Fall and Winter coming

After a long weekend in the mountains above Blue Ridge, waking up to the sun rising orange over the mountains and the fog rising up from the valleys below us, we had just begun to see the leaves turning color on the trees. We drove home on Sunday. The turning of the leaves had been a small part of the enjoyment of our trip.

Then Monday rolled around and the other side of Autumn came to visit: dark, grey clouds and drizzle from morning to sunset. With the exception of Wednesday, we have been covered with grey flannel skies all week and it appears that it will continue at least until sometime tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong. Fall drizzle and clouds have been with me since I was old enough to be aware of the weather. It is part of the season. But on the other hand, I do remember those Autumn afternoons in Virginia when I was in college and the air was cool and dry and the sun reflected off the orange and crimson leaves on the trees around the campus. It was what made the season sublime.

It will only be awhile before we get to that point in late November and early December when the air turns dry again and the leaves have left the trees and you can travel through the world of early Winter and see the dying light of day creating silhouettes with the bare trees and the pines against the western sky. Feeling the warmth from the heater in the car and catching sight of the art of Early December.

It brings me comfort in a comfortless time of year.