Autumn Signals

Have you not thoroughly enjoyed the cooler weather?  Autumn's chilly infusion has obliterated my heat-induced stupor and has enabled a reunion with my old energy and enthusiasm.  I am ridiculously happy and therefore completely annoying to anyone around me.

Autumn makes me giddy.  It probably has something to do with the excellent sleep guaranteed by cool nights, but there are many other autumnal thrills.  Like geese.  We live in a migration zone for Canada geese and in late September it is not unusual to see flocks winging through the valley.  Many times they fly low enough that you can not only hear them honking but also their wings beating the air.

Geese at sunrise.  I always wonder:  have they been flying all night
or are they just early risers?

The horses have been growing their winter coats for some time.  It is a curious thing that my horses' bay coats turn sort of mulish in the winter.  Momento's coal black legs get a winter topcoat that is almost blonde.

Nuzzling Mo's blonde "mule muzzle."

Hero's mule muzzle has a reddish tint,
which complements the ever-present mud.

In the fall, the barn is fully stocked with hay, which is an unbelievably comforting feeling.  The day when you put the hay bales into your barn happens to also be the day when you seriously think about selling your horses.  But once that hay is stacked and ready for winter feeding, well, then you enjoy the company of your horses again.  Bonus if you also get a big load of pine stall shavings at the same time.

I enjoy this view even more if someone stacked the hay for me.

The honeysuckle also enjoys an autumn revival and resumes its takeover of the pasture fencing.  Personally, I do not feel that honeysuckle is ever photo-worthy.