Signs of fall, smell of snow

The leaves on the mountainside are turning golden and the air is often crisp and cool. Outside of the gate trucks loaded down with apples sell to passersby. Besides the usual fall crops- huge mounds of red chili peppers are being carted all over the city on little motorized three wheelers that supply the small vegetable shops. In people's windows one can see strands of them as long as a man hanging to dry.

A couple of days I've walked outside to the distinct smell of snow on the wind. How odd, I thought- as there was no sign of snow clouds. As I hiked up South Mountain a few days ago- the source of the smell became visible. All of the high peaks beyond the dirt mountains surrounding the city were showing white at the peaks.