I took the dogs for a walk this late November day. It's mild here today. Around 50 although damp and a light fog in the air. But as we walked along I felt a change in the air. The trees in the woods are stark and bare, whereas a month ago, they were decked out in their fall finery. Now their leaves have blanketed the ground. And all is quiet and still.
When you spend you rlife outdoors like I have and so have others on this forum, hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, walking, hiking, camping etc., you can't help but get a feel for the seasons and the seasonal changes. Every season has it's own unique little thng to look for. Here in the north, it's the smell of damp wet earth which tell you that spring is truly here, not just the warmer and longer days or sunshine. There is a special smell that says "it's spring". Summer is more subtle. It just slowly emerges from spring. The days grow longer still and the trees fully leaf out. The wildflowers of spring give way to the wildflowers of early summer, gardeners start planting, the birds are teaching their spring born young to fly and search for food, the lakes become busy with boaters, swimmers, canoers, kayakers and the tourist season goes into full swing.
Then gradually the summer begins to wane as August comes on, the days grow shorter little by litle. The days and nights get a bit cooler, and some trees begin to show their fall color. The wildflowers of the summer have changed over to the flowers of late summer/early fall. As fall slowly comes on, the trees begin to change, slow at first and then the change becomes rapid. Mother Nature puts on her color show for all to see and then it's gone.
There is that period where the leaves have fallen, the bracken has died, all is quiet and bare. The weather fluncuates from warm to cold, from rain to snow and back again. And the days grow shorter still. The days pass on until there is one day, when your senses say, "It's time". It's time for the snow. You can feel that all of nature is waiting. It will not be long, Doesn't matter what the weather forecasters say, you know when "it's time" and today I know "It's time". Nature has prepared. It's time.
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