Autumn, Phase Two

Autumn is a season that divides itself cleanly into two phases. In the early weeks, the sun shines sweetly in a piercing blue sky, the leaves begin their glorious color turn, and the crisp air stirs us up with a sense of excitement at nature's ability to reinvent herself.

Then October happens. Enter phase two, with grey skies, soggy puddles, and once-beautiful leaves turning to brown mush on the wet ground. This is a much less invigorating environment.

And though fall in the Pacific Northwest has definitely crossed over into Phase Two, there are still scenes of beauty to be found. I took these photos while running errands and wandering around my front yard on a soggy October afternoon, and they bear ample evidence that autumn is truly running its course.

In other news, it's starting to snow in the mountains. Wahoo!

From the Stevens Pass Mountain Resort page on Facebook