A Beautiful Autumn Day

The sky was blue, and the sun shone brightly.  We bundled up and went for a walk through the local wetland trail.  We've visited this walk several times over the course of the year.  It's been fun to see the seasons affect the landscape.  The elusive beaver have yet to make their appearance, but with the folliage off of the trees, we could finally see evidence of their exitance.  A couple trees seemed only a few bites from being felled.  The tad poles have all but left the ponds.  The summer's dry cracked ground is covered with water and looks like elephant skin just an inch below the water.  The crows sit with their partners and alternate between bathing and sunning.  A family of ducks has yet to decide to fly south, and the mostly grown ducklings are busily forraging with mother.  The last of the thistles are blooming, and a blue flower dominates one area of the park.  I can't be sure, but it looks like some late blooming pea plants.  We note that they will get their pick of the remaining pollinators and move on.  Days like today help shake off a week of rain and put a bounce in your step.  On the walk back, we use our newfound bounce to smash dry crisp leaves, releasing satisfying sounds of childhood and the memories to go with them.