Visiting Final Vestiges of Autumn

Bob and I went to our home state of Pennsylvania last week. The purpose of the trip was to visit my family once more this year before winter digs in with her cruel icy talons. I also wanted to see some fall foliage.

Funny, we humans, how we tend to take things for granted when they routinely recur. We expect these things, and even enjoy the beauty. But we rarely fully appreciate what we already have. Until we no longer have it. Such is true for me and the fall leaves.

Ohiopyle State Park -- One of my favorite places!

Living in Louisiana, I miss the vibrant hues of autumn; crimson, copper, sienna, golden ocher. Fall in the northeast is as exciting as a brand new box of crayons! We were too late for the peak of fall foliage, but caught the tail end. That was enough for me.

Now that I no longer regularly witness nature's annual costume change, when I do visit Pennsylvania in the fall, I see the landscape with fresh grateful eyes. Even as the the leaves drop to the ground and the colors begin to fade, the trees remain beautiful, to me.

Where did you see pretty leaves this fall?

Autumn in Southwest Pennsylvania

I love Louisiana, but there are many things I miss about the northeast. Fall foliage is one of them.

For the first time since moving to the Bayou State six years ago, I returned to Pennsylvania during the peak of autumn. I timed it perfectly. When I landed in Pittsburgh on October 24, I was shocked by how much green I saw. And I had worried I missed it! Over the course of two weeks, I watched green ease into gold, red, and orange.

Seems it can transform almost overnight. When I return to Lake Charles in a couple days, I suspect the trees here will be nearly bare. It all happens so quickly. One night of wind and rain gives the demise a big boost.

Throughout my visit here, I've collected a few of the prettiest leaves I found and pressed them into a notebook. I’ll lay them on my dining room table when I get home, as a reminder of the beauty of southwestern Pennsylvania this time of year.

Flashback Friday -- Missing Autumn 2

Still missing fall in the northeast. Couldn't resist posting another lament. This one is from 2008. And I still love those yellow daisy-like flowers. They are prolific this year!

Flashback Friday -- Missing Autumn

Fall is in the air . . . or is it? Here in southwest Louisiana, it depends on the week. Last week, we reveled in a reprieve from the heat. This week, we're back to summer.

I wrote a post a couple years ago about missing autumn in the northeast. (Read it here.) I still do miss it, but I've grown to appreciate fall in this part of the world. October is one of my favorite months. I think we in the south might be more grateful for the cooler temperatures (I'm talking 60s and 70s here, folks), after living through the oppressive heat of summer. I relish these weeks, even a month or two, when the AC is mostly off and before the cement slab beneath my house has turned into a chill radiator.

Wherever you live, I hope you bask in the season. Please leave a comment and tell me how you savor autumn.