Faded Glory

Dear Diary,

This landscape a couple of weeks ago was aflame with reds, yellows and oranges.  Now is is fading to a rusty tone.  Some trees are completely bare now but the oaks hang on.  Their rusty brown leaves will cling to their branches most of the winter providing the winter "rattles" when the wind blows.

These are the Burnt Meadow Mountains a mile or so from my home.  They form part of the foothills of the more impressive White Mountains.  Millions of years ago this area was under the sea.  I've found sea fossils in stones on my property and you don't have to dig very deep to reach pure sand.

We often forget the ancient history of a place, seeing it only as it is now.  But like people, the landscape has history.  Only 100 years ago you would not have seen all these trees.  The landscape had been clear cut for firewood.  It slowly recovered and healed after people stopped requiring so much wood to keep their homes warm. 

The bears are retreating to their dens in the hills now for their long winter nap and the November quiet times begin.  It is one of my favorite times of the year really and with our unseasonably warm weather this week I can really enjoy the beauty of this little corner of the world.