little bear requests with her woeful look and her index finger pointing up. She has it down alright. Her averted and sorrowful eyes, head tilted to one side and her usual cheery brim turned upside down to almost a pout.

One is all I want mom, just one more biscuit or whatever treat it is she craves. My eyes avert too toward the streaks of the late afternoon sun, an exceptional and probably the last of the Indian summer days.“Let’s go for a dip,” I say and instantly her eyes light back up, one more treat is forgotten, and we are swimming in November! For sure our last one of the year in our nest. As I lay afloat staring at the clouds skating across the big sky, I squint and search for glimmering stars now with the half-naked slender branches stretching above us.The inevitable comes next, leaves that twist and squirm off deciduous branches, dreary and heavy clouds will hang low as the sun makes its way south. From here the bottoms of the leaves look like silver rain. One by one they waft down into the pool and we can’t keep up with the count. Day is done prematurely, but the sun streaks the clouds with flames…one last warm breath wavering above.The summer whispers of the wind turn to sonic chanting, the forest fills with song. Sounds like the pitter-patter of rain, it stirs up questions and contemplations of my place among the drizzling of leaves and the flickering stars. I don’t know all the answers but maybe out here at this time I just might find one. I am grateful for one last plunge before everything above me is covered in frost. I will miss this part of our nest perched on top a ridge with thick trunks rooted below the loamy terrain while we hibernate from within. More time spent indoors means more cups of warm cacao and cozy nooks. I arranged one more wall decoration.This one is a purchase unlike most of the others on our walls. I call her Girl with Heavy Thoughts, it’s timely as my meditative swims have faded from my life until those numbered summer days are back.While this artist caught my eye, my little bears’ artwork still warm my heart the most, as well as my father-in-law’s and the amazing Maribel’s designs. Is there a painting or print that will lighten your heart? Frame your walls with art that makes your heart smile and quells the stark and shivery season that lies ahead.

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