Sometimes

Sometimes Fall is late to the party and arrives after all has dried and crumbled to gray and brown.  The only noise in the air is the bold cry of the crows. All Fall sees as she coasts over the surface is the leftovers of the celebration scattered hither and yon in all their crackly glory.  Sometimes Fall arrives too early and finds everything green and slimy and slippery.  Then the leaves ignore her bidding and cling dirty black until the winter winds tear them from their watchful posts.

But some years she arrives exactly on time and dressed in her best dress with her hair and make-up exactly in place.  She makes an entrance as only the Belle of the Ball can do and we stop in our tracks to admire her beauty and fawn over her timing.  We line up to be added to her dance card and we feel so lucky to have her attention for even such a short time.   (Click on photos for blogger to give you a close-up.)