Autumn in my woods

Autumn is always glorious in the South.

It is a welcome reprieve from the heat and humidity of summer.

The temperatures range from mild to just right,

and there is color everywhere. 

Few things are nicer this time of year than a walk in our woods with friends.

Would you care to join us?

 Out the door, into the yard

 Here we go

Home again,

Autumn Antebellum 

Hope your day is as lovely as ours has been,

Cheers,

Kat

Day trip part 2, awesome autumn, 300th post and a contest.

Since this is my 300th post,

I figured it should be a special one.

I think this set of photos is one of the best I have ever posted,

I hope you will agree.

Sit back and enjoy the walk,

can't you just hear the crunching leaves?

when we are done, I will tell you all about my contest.

 Heintooga Round Bottom Road

This is one of our favorite places to walk at any time of year.

I have posted photos from here before.

It is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway

and it has to be one of the most beautiful places to look for Autumn.

 Here you can see why they call it the Blue Ridge.

I took this one on the way to Heintooga, but it was too pretty not to share.

 When we called before scheduling our trip,

the nice lady told us that the leaves were not as good this year

because the recent storms brought many leaves down early.

I do not agree with her.

 Everywhere you look,

there is beauty.

 My Sweet Husband agrees with me.

Where the trees are bare,

it just provides contrast.

 See what I mean?

In this case,

Nature is the poet.

 We have driven this road,

but usually we just park either at the top,

or if we have time along the way.

Then we walk,

(not the entire 14 miles!)

 Awesome,

When was the last time you really thought about the meaning of the word "Awesome".

It is for something that literally fills you with Awe.

(Did you notice, the leaf in flight)

 Yellow.

 Gold.

 Branches to frame the scenery.

 What will we see just around this bend,

and the next one.

It just keeps getting better.

 A crown of glory!

 Orange.

 Hillside color.

 A little higher up.

 Early evening shadows.

 Evening color.

 Looking up.

 Looking into the distance.

Autumn Red.

With all these photos,

I still need to post one more blog to cover that glorious day.

I promised to tell you about the contest.

I want to see who all is reading my blog.

This is a very simple contest,

all you have to do to enter is follow me.

If, you are already a follower,

just leave a comment on either this post or any subsequent posts between now and next Wednesday.

If you comment on more than one post,

I will give you an extra entry.

There will be a prize package.

I am not going to tell you what is in it yet,

but I think you will like it.

Spontaneous won't tell me what she thinks of this idea,

She is busy.

Cheers,

Kat

Don't forget to enter by next Wednesday.

Ten things I like about Autumn.

I grew up in Northern Utah,

in a town built on the side of the Rocky Mountains.

The leaf season starts earlier there.

Here in the South, the change is much more gradual.

Our leaves are not the vibrant green they were a month ago,

but they are not truly changing yet either.

Our peak leaf season starts later and lasts longer.

I can't wait so I have been digging through photos from previous years.

Here are some of my favorites.

Illistrating 10 things I like about Autumn.

1. The colors.

Green is lovely, but some variety is a treat. 

2. The start of snuggle season.

The early mornings are finally cool enough to snuggle. 

3. The temperatures.

It isn't really cold, or really hot.

As baby bear would say, "just right". 

4. Birds.

We get to see all sorts on their way to warmer places. 

5. Long walks in the mountains.

Can't you just hear the leaves crunching? 

6. The lighting.

The Autumn sun is a little lower in the sky,

it changes how everything looks. 

 7. The calm.

Thanksgiving and Christmas with all their joyful chaos are just around the corner,

but I have time to enjoy now first.

8. Tasty treats.

Cooler weather inspires both of us to bake more.

If I get my homework done,

 I might have to try that new pumpkin bread recipee.

 (I'm a lousy cook, but a great baker)

9. This!

Do I really need to explain it? 

10. Change.

Life is about change.

We go from one stage to another,

one year to another,

one season to another.

We might change jobs,

or homes.

We might add members to the family,

or send them off on their own.

Life keeps changing.

You step through the door, and you don't know what is coming.

The seasons are at least predictable.

Hope yours is great.

Kat