Autumn

Now that it's winter I'm wondering where the fall went. There were no leaves changing color, no pumpkins, apple cider or hay rides, no succession of holidays from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas. There are some small holidays-- like the Queen's birthday and Matariki--and I've welcomed them. Without the big celebrations, harvest fests, and the bright colors of fall leaves it's felt less like a distinct season and more like a prelude to winter. American autumn is glorious but I am trying to take it for what it is and enjoy the small seasonal shifts here.

Now when I look out across the straight to the South Island I can see snow capped mountains. The northerlies (wind from the north) are now matched by the southerlies (winds from the south). Southerlies bring storms from Antarctica. I can look out towards the South Island and see them coming. The temperature drops dramatically and the view to the south is obscured by a wall of white. It's quite ominous. I like that the winds have names and almost their own personalities.

View of the mini forest out of our back window, May 25, true fall