It’s Autumn at Shady Acres. 

The pilgrims are out:

And I’ve been burning candles and enjoying the many years’ accumulation of fall foliage and little gourds.

The leaves have been falling for a number of weeks,

but we escaped frost until two nights ago. 

A week ago, I went through my yard and took some pictures of the flowers as they made their last big splash of the season:

        
                                                                                                *                                              

         
*                                                                                 

This morning, all the coleus are hanging brown and terrible!

             
                                                                       *This is the same plant that is the
                                                                       third and fourth picture in the previous set

And it won’t be long until the rest of the flowers join them.
I’ve brought a very few in — the rest I’m leaving to go to seed for the birds.

Outside, it’s a strange and unfamiliar COLD.

Inside, the pellet stove is burning with its merry and steady light.
We just came through a delightful weekend with good friends, good times, good music and good food.
I’m looking forward to the holidays and some happy family times together. 
I’m not done with the grief, but I am grateful for your encouragement and prayers.

“. . . weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5b