Sunday Stroll - Hanging in There

All the leaves have fallen from the pear trees, except the russet beauty in the photo above. Though it is November, the milkweed pods are just now opening to release their seeds to the wild northern wind.

Though the "time of yellow and purple flowers" that I wrote about weeks ago has passed, a few tenacious goldenrods and starthistle are still blooming.

Some wild berries still cling to bare branches, and color still graces the skies of a month we often perceive as the grey month of the year.

Best of all, our 14 and a half year old Maude is still hanging in there. She pranced in the sunshine today and it was very good to share another golden afternoon.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

all photos by Aisling, November 8, 2009

Sunday Stroll Invitation

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.
~Ruth Ann Schabacker

If you have time this week for a Sunday Stroll... to get outside and listen to the acoustics of the season, please post about about it on your blog and then come back here with a comment and a link to your post. You may use the Sunday Stroll button at the top of this post on your post or side bar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so other strollers can walk through your garden too. I'll check back as often as I can and try to keep the list.

updated.

Look who's strolling today:

Margaret at Periodic Pearls

Heather at Heather's Homemaking

Abbie at Farmer's Daughter
Jessica at Foursquare Schoolhouse

Me, here at the Quiet Country House

A Little Quote and a Little Note

"Artists should always think of themselves as cosmic instruments for storytelling."

~ Ted Lange

Fridays ought to start with sunshine and blue skies... and this one did. Now, late in the evening, the wind is dancing wildly outside in the darkness and the cold is tapping at my window glass. Inside, I'm warm and cozy, sipping my mug of hot tea and listening to my six year old chatter on and on. He is already a "cosmic instrument for storytelling" and an artful little fellow. Perhaps he will help me out with the art-related lesson plan I have to write for school this coming week!

This week it was watercolors and woven paper in art class, along with scissors, glue and lively conversation. Good stuff! Next week, African-inspired face masks from felt. Don't you wish you could come and play with me?

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you color and comfort and joy!

Sunday Stroll - Autumn becomes Fall

Most people use the terms Autumn and Fall synonymously. For me, they are two different seasons. Autumn days intertwine with the days of late summer, with warm days and crisp nights and generous color in the trees. Fall begins unexpectedly one night as a cold wind rips the leaves from many trees at once, and in the morning the streets and sidewalks are paved with slippery, gold and brown leaf litter. This year, that windy night was Friday, leaving the trees in skeleton form just in time for Halloween.

As the boys trick or treated last night in the village, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the village in Fall. This proprietor will have to change their gorgeous display. October may be "Art Month" as the window proclaims, but November is here, as the crunch of leaves beneath our feet reminds us.

The flowers in the pots along the street seem to glow with amazing intensity above a blanket of brown leaves.

The bridge to the island library looks abandoned now that the summer residents have moved on. The river is host to fishermen in flannel rather than teenagers in skimpy swimwear. The bay is quiet and waiting.

I saw this fellow sitting in a garden as we walked the streets at twilight. He seems pensive, but resigned, which is how I feel about November.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joyful thoughts and happy trails.

Please scroll down to see who else has been strolling!

all photos by Aisling, October 31, 2009

Sunday Stroll Invitation

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air." ~ Eric Sloane

If you have time this week for a Sunday Stroll... to get outside and listen to the acoustics of the season, please post about about it on your blog and then come back here with a comment and a link to your post. You may use the Sunday Stroll button at the top of this post on your post or side bar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so other strollers can walk through your garden too. I'll check back as often as I can and try to keep the list updated.

Look who's strolling:
Linda at Vulture Peak Muse
Abbie at Farmer's Daughter
Cloudhands at Uncarved Block
Margaret at Periodic Pearls
Me here at the Quiet Country House

Happy Howling

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls..."

~ George Carlin

It is cold and blustery here. Too cold for trick-or-treating, but very typical for our northern Great Lakes region. Despite the sleet and cold air, we will put on extra layers, slightly inhibiting the impact of the boy's costumes, and trick or treat in the village. Hot chocolate and candy sorting are on the agenda for when we return home. Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you happy howling.

photo by Aisling, Sept. 2007

Poetry Thursday - Give the world to the children

"Let us give the world to the children at least for one day

Let them play with it as if it's a spangled balloon
Let them sing and dance among the stars

Let us give the world to the children

Like a huge apple or a warm loaf of bread

at least for one day

so that they'll have enough to eat

Let us give the world to the children

so that even if it's for one day

it will learn what friendship is

The children will take world

out of our hands

and they will plant immortal trees."

Nazim Hikmet (1901 to 1963)

The words of this Turkish poet, translated here into English, remind me of why we conduct youth foreign exchange. You can find out more about this poet here.