Seasons Are Beginning To Change

The weather is beginning to cool with the smell of composting leaves wafting through the air. I love this time of year; when the heat of summer has passed and the crisp chill of winter hasn’t arrived yet. Growing up, it meant new outfits, and back to school. Today it means the blueberries are gone, the blackberries are passing and the apple’s aren’t quite ready yet.

Today was a beautiful day to walk around our place. Leaves are just beginning to turn colors and drop. Here in Washington state, most of our trees don’t give us the autumn show that I grew up with in New England, but the blueberries bushes are looking spectacular.

Walking down the yard, there were a few critters enjoying the grass and the day. Because we don’t have a dog, rabbits freely inhabit our yard. And with recent rains, there is no shortage of slugs.

Our dwarf apple tree is laden with fruit still waiting to turn red. Because I haven’t tended the tree, this is one of the few apples that isn’t covered with brown spots.

At the end of our yard is a small river. Later in the fall and early winter, it becomes spawning ground for salmon. But, this time of year the water runs low with a few tiny fish swimming around.

One of my favorite views is up the yard, standing down by the river. Firs and cedars tower over our house.

Before we know it, the rains of winter will be here, complete with clouds that touch the treetops for days on end. But until that time, we still have several beautiful days to enjoy. Here’s a short video of the shallows in the river.