This morning in the woods there is good news on our property. A dry bed for months, since the beginning of summer, the brook is running toward the river again. Charlie stops to drink from water so fresh it's more like a rainy day grass puddle. All the green growth begun in the dry dirt shimmers up at us from under the rippling. 

Following the path into Rocky Narrows woods, the foliage, this morning, is clearly past its peak. November is approaching fast. The reddest of the leaves have fallen from trees. All the marsh is fired in a goldening blaze before going brown. 

Heading back toward home, next to the path in the low brush, amidst all the decaying leaves, these beauties spot me, this fungi - as if painted by a forest artist - near the base of a tree. It's lovely now, and I know this winter, too, under fresh snow, its purplish light will be aglow to stop me in my tracks again.

A sweet young man texted me this (early) birthday message last night - shared during a celebration dinner with my family - he understands why and how my time in the woods matters. 

All photos and words by Kelly DuMar 2016