I am thankful that I live in an area where there are definite seasons and I enjoy them all. I associate each one with different sights, sounds and smells and definitely tastes (as I sit here sipping my hot apple cider). Last Saturday my husband and I drove out into the country and went on a long autumn walk. I was so excited about it that I got up early, for a Saturday, and put on my festive burnt orange down vest, packed up the dog and was ready to go. The morning light was amazing as it came streaming down through the trees and the colors of the leaves falling on the path as we walked were beautiful, like they were laying down a colorful carpeted path.

Aside from the landscape turning brilliant reds, oranges and yellows, a large part about the change into fall is the difference in the light. The days grow shorter, the nights longer and the mornings darker. Even a bright sunny day has a subtle difference from that of summer or spring. To some people it can feel depressing, this lack of light and onset of various hues of gray, gray and more gray but there’s something personal about it that I love. To me it’s cozy and it’s in this time that I feel more inclined to read, write and even just sit and think. I also enjoy waking in the darkness. I feel like in the early morning it’s just me and my thoughts…me and the city…me and the world. Everything takes on an intimate beauty with the city lights glowing and the sun just over the horizon. The moment is mine.

Over on Portlandize, I saw that I wasn’t the only one enjoying this change in light and finding beauty in the morning darkness. He even shot a video of his bike ride along the Portland waterfront on his way to work one morning. The videos on Portlandize are always great and this one fit right into my very autumny zen mood. Check it out.