Past the road ends sign
Green, green, green, then a sudden glorious red. Or a burst of sunshine through the branches turning yellow to gold. Visions like these have blessed my recent walks. I don't stray far - no driving up north or to the local park - I just step out the door and keep walking, past the "Road Ends" sign. That's where the enchanting walk begins. On our side, front yards are bare naked green lawns with a straggly tree or two...but once you slip past the "Road ends" warning, through the narrow gap in the barrier, you can see that sign-posters lied. Not only does the road not end, it becomes so much more beautiful, lined by tall maples, oaks, cottonwoods and conifers, summer home to blue jays, chickadees, robins, cedar waxwings, sparrows, goldfinches, nuthatches, cardinals (courtesy Merlin app). Now, as the year winds down, it's quiet with mostly just chirping crickets and the crunch of dry leaves. Just as I loved the joyful choral accompaniment to my walks in ...