Welcome, Elk

Hello, Moon

“Hello, Moon,” said the tree. “It’s been a while since you’ve been around.”

“Hello, Tree,” said the Moon. “I’ve been a little bit busy ‘round the other side, you see. I hurried back as soon as I could, of course, and, well, here I am.” The Tree understood, for this particular cycle had been happening for as long as it could remember, and quite probably longer than that. Still, the Tree missed the Moon when it was away and the nights were a lit bit colder, and a lot more lonelier for all that. The sky was just so much more…alive…when the Moon was there.

The two enjoyed the companionable silence for a little while; good friends that they were words were not always needed. The Moon continued the ascent into the sky; Tree leaned a little closer so as not to miss a word, should a word be said. It wasn’t. But neither seemed to mind. Tree continued a slight lean; not so much that passerby would remark, but enough that passerby, if they were so inclined, would notice.

The evening began to pass, all to quickly. “See you again tomorrow, Moon?” Tree whispered into the night. “Of course,” came the gossamer response upon the breeze. And floating back: “Goodnight, Moon.”

Fall Foretold

You know it is about to happen, even without looking at the calendar. There is a certain–something–in the air that tells you; perhaps it is the quickening of days, perhaps it is that slight cooler evening, or perhaps, just perhaps, it is the unmistakable signs that nature herself provides.

For example, you might be walking in the mountains next to a clear blue stream. Rounding the bend you see it: the bright red leaves among the otherwise lush and green foliage. Surely, you are seeing things, but as you walk closer you realize it is not an illusion, for the red leaves remain red leaves, and the foretelling is unmistakable.

Fall is coming. Fall is coming. The summer will be departing, but still, one magical time of the year merely gives way to another magical time of the year, and the progression continues.

Red Splash

Fall–the very word itself evokes emotion and thoughts of color. Often, the first colors that spring to mind are the oranges and yellows of the turning leaves. For after all, that’s the color they turn, right?

True enough, but not every leaf turns yellow or orange. Take the venerable maple, for example. Its leaves turn a wonderful, vivid and vibrant red and light up any forest they happen to be in. For example, this particular forest is in the heart of the Manzano Mountains, located in central New Mexico. Caught on a wonderful, crisp autumn day the leaves stand in stark contrast to the rest of the forest, and serve as a reminder that the rest of autumn is not far behind.

Nature is wonderful and complex in her glory. Sure, a single, solitary leaf turning color isn’t overwhelming, but when they all turn different colors at different times the myriad of color becomes amazing and breathtaking. When you contrast the reds against the greens, add in a splash of blue, you end up with a scene not unlike this one. And in any event you end up with nature’s display at its best.

This red splash is a reminder that fall is upon us.

The sun made a last gasp and without warning dove behind the distant mountain. The world wasn’t quite ready to see it go, but the sun was done for the day and it was time for it to go home. The clouds were caught wholly unprepared and their myriad colors bore witness to their outrage at being left alone so quickly. For after all, the sun was not supposed to go quickly, but rather with plenty of fair warning. The clouds glowered, and vowed to stay lit all night long, if need be, until the sun came back and apologized.

The tree, however, stood fast, for it had suspect that the sun was up to something sneaky; it lost its own color very quickly, welcoming the night with an inky blackness all its own.

And before anyone else could do much of anything about it, darkness claimed them all.