, grab a bowl and we'll have some butternut squash soup. The crisp, autumn night air will soon be upon us.