Fall has arrived.

Barkley and I took our morning walk and I was struck on how quickly fall has come to us. The maple tree which is one of his favorite message boards has turned a bright red. The animals of the woods are hunting and gathering. If you stand real still you can hear them holding the door open to nature's refrigerator and looking for all the good treats they will want over the winter. The weaker animals are already preparing to not make it through winter. Geese are getting ready to move south and the little humming birds are eating as much as they can to prepare for their voyage. The butterflies have gone.
The water in the the East Bay is already cleared up. You can see a long way out now as there are not many boats stirring it up. The docks are gone. Barkley runs down the beach and does not have to be leashed because there are no people that he does not know. It is wonderful and sad all at once.
This summer has brought us new friends, the departure of old ones, and the joy of watching our family once again do all the traditional tributes that we love to do to the season.
Now it is away with the summer chairs, camping gear, and bed the flowers. Once again I will get the skis down, get the snow blower ready, and see if I can wear my snow pants. I am already anticipating the look on Barkley's face when he sees his first snow. Photo opps!