Raining Leaves

This tree across the street from our house was covered with gold/yellow leaves yesterday morning. By noon it looked like this. For a short time it was

Raining Leaves

as the wind carried its leaves swiftly to the ground.

The pond  behind our house was completely covered with a skim of ice in the early morning yesterday and today.

It saddens me to see that the season is turning inexorably towards winter. Fortunately the weather forecast here is for a few days of warmer weather at the end of this week. And even today it is warmer than yesterday.

Bittersweet Season

I can’t help but feel a little bit sad when the season turns towards winter. It’s a part of living here in this beautiful state. And I do feel grateful to live here. With climate change effects being felt in many parts of our country and around the world I feel even more gratitude for this lake and tree filled land. But I also still feel the sadness of the end of gorgeous greens and beautiful flowers filling the landscape. I feel the coming barren branches and monochrome landscape and wish for endless summer.

O Autumn, Autumn! O pensive light
and wistful sound!
Gold-haunted sky, green-haunted ground!

When, wan, the dead leaves flutter by
Deserted realms of butterfly!
When robins band themselves together

To seek the sound of sun-steeped weather;
And all of summer’s largesse goes
For lands of olive and the rose!

   — Effie Lee Newsome

On a drive to Excelsior this morning I could see that more and more of the colors are leaning towards russets and browns. The brilliant color of just a week ago has faded. Still, I plan to go for a walk in the woods today or tomorrow and soak in what colors remain.

How are you feeling about the fall days sliding towards winter my friends? What lifts your spirits when the skies are gray and blustery?

May you walk in beauty.