The autumn interlude between the dropping of the leaves until the snow cover, a time that I like to call AutWin, usually lasts about four weeks (roughly from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20), but this year, it stretched until a rather dramatic ending Nov. 25.

The previous week was progressing towards the freeze-up. During daily walks, I noted ice covering ponds, swamps, bays and much of the lakes; and at sites, the ground was frozen. And then things changed as temperatures went up. This peaked Nov.24 when the mercury reached into the 50s: some record-setting. Sitting out that day, I watched flying insects still active; then came Nov.25.

The change was amazing. The day began with clouds and temperatures in the 30s. By mid-morning, light rain began and continued. At dusk, the snow began, wet and windy.

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