Sunday Stroll - Sanctuary

I followed the sound of a lone bird's call, down past the cornfield,

and into the woods.

Sun light pouring through green cedar bows surrounded me,

as I walked to the braided tree at the heart of this forest sanctuary.

I followed the trail to the lake, so quiet in late November.

The sky was reflected in the mirror of the water,

as swans drifted... seeming to swim through clouds... through trees... through tangled brambles.

I walked along the northshore through white birches,

and in and around dangling jewel-red berries,

stepping carefully over fallen branches beribboned in yellow mold, trying to leave no trace of my footsteps.

I turned toward home and looked through the long rows of pale corn to the dim and cloudy sky.

Those muted colors of sky and field

-- pale gray, soft gold, and merest suggestion of blue --

were echoed by the stones at the edge at the road.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy in quiet moments.

all photos by Aisling, November 29, 2009

To see more strolls, by other strollers, please scroll down to the post below.

Sunday Stroll - Morning Light

I walked early this morning, while the sun lit the hills and the fields, through rising mist. When I drove my daughter to work in the village, I walked down to the harbor. The marina was very quiet in the early morning, and the water as still and smooth as glass.

To the east, the sun was touching the river with soft color.

I took the long way home, and stopped by the township park. The soccer fields were nearly hidden in mist.

I made another stop to watch the sun crest a hill, its soft light falling amid bare trees. Two ring-neck pheasants hurried across the highway in front of me as I left the orchard.

At the base of the hill that leads home, the sun was spilling generously over mist and low-lying corn fields... welcoming me home.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you beautiful light.


Scroll down to see my Sunday Stroll Invitation, and more strolls!

all photos by Aisling, November 22, 2009

Sunday Stroll - Color Story

I didn't really take a leisurely stroll today... I ran out the front door into the cool breeze, and then across the road and down the hill through a stubbled field to take these photographs of bull thistle.

Looking back toward the east, I could just see the roofline of our little house against the cloudy blue sky.

I jogged back up the hill to wander, a little more slowly, through the gardens looking for color. Most of the Bells of Ireland in the corner of the herb garden are white and papery, but I found one still fresh and green.

Though the vegetables have been pulled from the garden rows, the wild mustard is still blooming and scattering seeds for next year's cheery yellow garden invaders.

In the butterfly garden the asclepius (aka Butterfly Weed) is releasing its seeds to the wind, just like its wild milkweed cousins.

In the front garden, peeking out through the bronze fennel, a tiny yellow mum flower opened this week.

Nearby, a sweet white pansy has rebloomed, giving her last "hurrah!" before a long winter's nap.

Sleepy bees are still visiting the mums.

As the flowers bow out of the color story, very gradually with this mild autumn that we have had so far, the skies are picking up the slack. In every direction, soft color lit our evening skies. Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you color and joy!

all photos by Aisling, November 15, 2009

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 - 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