autumn – Site Title

Fall’s Melody

It is that time of year again. Rain has moved in and the days are shorter and darker and the sun is taking a well-deserved rest.

AUTUMN

“Time to dim the sunlight, cue the moody fog, and watch nature’s most haunting story unfold.” Angie Weiland-Crosby

I woke up this morning to the world outside cloaked in darkness. It is the norm for this time of year and there is a certain sadness that fall brings. It is the wave goodbye to another year that is almost done and it is a softness that comes in at times like a thief in the night and at other times, it puffs and it blows till all the leaves are down on the ground as it is in my garden this morning or at least half of them are. The old Magnolia is bowing down to fall and letting it have its way. There is a carpet of gold and brown leaves covering the grass and it is going to take work to get it all swept up and taken away. Fall brings work and yet it is a season filled with beauty and glorious color.

On my last walk in nature a few days ago, I noticed that the color was coming in. There were the usual golden tints but the reds were making a showing and right over the hill, I could see the top of one lone tree, its yellow head caught in the weak sunlight, enough to catch the eyes of anyone walking by and gifting them with a splendid display of fall’s beauty. Fall sways and it dances and it lets the wind have its way and before you know it, another season has walked in and it has taken its rightful place. It seems so effortless but you and I know that there is work, unseen work that brings forth the magic.

I’m looking forward to my walks again when the rain moves out and in its place is a golden fall that will take my breath away draped in gorgeous golds, bright reds and dazzling yellows. All good things take time and so it is with fall as it finally sashays in dressed in colors meant to make you sit up and take notice AND to remind me that I am but a mere mortal compared to its power and glorious masterwork.

Point well-taken.

Have an amazing day.

Fall’s Gloomy Face

It marches in with wet boots, ruffled hair and a “I don’t care attitude!” Time to blow the leaves off the trees, turn whatever remains into a palette of breathtaking colors and to brush everything with a golden light when the rain leaves and takes a break.

Saturday was that kind of day. Wet, windy, gloomy and miserable and yet there was a certain kind of magic in the air. A heralding of things to come. One of beauty in a subdued manner.

MG Mason in his piece, “Writing the Seasons: Autumn” describes it beautifully as he captures the essence of fall through his words.

“It is getting colder and darker; leaves are falling from the trees. There is a chill in the air overnight, frost on the ground in the morning, mist and fog in the air. Dry, dead leaves crunch beneath your feet and clouds appear when you breathe out. There is still a lingering warmth but always a constant reminder of the cold to come.”

Fall has its moments as it prepares to make a showing but it is all part and parcel of the season. There has to be moments of unrest as it prepares to show its clout when it finally arrives and makes a show-stopping display. I, for one, can’t wait to see its full beauty as it steps out wearing its dress of many colors.

The rain has stopped but there is a definite chill in the air. The wind is picking up speed as the trees sway back and forth creating music of their own. In a way, there is a little sadness as summer waves goodbye and moves on to make way for another season to step in. It is only a matter of time before we welcome the beauty of fall, glorious fall, with colors that will take your breath away.

It is one of my favorite seasons.

Have an amazing Sunday.

A Glorious Walk

It was a gorgeous day yesterday. I usually don’t walk on Saturdays and Sundays but the sun was shining and I just couldn’t resist it. Blue skies with white puffy clouds greeted me as I stepped onto the fields.

“Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.” John Muir

Surprisingly, I was all alone. Weekends you see more traffic here but today either the people were still sleeping or they decided that it was just too cold to venture outside. They didn’t know what they were missing!

The fields were frosted in places. It was as if someone had taken a paintbrush and splashed it haphazardly with crushed ice. It was beautiful but it was more than that. Serene, is the word that comes to mind. Taking in a deep breath as I usually do, I kept on walking my gloved hands shoved into my thick coat pockets. It was cold but the sun was deceptively warm as it graced my face and welcomed my presence.

I headed to where the herons gather. Just a spot out in the fields, nothing special but it was for some reason their sacred gathering place. Today, I wanted to be in their presence or as close as I could to them. It was as if I needed to see them to feel complete. Maybe, I just needed their calmness and their stoic stillness to seep into me. They are masters of calm after all. Standing still like sculptures made out of stone, they let nothing bother them. Unlike yours truly who lets everything grasp at her insides and take her for a ride. Today, I needed that calm to bring me back into balance. Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen. Too cold? Had they flown to sunnier pastures? Nature has a way and a time and place for everything. Mine was not to stomp my feet and question why or to demand that it be otherwise.

I made my way back gazing at the sky above me. It was gorgeous. It was blue, an almost azure blue with streaks of white criss-crossing them for as far as the eyes could see. Just a slight droning told me that there were planes up there making their way to somewhere. I welcomed the slight noise as nothing else was moving here below and if not for that slight droning noise from above, there would be an eerie silence surrounding me.

I was still filled with unrest but the walk had taken it down a notch or two. As usual, these walks help me to go within and to ponder about life, nature, the universe and about people as well, The fields also help to let my imagination run wild not that my imagination needs any help in that respect! It was a beautiful morning and a glorious day. Looking forward to more of the same in the days to come.

Have an amazing day.