Our fall developed into beautiful colors this year with vibrant yellows, oranges, and deep reds. It seemed to peak a bit later than in years past, but that is certainly variable and is never held to a calendar-specific date. We had warm days to enjoy autumn’s last gasp, and then a week of cooler temperatures settled in. With that the colors faded, the air took on a different smell, and the wood ducks and swans started moving through on their journeys south. As they leave, the blue jays are returning so there always seems to be some activity and bird sounds and calls.

As we have been experiencing the change of seasons, we also experienced the passing of my mother-in-law. Vi had lived a remarkable 99 years, celebrating her birthday just this past August. Although dementia began moving in on her a few years ago, she retained her cheerfulness and her appreciation for her lack of aches and pains. She had a lovely smile and was always encouraging us to “do things while you still can” – a needed reminder for all of us as the years pass by and we get older. And to me, that phrase seems to ring with additional truth as we are transitioning away from fall and into winter more each day – a reminder to do the fall tasks before the cold moves in, the lakes freeze, and the snow begins to fall.