Nope, that’s not me in the picture. In fact, it’s my cousin, Br’er Coyote. When I first came here, lots of folks said I look like a fox, but a fox is a sort of cat-like dog, you know? I would be much closer to a coyote. About the same size. But much faster, I’m sure.
The coyotes are singing their autumn songs these days. They hang out in the woods across the glen, or up the hill behind Mike’s house. Around sunset they’ll start. First we hear them up the mountain to the northeast, then the answering calls will come from the south, or from the Wonder Woods to the east. Sometimes they’re right here in the tree lines and pine stands, and it sounds like they’re so close we could throw a bone and hit them.
We’ve had some of that frost stuff. That mini-ice that lands only on the grass. Now that’s a clear sign that we’re finally getting closer to winter. Elsewhere on the trail, the little mushroom families have returned to nest for another year. It’s a nice balance that we have birds nesting in spring then mushrooms in the fall. They have some really big litters!
The ferns are still green and growing in our Wonder Woods, where we’ve had a few trees fall this year. There was a lot of wind this year, and a couple of really big blows. The chicory and feverfew are cranking out their last blooms, and the china berries are white as…well, china, I guess. On the Widowmaker, the goldenrods bend and the tiny blue flowers of the wild thyme decorate our path.
Curious Crumbles 
Chicory 
Feverfew 
Chinaberry 
Wonder Woods 
Touch-me-nots and Floss Flowers
Soon enough, that gun season will start. I don’t like loud noises, even if they are in the woods. The upside is I usually get some share of the hunt, a turkey leg or a deer hoof to chew on. I wish they could be quieter about it. Maybe they could use their fishing poles to catch them. They hardly make any noise at all.
The next couple of weeks will be a real thrill, as the leaves turn colors then fall off the trees. That’s funny. It’s pretty convenient that leaves “fall” in the “Fall”!! I bet no one thought of that when they named it “Fall”! Life is full of such uncanny coincidences. I’m looking forward to cooler temperatures, walking the woods on crunchy leaves, and getting ready for the candy holiday! You know, where everyone wears different clothes and tries to fool each other. How silly. They’re not fooling anyone. I know who they are. They still smell the same!
Wag more, bark less.
Sasha
Sasha of The Chukchi Sea 