The months of autumn in Sweden can be really beautiful. My special favourites are days with blue skies, a carpet of red and yellow leaves on the bright green grass.




On such a day, it can be incredibly cold and crisp in the mornings, with the air as sharp as an icy cold glass of 3 drops sauvignon blanc. Every creature waits until the warming rays of the sun peep above the horizon in order to start their day. Then it becomes a mad rush to get everything done before the sun dips below the horizon again.




It is a veritable episode of Animal Planet here, right outside of my kitchen window, with the jackdaws (kajor) competing digging in the lawn, the squirrels busily scampering to and fro collecting acorns for winter and the occasional hare taking a quick shortcut through the garden on their way to the more sheltered wetlands.




The hare is wise to be alert, because we have also spotted one or two foxes following their trail. These very adaptable creatures seem quite at home in the presence of man and while wary, they don't seem afraid of us. I am aware that people think of them as vermin, but I have always found them shy and charming.




Our home is on the edge of the town, so we have fields and wetlands at the end of the street and the chance to see some of the animals is much greater than if we lived in the middle of town. Though this is a very small town and in fact, it is only a 10 minute walk for me to the main shopping and civic centre. While we were driving to do our main monthly shopping at nearby Nyköping, we saw a beautiful teenage moose in the field by the side of the road.




He or she was not terribly happy that we stopped the car to take a picture and in fact after a tantalisingly short time, it took off to the welcome shelter of the nearby forest, where I spied a second moose around the same age. There was no sign of mum or dad. It was a short but sweet sighting and I am hoping we may see more of them during the winter.

It has been wonderful and sunny during the days. There seem to be literally hundreds and hundreds of tiny birds still here. I thought most smart birds were already sunning themselves on a warm beach, but perhaps not all birds migrate. I see that people have already begun to leave out food for them. On one house, we saw a noisy flock gleefully pecking at a tallow ball.




These little guys are great tits (talgoxe) and very common in the gardens here. While not as spectacular as the cockatoos, galahs and lorikeets that Alaskan Dave gets in his Adelaide garden, they nonetheless appeal to me. There are many varieties of tits around. In size and appearance, they are reminiscent of the perennial Adelaide hills favourite, the fairy wren. We've seen plenty of blue tits (blåmes) and crested tits (tofsmes) as well as my favourite, the cheeky, chubby little long tailed tit (stjärtmes)




Of course, not all of the animal life we see here is of the "wild" variety. There are one or two farms nearby. In the warmer months we used to see cows out in the fields, but it is frosty at night now, so many of them are inside. However the sheep and goats are still around, hopefully approaching if you stop, no doubt anticipating a feed.




Sometimes, if you are very lucky, you may see a very regal little poodle making her daily scenic rounds, enjoying the sea air and checking out the sights. In her own special carriage.




Honestly, what kind of mad person cycles around town with a poodle in their carry basket. Then comes home and offers the excuse that she doesn't like walking? No wonder she is getting a little tubby.

The red walls of the houses in the sunshine seem to enhance the whole cosy atmosphere. The days are shorter and that has also its own kind of magic. It is a reminder that soon it will be time for thick, warm socks and a big steaming cup of tea.

A northern hemisphere autumn holds a very special place in my heart. It has become my favourite season as everything begins to wind down, with even nature taking a deep breath after the short but franticly intense summer slowing down, preparing for a winter rest.

Autumn is also a timely reminder of what is to come - the dreaded cold of winter. But that is still a little way off. For now, there I can enjoy taking a long stroll in the forests listening to the crunch of colourful leaves under foot, to listen to the gentle whisper of the birch trees swishing and swaying in the wind, to the sound of the sea, those quiet waters lapping on the shores, feel the chilly wind caressing my face and keeping me feeling awake and alive. And above all, there is that certain quietness. I could sit by the shore looking out to the sea for hours, just doing nothing, just listening...

How many people are as fortunate as me to be able to experience this? Indeed I am truly blessed.