After a very fun, yet very full weekend it was nice to just kick back and simply 'be' today; on this, most likely last, hurrah of the clement and beautiful fall weather.

We "went into the woods..." to quote Thoreau

 and hiked the Devil's Staircase segment of the Ice Age trail.

The air smelled of dry leaves and damp leaves and burning leaves.

The thick layer of fallen leaves underfoot rendered conversation virtually impossible.

Which left all three of us free to contemplate little more than the loveliness of the pale sky, the slanting rays of late afternoon sunshine and the final glory of a Wisconsin Autumn.

(Ok, and stop for a few milkweed fluff-blowing photo ops...)