Autumn ... change 

Not the dying of the world but sleep. Plants seem to die and yet they do not. They go to sleep. The roots are nice and cozy down deep in the soil, or the seeds tucked quietly away waiting for the returning sun.

Leaves whisper along the streets, skipping ahead of the wind and chasing each other along paths and across grass .. like laughter skips along with children. Nature at play.

Cooler air makes animals frisk and frolic, the oppressive heat of summer a fading memory. Even indoor cats get all puffy tailed and race around the house with sudden bursts of kitty-insanity. Horses play tag in pastures and even normally calm cattle suddenly kick up their heels. Cooler air is invigorating to all. And yet ...

Change is difficult, change is sadness as well as joy.

The bright flowers of summer have faded away, the sweet birdsong of spring is a memory. These warmer months enchant poets to craft words of love. Autumn and winter coax forth phrases of death, quiet and cold. But why?

Autumn and winter have fireplaces, thick sweaters, cozy and comfy kitties curled up with good books and hot chocolate. The coolers are copper, gold, silver and the sky looks so much more blue over fields of frosting. The sunlight though lower glistens on ice, dances along frosted tree branches and glimmers on snow fields. Different than the warmer months and yet just as lovely.

Humans stay indoors more in autumn and winter but does this not force us to pay more attention to our families? To stop running about from one activity, to another to slow down and breathe. The cooler, clearer air also clears the mind, refreshes the soul and stills the frantic heart.

Peace is in the cold, in the quiet ... it dances in the glow of the ice and snow ... it skips along ahead of the wind with the leaves ... and murmurs in the fire of the woodstove ... is found at the end of a good book and the bottom of a cup of cocoa.

Besides, copper is my color

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