Sunday, November 9, 2008

Transitions

Fall is my favorite season, but it seems to come and go so fast. This fall, the colors seemed very lackluster. For weeks and weeks we waited for them to brighten up, for the dull browns and muted oranges to come alive. Then, for three days, they suddenly got so vivid we had to wear sunglasses to see them.






And then, just as suddenly, overnight they all fell. For 24 hours it snowed leaves.

This is our driveway.


This is the backyard:



And now, the trees are bare and brown. The air is crisp and cool, and smells of wood stoves and burning leaves. The skies are a surreal blue and the clouds look like a HDR photo over-tweaked with unreal shades of greys and purples and whites so fluffy they look like whipped cream.

It'll probably be another two months before we see real snow. Ahead are some cold, drab days. But I love burrowing under blankets and warming the room with a fire and serving hot cocoa with marshmallows. I love the smell of fir trees and sugar cookies and cinnamon-scented pine cones.

It's the perfect time for writing!

4 comments:

  1. Oh, the leaf storm, we had that too! Most of our trees are bare now. I confess my ignorance: I didn't realized fall was so colourful in your neck of the woods!

    We always get one snowfall before Halloween. It gives us a kick in the butt to get ready for winter.

    As usual, I am not ready.

    LOVE your pictures!

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  2. Well, we're no New Hampshire or Vermont, but it does get quite beautiful here most years. This year, like I said, wasn't as bright as usual.

    We almost never get snow before January, although for a few years we were getting two or three good storms in December, which was quite a treat. I remember praying every year for snow on Christmas. I think I got it twice!

    I don't know how you do it, though... your winters are so long! We really do get three month seasons, which is nice. Once I'm tired of one, it's time for another! :)

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  3. Thanks Kerri! Yours are pretty good too! I always love your Friday photos. They're almost as good as your riddles! :)

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