autumn: how it is and how it's supposed to be

 "Autumn had touched the world with the tips of her fingers. In the mornings the valleys were always filled with mist and above them the slopes of the moors, covered with fading heather, were rose-pink. The hips and haws were scarlet in the hedges and here and there the green leaves had turned to pure pale gold. The gardens were filled with Michaelmas daisies and blazing dahlias, the blackberries were ripe and the children were gathering the sloes for winter-prick-wine. Threshing was in progress and in the centuries-old orchards, under the gnarled old trees, the cider apples were stacked in glowing piles. The rhythm of the autumn harvesting went on as usual, in spite of all, and the beauty of it stole into anxious hearts and brought its peace."

                                           -  Elizabeth Goudge,  The Castle on the Hill

That's how autumn should be.

It actually snowed yesterday, beginning while I was getting ready for work, slowing down around three o'clock. Before Halloween, and feeling like Christmas. It really could have been December, with temperatures only in the thirties! Except it's October. 

I took this shot at work. 

 Today it was like March, with snow melting and mud appearing. But we're glad to see it go; we tend to get nervous here when there's snow in October.