One of my favorite months is October because I love the crunch and smell of fall. I love the hope of big snow storms and of a successful elk hunt. I love the anticipation of the winter to come and the passing of the hot summer.

I like the ease of shorter days and the feel of the grain cart behind the tractor in the corn field. In October, I like to anticipate a freezer full of elk, deer, and antelope, the pantry stocked with jars of chokecherry and rhubarb jelly and rhubarb, cherries and zucchini frozen for pies, cakes and bread.

Of course, some Halloween candy never hurts either, but high school students aren’t so generous as sixth graders! Saturday is opening day of first rifle season for elk, and we are heading up the mountain tomorrow, so I won’t be back with you friends, family and readers until mid-week, next week. I’ll breathe in that sweet cold mountain air, take in the myriad of stars, and be astounded by the colors and smells of fall for you.