Winter brings dormancy for many plants, hardship for wildlife, and the cold, hard reality that life is not easy for those who must endure ice, wind, and deep snow. There is beauty in our savage seasons. It seems like a miracle each time spring plucks its head through the cold, cold earth.
Beauty in a Salvage Season: sounds like a book I would like to read! I was talking this week with someone from California, and we discussed weather: how it is important in some areas and less in others. I love living in a state where I'm never fully sure how the landscape will change from morning to evening. Last winter was so mild; what will this one bring?
The land is sometimes wiser than people. It knows how to stretch and turn, and sheds its seasons as easily as a peaceful sleeper sheds the cares of the day.
As I've grown older, autumn has replaced spring as my favorite season. I suspect there are reasons for that.
It's a beautiful tribute to the changing of seasons and the awaiting of the winter to arrive. I love all the seasons and now I am looking forward to winter and the "white dreams". Very nice pictures of the last moments of autumn.
Thanks, Munchow. Every season has something to offer, doesn't it? My summer and fall went so unspeakably fast, that I can hardly believe snow could come any day to us Minnesotans. The lesson in that? Be present, always.
Glad you happened by, PP! We've had mild weather, also. Last night I woke up to thunder storms and lightning. Wonderfully odd. Love those between-season surprises.
This post encouraged me to spend the afternoon in the woods with my camera. Thank you! It, your post, was just what I needed. Love your pictures and words.
Oh, winter is almost here in Alaska. But I just took photos of the last leaves, blowing from the branches in my yard, and I exhaled...a long resignation to what is to come. Termination dust on the mountains! Beautiful post, Emily.
There is another image: each flying leaf an exhale headed off to some other place. Maybe it flies 'round the world and enters our lungs again in the spring, full of the energy of travel and growth? Thanks for the comment, Monica. Hope all is well in Alaska!
Right now the side of his face rests against my belly, skin to skin, his warmth magnified by mine. It is a wonder, an absolute awe-filled thing, that just days ago he was on the other side of me, tucked away and unseeable, a secret. Elliot. Elliot with the head full of hair. Elliot with the fifty-eight eyelashes. Elliot with the rounded nose that dips into rounded cheeks that slope to the tiny chin that quivers when he cries, lifts when he smiles in his sleep. A landscape. Elliot. Tiny boy so like and unlike all the other boys who have been born before. So like and unlike whatever small person I imagined my own son to be. Perfection is a rare if not impossible thing, but how could he not be, right now, so young, so soft, exactly as he is here, breathing in and out, making the sounds that all mothers and fathers know as first-speak. Secrets. He is revealing them to me, unspooling them by the minute, by the number of his sighs, and they tangle around my legs and body until I am war
What a beautiful way to look toward winter!
ReplyDeleteI bit more optimistic, I hope, than "everything is dying." :)
DeleteBeautiful, simply beautiful, even if I don't particularly like winter.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Audrey. Stay warm!
DeleteWinter brings dormancy for many plants, hardship for wildlife, and the cold, hard reality that life is not easy for those who must endure ice, wind, and deep snow. There is beauty in our savage seasons. It seems like a miracle each time spring plucks its head through the cold, cold earth.
ReplyDeleteBeauty in a Salvage Season: sounds like a book I would like to read! I was talking this week with someone from California, and we discussed weather: how it is important in some areas and less in others. I love living in a state where I'm never fully sure how the landscape will change from morning to evening. Last winter was so mild; what will this one bring?
DeleteBeautiful post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina Jo.
Deletebeautiful words. "the land is stretching its body"....sigh sigh sigh.
ReplyDeleteI hear it particularly in the recently bare branches and the shuffling of leaves.
DeleteThe land is sometimes wiser than people. It knows how to stretch and turn, and sheds its seasons as easily as a peaceful sleeper sheds the cares of the day.
ReplyDeleteAs I've grown older, autumn has replaced spring as my favorite season. I suspect there are reasons for that.
Beautifully said. And yes: one of the reasons I love nature is because there is metaphor everywhere.
DeleteIt's a beautiful tribute to the changing of seasons and the awaiting of the winter to arrive. I love all the seasons and now I am looking forward to winter and the "white dreams". Very nice pictures of the last moments of autumn.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Munchow. Every season has something to offer, doesn't it? My summer and fall went so unspeakably fast, that I can hardly believe snow could come any day to us Minnesotans. The lesson in that? Be present, always.
DeleteBeautiful post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading along, Mary.
DeleteGorgeous! Thanks for the mini-vacation today!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite parts of viewing other people's photos, too! Happy to provide one for you.
DeleteThat is beautiful, Emily! I feel the winter coming on, too...after a few more days of strangely mild weather. So glad I discovered your blog!
ReplyDeleteGlad you happened by, PP! We've had mild weather, also. Last night I woke up to thunder storms and lightning. Wonderfully odd. Love those between-season surprises.
DeleteThis post encouraged me to spend the afternoon in the woods with my camera. Thank you! It, your post, was just what I needed. Love your pictures and words.
ReplyDeleteAhh, what a fine thing! Thanks for sharing this with me. :)
DeleteOh, winter is almost here in Alaska. But I just took photos of the last leaves, blowing from the branches in my yard, and I exhaled...a long resignation to what is to come. Termination dust on the mountains! Beautiful post, Emily.
ReplyDeleteThere is another image: each flying leaf an exhale headed off to some other place. Maybe it flies 'round the world and enters our lungs again in the spring, full of the energy of travel and growth? Thanks for the comment, Monica. Hope all is well in Alaska!
Delete