Autumn Views

 

The color has been slow to come, or perhaps, in a hurry.  Cold spells late in the Summer brought changing leaves, then they stopped and started several times, only to be brought down early by the winds from the hurricanes.  I've never seen anything like it.  I can look outside and still see so much green. 

Even at Laurel Bed Lake, which should have been way past peak, the view was largely green.  All the same, it was so nice to be there.  If the world were only that small, I'd still take it.

It was windy and sunny for our visit, almost cold, but not quite.  We came prepared, of course, with mittens and tea.

The children played in the tangle of "laurels" while I wandered the woods around the shore.  Tea-berries galore, along with the Lycopodium sending out clouds of spores, and this sweet little bunch of little brown mushrooms (the technical term).

Lots of old beaver activity, and signs of a lodge.  I wondered if the beavers haven't been relocated.  The children enjoyed finding the trees they'd damaged and cut.  This one was wedged perfectly to make a bouncy sort of plaything.

Such a lovely sight.  The trees nearest us are finally beginning to turn, though they are always late.  I remember walking the very short distance to enjoy them after Willow was born.  Her birthday is just two days away!

Dewberries, as I am fascinated by them.  These look just like the ones we saw at the Cranberry Glades.  We missed picking them this year, but we'll try again next year. 

This is the dam and spillway for the lake and Big Tumbling Creek.  The lake was built to augment stream flow, however that works.  They were sure rushing as we climbed the mountain.  This was the best spot to see the color, might be the best display we've had all year.

And with that, it's a frosty morning.  Time to dig out real coats (high of forty-eight!) and stir up some Cream of Wheat.