We live in what is practically a
secret section of Massachusetts:
not the Boston area, and not in the
Berkshires, which are on the other end of the state. Yes, there is actually
something in between.
When I look
outside of my window in the fall, I know there is no need to drive an hour and
a half down the Mass Pike for leaf-peeping. We have it all right here.
We live
within walking distance of the center of town, but still we’re tucked away at
the end of a dead-end street and are surrounded by woods. At this time of year,
our house is ringed in yellow. It shines in my bedroom window in the morning,
and in the afternoon I find myself grousing about people who leave lights until
I get into a room and I’m hit with the golden glow from outside. 
So
fall is here. We did our first pass of leaf blowing yesterday, one of many to
come since we have an acre and a half of woods. The man who invented the leaf
blower may have destroyed the peace and quiet of our world, but in my books
he’s a god. No way could I have conquered this yard with a rake.
Our
pumpkins are on the porch, the mums are on the deck, and the acorns are on the
ground. If acorns are any indication, we’re going to have one humdinger of a
winter. And now we have
They are predicting a mild winter in the mitten state.
ReplyDeletewe have little divots in the roof and hood and trunk of the new car from last winter's big heavy acorns falling on it. we're not getting any pecans this year after three years in a row of bumper crops and so far not a single acorn has fallen either. might still be early for the acorns. we don't get fall color down here unless we get a very early frost.
ReplyDeleteI hope you make good use of those pecans. I can still see my grandfather sitting at the kitchen table shelling pecans for Granny's chocolate chip cookies.
DeleteThe very best time of year as far as beauty goes.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest granddaugher painted her room gold, with orange trim. She says "it glows!", and it does. There is an actual phenomenon called glowing, I look at it across the hall every day.
ReplyDeleteWithout an outdoor cat, our chipmunk population is bold as brass. Thousands of acorns land on our deck and this year they were there. Now only acorn caps remain, as the little devils field strip their booty before it goes in their cheeks.
Yes, now that our cats are no more, we are awash in chipmunks.
DeleteI never realized they lifted the hats before carrying off the acorns. How efficient of them.
We had one fella shell and eat a couple of acorns before taking away his haul. He does this standing in front of the cat on the other side of the glass door. When he sends us a bill for kitty cable TV, I may have a word wtih him.
DeleteHow I love arboreal fireworks.
ReplyDeleteWe have a cat who adores acorns. She brings them home to play with.
Gorgeous...we don't see that level of change here and we're still getting humidity and rain although the evenings are cooler now. Nice photos.
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh! I can almost hear those acorns a-popping. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're fortunate to have such color at your back door. Since we don't have acorns hear I find that there are many things I don't know about them.
DeleteOur fall is particularly lovely this year. Not sure why as we had lots of rain followed by months of drought. Oh well, I am enjoying and you photos are restoring my love of fall.
ReplyDeleteYes and the acorns can cause you to roll across the yard too! I am not sure how I survived without a leaf blower. I think I used mine the last time today:)
ReplyDelete"a golden glow from outside"
ReplyDeleteI love that! I get a similar glow, very rarely, through my lounge window if the setting sun is right and there aren't any clouds.
It's gotta be nice to be surrounded by so much color. I love that description of you thinking a light had been left on, only to find it's natural light from outside. I can totally picture that.
ReplyDeleteThat's your internal photographer's eye, Steve.
DeleteIt is that golden glow that I love too. Your place looks beautiful. You are ringed in yellow, and it's so pretty!! We must be in for a mild winter. There are NO acorns this year. None! Last year we could hardly walk because of acorns.
ReplyDeleteYes, this year getting across the driveway is like traveling over ball-bearings.
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