The breath of winter

October 21.

 P. M. — To Mason's pasture. 

The brook between John Flint's house and the river is half frozen over. 

The clump of mountain laurel in Mason's pasture is of a triangular form, about six rods long by a base of two and a third rods, — or seven or eight square rods, — beside some separate clumps. 

It is very cold and blustering to-day. It is the breath of winter, which is encamped not far off to the north. 

A great many shrub oak acorns hold on, and are a darker brown than ever.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, October 21, 1859

The brook between John Flint's house and the river is half frozen over. See November 1, 1858 ("the reflection of Flint’s white house in the river, prolonged by a slight ripple so as to reach the reflected cloud, was a very distinct and luminous light blue.")
The clump of mountain laurel in Mason's pasture is of a triangular form, about six rods long by a base of two and a third rods. See December 13, 1851 ("While surveying to-day, saw much mountain laurel for this neighborhood in Mason's pasture, just over the line in Carlisle. Its bright yellowish-green shoots are agreeable to my eye.")

It is very cold and blustering to-day. See October 15, 1859 ("Standing on this hilltop this cold and blustering day, when dark and slate-colored clouds are flitting over the sky, the beauty of the scenery is enhanced by the contrast in the short intervals of sunshine.")

A great many shrub oak acorns hold on, and are a darker brown than ever. See August 28, 1853 ("The acorns show now on the shrub oaks."); September 13, 1859 ("I see some shrub oak acorns turned dark on the bushes and showing their meridian lines, but generally acorns of all kinds are green yet. "); September 30, 1859 ("Most shrub oak acorns browned."); October 1, 1859 ("The shrub oaks on this hill are now at their height, both with respect to their tints and their fruit. The . . .pretty fruit, varying in size, pointedness, and downiness, being now generally turned brown, with light, converging meridional lines. . . .Now is the time for shrub oak acorns."); October 14, 1859 ("The shrub oak acorns are now all fallen, — only one or two left on,")