frost whitens the grass

frost whitens the grass,

 fog veils the golden bean field,

mist wisps rise from the pond

On the first morning of autumn, grass lawns glimmer white with a coating of frost, a thin layer of fog hovers just above the golden soybean fields and tendrils of mist rise from the farm ponds. Overnight the temperature dropped to near freezing, 37 F/2.7 C. Fortunately,  when we let the cats in, we felt how cold the evening air was and brought the jade plant inside to its winter home on the sun porch. 

          I have not seen our hummingbirds at the sugar water feeder for several days, so I assume they've begun their incredible migration south, though last year one hung around until it was really quite cold. 

          Last night we debated about whether to start a fire in the wood stove. But the house, with its thick clay/straw walls and limestone floors, held the heat gathered from the sun porch and stayed a comfortable 60 F/15.5 C. However, I did put the wool comforter on the bed. 

          I can't get enough of this beautiful season of chilly nights and crisp, sunny days, going for long rambles in the woods, reveling in the contrast of red on green leaves, the saturated orange sunsets and the pink sunrises.