October has not been kind to New Jersey for the past two years, particularly around Halloween. In 2011 we had Snowtober and last year we had Superstorm Sandy. This year is calm and peaceful with no such storms in sight. It’s probably because we now have a generator wired into the house!

The trees are slightly past their peak and looking rusty-colored with burnt oranges and yellows, but somehow they are prettier now than they were. They daytime temperatures are cool enough for a light jacket. We’ve not had any rain in a long time but should get some toward the end of the week.

I’ve been taking walks around Long Pond Ironworks, checking on the progress of the burning bushes. They are making progress but still not at their peak.

I usually have the path to myself. Right now it’s covered in leaves which smell so good and earthy when you step on them. They crinkle and crunch as I scuff my way through them.

It’s an easy walk with things of interest along the way, either in the several bird viewing outlooks or the buildings.

I love the strong shadows at this time of year.

It has different things to offer than Skylands does, and it’s much closer—just down the road from our house. It makes the perfect little quick getaway for me (and my camera).

Autumn Reflections on Monksville Reservoir

Somehow, and we are not quite sure exactly why, the cabin visit this year has changed us. Instead of being glad to be back in our familiar home and surroundings, we instead long to be back at the cabin. This has never happened to me before. I've always been happy to come back to all that New Jersey is. Not this year. It's hard to put into words. The cabin's magic spell spreads like a cloak around us from all the way across the country.

We find ourselves watching a TV program and deciding whether or not it fits into the "cabin grading system." In other words, if we had a limited amount of electricity at the end of the day would we still want to watch it? If the answer is no we delete the Season Pass off the TiVo. I also have no problem switching off the news when they are not saying anything that I want to hear. It's very freeing in a way. I've decided some shows that I used to love to watch have too much yelling and too much conflict for me to continue watching them.

What is it about this remote 70+ acres of land and a battery-powered 1,000 square foot cabin that entices us so? It's not just about the history it has with us. We had history with the Loveland/Ft. Collins area too but neither one of us has any real desire to move back to the front range.

Rick has always seen us living there at some point in time, for some period of time, but I have never had the same vision. But now I do.

Plans of a small mud room addition are being sketched out. I find myself wanting to whip out the measuring tape to see if a beloved piece of furniture will somehow fit into a space in the cabin. I am starting to go through clutter around the house and tossing things in the trash or making piles for Goodwill. It's still several years away but we might as well get started with at least the planning stages. Besides, it's fun to dream and make plans for the future, don't you agree? 

Yesterday was supposed to be rainy but instead it turned into a fairly nice day so I decided to take a walk at Long Pond Ironworks. Like I've said before, the color this year is very blah and not nearly as vibrant as it usually is. I'm not sure what the problem is because this summer was pretty normal with no real rainy or dry spots. I was also interested to see if the burning bushes were turning yet. So were, some weren't. There are so many of them along this trail that it can be quite spectacular. Seventy percent of them were still green. Huh.

I did come across a family of swans. When I first saw them they were on the other side of the lake from me, but eventually glided closer.

They were not bothered by my crashing around in the brush on shore. I could hear them "talking" to each other in low murmurs. I can't describe the sound they were making, kind of like a refined cluck.

The youngsters were curious though. At one point I was focusing through rushes, hence the soft effect in this photo.

I've posted photos of this old abandoned shepherd's wagon before on my blog. It's a  sad reminder of days gone by. It sits on a property that adjoins our land on one side (the land is now for sale). It's a shame that the property owners have not only let their property fall into ruin, but this old relic as well. It's worthy of preservation, but sadly it has now fallen even further into ruin than it was on our last visit. At this point it can't be brought back to its former glory.

I like to think of the cowboy or cowgirl it once housed as they traveled with their flock of sheep or herd of cattle over the high prairie. Think of the stories it could tell!

The roof is caving in and there is now a skylight where there once was none.

It's wheels no longer turn over the sage-covered hills.

It has come to rest on this spot overlooking the territory it used to roam, dreaming of days gone by when it lived a useful life.

I found this blog entry about an old shepherd's wagon which has photos of what a nicely restored one looks like, both inside and out. If you are interested, follow this link.

I woke to the sound of a dog barking outside. It wasn't a coyote. I stirred from my sleepy state enough to recognize my surroundings. Ah, I was home. It feels strange to be here. Normally it feels good to get "home," but this time I'm ready to go back. I'm not sure what was different this year than past years. 

Yesterday I wandered our house aimlessly, unsure of any routine or what I was doing. It was all off. I didn't sit with my morning cup of coffee watching the sun light up the side of Bull Mountain. I didn't start a fire in the wood stove to take the chill off. No stellar jays squawking and asking for their morning feeding. No walk to the bottom with the girls. 

No. Instead we had the television tuned to Good Morning America. I was appalled at the amount of depressing, unnecessary news they spew out. Rapes, murders, accidents and lots of other horrible things that don't have any bearing on my daily life. Sure, some news you need to hear, but we really don't need the level of detail they report. I've decided it's not part of my morning anymore. I lived just fine without it for three weeks and I felt all the better for it. 

The trees have really changed here, and a few are even done so we have a lot of leaves on the ground already. When we left it was still summer, but we came home to fall. It's chilly and gray and we had to turn the heat on for the first time. It's hard to believe we were swimming right before we left.

I'm sure all the old rhythms of life will soon find their way back into our routines and life will go on as before.