Autumn is always  very enchanting  around the Appalachian mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway from North Carolina up to Virginia is busy with leaf lookers and travelers in October. Photographers, families, hikers, cyclist  and fishermen all flood the the area this time of year for the cool weather, and to enjoy the vivid array of colors found in the mountains. I consider myself one of those leaf lookers  as well. A new infusion of energy flows and the air is electric with excitement. The flannel shirts and Uggs come out along with the Columbia, North Face and Patagonia jackets and sweatshirts. Cameras with short lens and long lens, tripods,cell phones and selfie sticks can be seen at all the scenic overlooks. Traffic can be  very cumbersome during October. Ah, let's not forget the lines at the coffee shops for the pumpkin spice lattes. I am no different. I am guilty of partaking of the fall fury as well. This year however, the leaf color change was late and the timing of the appearance of fall was delayed. When it did finally arrive many of the leaves just turned brown and dropped. The murmings around the area from the locals blamed the drought and others blamed the unseasonably warm and long summer. What I do know is how long I had waited for the season.The impatience for the opportunity to get out there with my Canon DSLR camera and photograph everything from the creeks, waterfalls, valleys and trails to the Linville Gorge Willderness. At first, I was disappointed with the leaf color display this year but as I got out and started to photograph and hike , I began to notice opportunities to capture the simplistic but beautiful places often overlooked. As moss grows on an old log, I notice how the yellow, orange and occasional red leaf gently falls through the trees and lands on top of the moss so quietly. The eye catching contrasting colors make for interesting photographs. On one of my hikes , I meandered along the creek in the Pisgah national forest and my eye caught sight of a pumpkin lodged against a rock in the creek down stream. I pondered the journey of the pumpkin and started to daydream about the day the farmer planted the seed  and the day it was harvested , the person who purchased the pumpkin and finally how this creek became the final destination of this lone pumpkin. After consideration of the possibilities, I made my way down the creek over roots, boulders and slippery wet fall leaves until I stood a few feet away and decided this lonely pumpkin would be the subject of my next fall photo. As I set my backpack down and set up my shot, a gust of wind  blew through the trees causing several leaves to drift downward and land on the pumpkin as if the trees were assisting in my effort to capture the scene. I held my breath as I balanced on the smooth rock and felt the cold mountain water seep into my Keen hiking shoes. I gently pressed the shutter button and checked my screen and fired off several more shots. With a  big smile  and a wink, I left the pumpkin against the rocks as I found it. There is opportunity everywhere, you just have to open your eyes and look for it, then move towards it. This autumn might not have been as vibrant or as impressive in the classical way but it was definately beautiful in it's own way. I find beauty in the unconventional and unexpected . Take time to wander a bit. You might find an unexpected gift in the most unexpected places.

The Gypsy From Nowhere