golden carpet

The coloured leaves on the trees do look lovely, but it's when they fall and cover the ground that the season feels most real to me. Nothing else quite sounds or feels like autumn leaves underfoot, they way they chase each other across the grass when a cold wind blows (like all this afternoon) and then settle down to be crunched underfoot. And one day soon, our neighbour will rake his leaves into a huge pile (or two) and his kids will spend all afternoon happily throwing themselves onto the top of the heap, giggling.

Welcome, autumn, please linger awhile. Winter will arrive soon enough.