Over the last few days, autumn hasn't been quite as colorful and bright as it should be yet, but it was definitely on the right track. A recent, spontaneous trip to a park in the middle of the city finally made it clear that the last colorful fireworks that nature has in store for us this year have been set off and that autumn is only about to reach its peak soon. Many places were still quite green, and this green sometimes showed itself from an extremely fresh side, which one would rather place in an earlier season. Especially in combination with red, as with the small bridge in the first picture, it is easy to forget what time of year we are actually in. But if you turn your head and look around a little, you can see that the year is slowly but surely approaching the final lap of its way. Fortunately, here in Japan it's not quite as bare outside in nature as I'm used to from my home country. Everything seems a little late here, but that also applies to the beginning of the year, when spring takes a little longer to really get going. And this applies to the end of the year as well, when the leaves stay on the trees for quite a long time before finding their way to the ground at the end of November. But it's not that time yet, at least not everywhere, so we still have a little chance to experience the magic of this late season and immerse ourselves in the very special, often melancholy atmosphere that is so characteristic of this time of year. As far as the weather permits, I try to take every opportunity I can to get out of the house and into nature. Whether it's a park or garden, forest or mountains, I love being there and try to take in and enjoy as much of what's on offer. The cold and dark time of the year is sure to come, and I need a little cushion for that too. I'm currently trying to build it up and hopefully I'll be successful once again. And I am also extremely grateful for all the beauty that I can discover and experience in the process. Life is wonderful, and I'm sure it will be again tomorrow. Believe me!