Long wonderful day! One of the few warm ones left here in 'GOD's Big Sky Country~ soon the sleep of winter will be upon us. Usually we get a small freeze, preparing the way for the leaves to turn from the brillance of summer's colors to the depth of fall's oranges with hues of red and yellow. This year a hard freeze came and took our fall with it and left the frozen browns in place blended with the softer yellow greens of the larch.

Ahh, it was a beautiful day in the woods !!

The smell of fall's crisp clean air and the depth of colors washed clean from the recent rains. Makes a person wonder why they live inside. Tiny chipmunks chattering and slapping there tails in the middle of the road. Warning us away. Even a big diesel pickup couldn't intimidate their tiny frames. Tall and firmly planted they slapped the road again and again, warning all in the forest some immense creature was approaching.

Run be free!!

The mighty hawks were out to find their prey before the hunting turns to slim pickins'. Great horned owls hooting in the trees behind us and the ruusshh of a falcon's wings. Tons of magpies flitting from branch to branch. So many forest creatures and the prairie's blend of such magical essence. All out to see if we were friend or foe!

Prairie dogs never make sense! They run from one safe haven to the other side of the old logging roads, just to stand on end and chatter their stories incessantly, then back to the other side, if they are lucky! More evidence of the lions abounding.

My friend's dog was bitten by a lion and they are amazingly fortunate to have her home. She took more than a few stitches and has the most gorgeous necklace I have ever seen on a puppy! Basic duct tape grey with the muted tones of a plastic cone. Now that is not only stylish its a necessity. She's already managed to remove a few of her stitches!! uh oh !! Some puppy's in trouble now!

I love the cooler air that surrounds me in the woods. Sharpens my senses and makes me appreciate the warmth of the wood I am bringing home. The coyotes are yipping and giving the sense of the wild all around us now and the bear scat is full with the dried berries left on the trees. Won't be long before we'll not see anymore. Their dens will be full and my beehives will be safe once again. Unless a boar who didn't plan as well awakens and comes a looking in the dead of winter for a meal or two!

Such a different fall without the colors and fragrances which usually accompany this time of year. A warning to hurry for change is near. Nope change is here and the hurrying will be a bit late this year. A few good days will have us prepared much like the squirrels that have prepared for so many a season.

Life is good and ever changing here on the prairie much as with the rest of the world season to season. We evermore get a chance to revise and make aknew that which was to that which will be.

How fortunate are we!!