Fall

It's funny because lately I have been dreading the colder weather that this time of year brings, wishing that I could skip from early fall to late spring and miraculously miss the dropping temperatures that cause you to put away the summer shorts and tank tops in exchange for the winter coats and gloves. But I just now walked out on our back deck and as I stood there a certain excitement ran through me as I breathed in the crisp, cool fall air that smelled of burning wood and fallen leaves... and it is a decidely glorious thing!

And the fall colors that abound here cannot compare to where I grew up where farms, fields and open spaces predominated the landscape and trees were far and few between.

Here we are surrounded by mighty Oaks and Maples, Birch, Elm and  Ash trees that grow so readily that they tend to grow like weeds in any disturbed soil available. But that comes with the abundance of them... many trees make many seedlings!

But I really don't mind, I can easily put up with the babies that abound as it is their parents that I truely love. (Yes, I admit it... I am a tree hugger! Ü)
The shades  of orange, red and yellow they display this time of year is breath taking and there are some of which that seem to possess an impossible internal glow. And this year, I have found the colors extremely brilliant. It is a magnificent sensual explosion to feast your eyes upon. I have been having a hard time keeping my eyes on the road while driving!

I was curious as to what tree leaves turn what colors so I found this information on the NewEnglandTimes.com website-

"Leaf color changes in New England fall foliage color changes are determined by the tree's species. For instance, the evergreens, spruce, fir trees and rhododendrons and laurel, among others, are called evergreens for a reason. Even though some species will change the color of their leaves, what remains at season's end stays green.
Birch, elm, poplar, redbud and hickory trees give us the gold and yellow hues that seem to dominate as the backdrop for the reds in autumn's color scheme.
Red oak, hickory, ash, sugar maple, sweet gum, black gum, sourwood, red maple, as well as dogwoods give us the stunning red, deep magenta and purple colors, although they can produce yellow leaves. We get maroon from sumac."

And just in case you missed it, or you live where farms, fields and open spaces predominated the landscape, here is a little recap of the month of October in our neck of the woods.



I truely would not want to miss being here this time of year!


But perhaps... I could miss the months of January and February then?

Ü

Chicken in the Woods

Okay... I really don't know why I titled my post that, it may have been because that is what I gave the title to my pictures when I uploaded them to my computer... but I don't know why I titled them that then either. It may have to do with the picture of the mushrooms that I took as they reminded me of Chicken of the Woods but it wasn't them (although I have seen them before and eaten them and they are very tasty indeed)... or maybe it was because I was taking pictures of Webster in the woods and he is the biggest chicken that I know of, so that could have been it too... but regardless, there you have it... it is what it is... Chicken in the Woods...

I love the beauty in the simple things that God has created... there is such perfection and balance between the colors and symetery found in natural living things especially at this time of year. They all seem to blend effortlessly.
I suppose that may be the reason that I have a tendency to gravitate towards such colors as these found here in these photos. And I also suppose that is the reason I have chosen such colors to paint the inside of my house...this is the paint pallette of my favorite room... my dining room!

Notice the similarities?

The real reason behind this particular post though wasn't just to show you all the lovely pictures of moss and twigs and such, but was because I am learning new photo layouts techniques and I wanted to see how they looked posted as the finished product. And now after seeing them I must say I do like them! Pretty snazzy I think! Ü

And my blog still seems to be a continuing work in progress, as I have not gottem it to a place where I like it.

I do like the simplicity of this straight forward template but it is quite dorked and so it still needs tweaking and changing until it reaches perfection... sorta like me... as I still need tweaking and changing too...until I reach perfection! Ü

And I realize that it probably would behoove me to explain some of my photos. Take for instance the one where Webster is holding a thorn... that is the brier from the Greenbrier plant and it is unbelievably a native species... and a very nasty native speicies at that! Just take a good look at the size of that pricker! Yikes! Mean I say... very mean! 
And the reason I say 'unbelievably native' is because it is usually the non-native species that I would have such disdain for and feel justified and patriotic even, at trying to erradicate them.

I suspose though that greenbrier is not quite at the same erradication status as ticks and fleas which I really really disdain, but that disdaining discussion will have to make up a whole 'nother post of it's own.

So until then... You all have a Blessed Day today!