How wonderful to have ice in the birdbaths and frost on the windows. My old quilt is back on the bed. My ideal temperature is 68 degrees. That is perfection in my world. 

The grape vines are turning from yellow to brown now. Soon the hickories will show off their golden winter gowns. It is time for trail walking at last. I tried in October, but the bugs were terrible. I scratched for days and gave up. Now it will probably be ok. 

Tomorrow I will explore again. The later the fall days, the prettier the trail. The leaves clear out and the skeletal trunks and limbs stand out as gray ghosts against the evergreens. A few dots of red from swamp maples remain for a time.

This country painter adores the woods….