Yesterday was one of those really unusual days when circumstances surrounding the weather kept us from our daily ramble through the forest trails. We feel badly for Jackie and Jillie on those rare occasions when they're shut out of their daily forest adventure, but unrelenting rain is an atmosphere they perfectly loath and are most unhappy being exposed to. Finally, last evening around eight the rain stopped.

And then fog settled in. There's a mysterious aura around fog, it drops a pale grey veil over the landscape and light sources shining through it appear supernatural, somehow, spectral. There are ample light sources right next door at our neighbour's in their Hallowe'en decoration they festoon their front lawn with. During the daylight hours ghouls and a cemetery aspect prevails. At night on come the lights, in orange and black, looking like a demented Christmas scene. 

I went outside with my camera to take a few photographs of the fog around nine, but fog is elusive to being captured in a photograph, and even though our own lanterns give off light around the garden closest to the house, snapshots of what you think you see are not necessarily what  you will see, when you view the project afterward.

Today began with a complete turn-about from yesterday -- full sunshine, crisp and slightly windy. As lovely a day today, as yesterday was inconvenient. Our house interior that felt like a musty mausoleum yesterday from lack of sunlight, fairly felt like a greenhouse today; brightly lit and warm. This house is that sensitive to sun and lack of it, given its large windows facing primarily east and west.

When we did finally venture out for our tramp through the woods in the afternoon, we were not alone. Surprisingly for a Wednesday afternoon, there was no lack of other members of the nearby community making the most of the fall colours, the beauty of the atmosphere and the landscape, to have a memorable traipse about. 

People have a facility of 'off-gassing' their emotions. And too often we can sense tension in others when we pass them, observe them, occasionally speak with them. None of those making the most of a perfect afternoon to spend quality time in a natural setting were there for any other reason today, we felt. Everyone exuded a sense of comfort with nature and a deep appreciation of their opportunity to observe it at close range. That kind of general feeling is actually infectious, and makes everyone feel good.

The beeches in the ravine are finally turning that distinctive bronze colour unique to the species and the 'valley' where golden maple trees abound is also turning its bright, deep yellow that is so distinctive of its type. Many of the really bright red leaves of the sugar maples have already fallen to produce a bright comforter of multi-coloured foliage on the forest floor. The air is pungent with their acrid aroma. 

When we returned back home, I decided to mix up a quick batch of walnut-maple cookies. We had done our weekly grocery shopping this morning, and walnuts, almonds and other nuts were on sale, so of course I bought some packages.  Earlier, I had prepared cheese-filled blini for dinner tonight. We'll have a salad for our first course, and fresh raspberries for dessert, augmented by maple-walnut cookies.