Already the scent of wood smoke is in the air and the early morning mists, so typical of mountain autumn, drift through the forest. The late afternoon sun cuts across the landscape and the shadows it creates are starker, portending the coming spare profiles of winter. The little owls cry out in the night while on their hunting flights. Deer forage for the falling acorns and prepare their young for the cold season to come.
Winter comes soon and with it, our retreat into the warmth of our homes.