Frost

first thorough frost last night. boy and i walked out through the yard in the early morning, he in his fresh clothes and coat and hat, me in my pajamas and boots. picked up a frosted maple leaf for him to hold, crispy and covered in ice crystals, and his hand melted it as we walked. sun just touching the tops of the trees.
passed the pile of soil that he played in, barefoot, two days ago. the ridges where his feet and hands made shallow craters were capped with frost, like a mountain range viewed from above, dark valleys and silver ridges.
three baby mice and counting.
harvested our butternut squash (14) and pumpkin (1!) two days ago.