Sunday stroll

The leaves are nowhere near their peak, but that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of fall color. The light has that special fall look, too — somehow brighter and more merciless. I’m not sure why that word comes to mind, but it does.

It makes for more brilliant reflections on water, where it’s hard to tell where the real ends and the reflection begins.

We enjoyed a sunbathed walk yesterday along paths that invited reflection of a different kind.

It’s always amazing to me when the eye falls on something as tiny as this toad among the heights and colors of the forest.

So many places for little things to hide….

…and the animals are taking on their winter colors. This young deer blended in so well it didn’t even bother to run away.

We walked a little further and met another. They were both from this spring’s batch of fawns, I’m guessing, and they were very unwary.

This one walked up to us, curious and utterly innocent.

It came within 8 feet to check us out.

Finally it figured out that we weren’t familiar or promising, and bounded away down the trail.

I’ve never been approached that closely by a deer before. Hopefully this youngster wouldn’t be so slow to react to a coyote!

It was a lovely day for a walk, and this encounter was definitely a highlight.