As I walked the dog last night, I heard a strange sound in the sky, a mix between a purr and a chirp. I looked up to see a flock of birds flying in three loose V formations. I decided to count, and the dog cooperated. She had a bit of a wait.

120 birds.

They headed south and merged into one V formation, too high, or perhaps too small, for me to tell what kind they were. Long necks, but not Canada geese with their awkward clanking. These birds’ purring chirps provided a soothing melody to accompany the clouds and a few turning leaves.

I continued the walk and, too late, thought, “Camera.” I found the flock one more time—broken apart, drifting up into the sky like bits of ash breaking apart. I would have missed the moment had I dashed in for the camera.

Change is here. The light is shifting. Fall is in its early stages, and there’s a promise in the skies.

The sky yesterday evening. Clouds are starting to return, and with them, the promise of rain.

I love the golden light of fall.

A fine harvest and one yellow leaf

A welcome sight and a contrast to the brown leaves of summer’s drought

The giddiness of rain-soaked red leaves.

I know my friends back east are sick of rain, and I can understand why. There’s talk of record-breaking consecutive days of rain. And the usual jokes about Noah’s ark. And now, to add insult, an approaching hurricane.

But I hope those drenched, east coast friends will forgive my giddiness here in the west, as clouds move in, as rain falls today, lightly for now but with a promise of more to come.

What promises of fall (inside or out) are you embracing these days?