On the street where I live

Autumn - on the street where I live

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

I've spent the last few Octobers in Paris and I missed our glorious Midwestern Autumns; although we did get to enjoy the first touches of a Parisian Fall. Well, the other day as I turned onto my street (on my drive home from work) I saw...this - the rich, colorful, lush trees and leaves of Autumn. It literally took my breath away. So, I pulled into my garage, ran inside, grabbed my D50 and Coco, and captured this awe inspiring Autumn dusk:

Coco running through the leaves

(she's in the lower right-hand corner)

Yesterday as I sat in my Atelier, correcting term papers, this deer wandered into my backyard. I'm blessed to have a pond and wildgrass preserve behind and along one side of my home. There's a small herd of deer that have lived there for at least the 20 years that I've lived here. When I first moved here, we saw deer all of the time - Stags, Does, and adorable Fawns. Of course, as more people moved in, deer sightings have become few and precious indeed. I consider it a special honor that she decided to spend time with me. It was like she was personally ushering in Autumn...

She was so lovely - lifting her tiny delicate hooves as she picked her way through the crunching leaves; munching on the grass; she even took a few sips from the pond. Luckily both my glass and screen doors where open, so I only had to (quietly as possible) grab my D50 and tip toe onto my deck. I don't know how long I stood there watching her. It was so quiet, it seemed as though time stood still - amazing!

Enjoy Autumn, my friends!

Vivre! Rire! Aimer!

Temple

(Me & the Fam enjoying the first stirrings of a Parisian fall in Jardin des Tuileries - c'est magnifique!