[early this morning, in my woods]
It’s beginning now. The woods seem to be breathing slower, winding down, the pulses of the trees are dimming. The color and textures are delicate, less robust, descants weaving over the pools of sticks and pine duff on the forest floor. I can smell a musty murk, a mighty morph, the rot of leaves on damp, just the edge of it, a prelude.
The quietude here, at times, is a thundering of the majestic.
A bit of a premature response, perhaps, but this:
October
-Ted Hughes
October is marigold, and yet
A glass half full of wine left out
To the dark heaven all night, by dawn
Has dreamed a premonition
Of ice across its eye as if
The ice-age had begun to heave.
The lawn overtrodden and strewn
From the night before, and the whistling green
Shrubbery are doomed.
Ice Has got its spearhead into place.
First a skin, delicately here
Restraining a ripple from the air;
Soon plate and rivet on pond and brook;
Then tons of chain and massive lock
To hold rivers. Then, sound by sight
Will Mammoth and Saber-tooth celebrate
Reunion while a fist of cold
Squeezes the fire at the core of the world,
Squeezes the fire at the core of the heart,
And now it is about to start.
Not at all premature — beautiful, Lizzie! Thank you for sharing it.
Wonderful, isn’t it?!
I feel I have flung myself headlong into this season; joyous, free and fearless. My cares look so very small, flying up here with the herons and cranes. Good things coming.
Hope you are well.
I KNOW!
My cares look small too!
No spare energy to squander — I’m working too hard beating my wings against the wind!
XX
I just found your blog and I love it here.
The fresh air, the colurs, your words. Just lovely.
So a little hello from sweden.
On a monday
Åsa
Welcome here, little lady! I’m glad to have you.
X
The light pouring gently through and the delicate reflection on the sticky water…they are just so right! xo
I had good luck this morning:) Wish you could see it all first hand.
Go well, dear woman.
X
The most intoxicating season of all. I was just thinking these thoughts too while out walking the woods today with daughter and dog… but you put it into words so beautifully, of course!
Can we pretend that ‘great minds think alike’ since you started (and coincidentally, I ended) our posts with “Shhh” today?! lol That knit cowl looks sooo cozy by the way, love it!
mel
needle and nest design
I think that this is perhaps the most intoxicating season of all! Makes sense! Everything is fermenting and rotting off the branches everywhere I look — we’re bound to get a little tipsy on the excess of all this beauty.
YES!
No need to “pretend” — that’s just a fact.
I love this cowl too. It’s a big old thing. I’ve had it for years now. It’s my go-to circle scarf/shawl/cape-ish thing all through fall and winter.
X
my favourite time…
i feel slightly jealous of you up there in your “hermitness”
but not the ugly green jealousy
more of a bright purple, I am so happy for you-wish I was there Jealousy : )
watching as the earth exhales
Love and Light
Well.
I knew that some lovely folks might be jealous. 🙂
That’s why when things don’t go as planned or the water shuts off for the entire day or I burn the rice AGAIN (only a hot plate to cook on) or it takes me FOREVER to drive down the crummy road into town and then another 8 miles to get to the post office, I just remind myself that I’m living someone’s dreams and then I’m not annoyed at all — just thankful that I can be here and share the experience.
XX
such a great way to navigate through those challenges life brings us!
popping your painting in the mail today
so I will think of you trekking down the mountain to retrieve it…
all worth the trouble : )
love and light
…and if you’re reeeaal quiet, maybe you’ll see the bear! (from far enough away, that is)
You are quite at home there, and it’s so obvious. Glad you will be deep in the woods for a whole month and then some! I’m with Cat. A teensy jealous. xo
I think he went wandering by this afternoon — the dogs went berserkers. I’m trying my best to keep my camera on hand so I can snap a shot of him, next time he lumbers through my neck of the woods!
There’s nothing quite like that day you notice the smallest little changes in the seasons… Soak it up for me, I miss it dearly…
Consider me SOAKED!
🙂
Love to you, island girl.
X
Yes! I wait all year for this time 🙂
That is one super warm looking cowl!! Does it go over your shoulders and become a caplet/poncho/thingy? I adore knitting, and nothing like the fall to get me going. On my knitting to-do list: Antler Hats for me and the kids on Etsy, here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62063464/knitting-pattern-deer-with-little?ref=tre-674629426-1
I can’t wait to sport one! (in town, not the woods! 😉 )
Stunning work just went up!! Someday, Glitz…someday!
It is REALLY warm. And kind of huge. It goes around my neck like a circle scarf but then I can scrunch it down over my shoulders or wear it draped to one side. Just marvelous!
I want an antler hat.
You know I would wear it everywhere!
XX
Looking at those pictures, I can almost feel the crispness of the air.
I am anxiously awaiting fall, but trying to savor the last bit of summer here in NC.
I absolutely love the change of seasons–all of them–but especially Summer into Fall.
~Eileen
It’s cold at night here, and in the morning (really chilly). But the afternoons are still gorgeous! Perfect indian summer conditions!
and as a good dear friend pointed out, my presumed problems are small and much nothingness when i go scooting through the fallen leaves, when i feel the autumn chill. life is good, whether ‘t’is here in alpine hinterlands or there in wee cabin woods.
xx
They surely are! Way to step outside and see the goodness of life! X
Such lovely photos. I can smell the forest air.
ME TOO! 🙂 It’s smattering with the divine…
I just love your photography. I have noticed a small shift here in the hills of east Tennessee as well…the sun is coming up later, the Black Walnut trees are beginning to drop leaves, and my tomato plants are spent despite my southern latitude, AND I had to put socks on the other night (which is rare for me this time of year). I’m excited to see more of your photos as the autumn deepens from where you are! It is my absolute favorite season. Thanks again for sharing.
Keely! Thank you.
I’m glad you’re seeing the shift too. It’s so strange…one of my best friends and I believe this is one of the most energetic times of the year for us — while everything else is passing away into winter. It’s a beautiful time. Just plainly beautiful, in every way.
I’ll keep shooting to share!
XX
I always forget how much I love fall… until it is fall again and I am once again head over heals in love.
The evening air changed here in the high desert of So. Oregon about 2 weeks ago… and last week my Japanese Lanterns turned from bright green to bright orange… so beautiful!
I think love for everything is like that. Sometimes I forget I love Robert, until he’s standing right in front of me and he does something so essentially Robertish that some small wall I was building in my heart and soul just crumbles to dust and I surrender to the loving of him, fully, once more. Don’t you think love is like that? A steady and sudden series of capitulations over a period of time? Well. I do.
I think Japanese Lanterns are so tremendously beautiful. I’ve always wanted to grow them! I also wanted to grow bleeding hearts and that little dream came true in the Idaho garden…perhaps I should look into planting some lanterns there!
X
I think you are very right…. love is continual – a circular, natural element that waxes and waynes, doubling itself and then spreading thin – forgotten into the grooves of days and then springing to life in fullness the moment your heart is open.
POET!!!
x
i love that light, that glow, and the way you burn like a bright flame in the midst of it.
Poet.
xx
Where ever did you learn your way with words? Or, is it just a wondrous gift? College? The thing that I like about you is that you don’t seem ostentatious with your words. I get the feeling that you’re a very nice person. Nice people are underrated. I think that we would be good friends, because I prefer genuine people, if I wasn’t old enough to be your grandmother. Heck, even then we could be good friends if geography wasn’t an issue. Someone did a good job raising you…and sometimes good people raise themselves. But, I don’t sense that with you….
I’m actually a university drop out! I tried three different schools and it just wouldn’t stick. I’d love to go back someday (I always say that) but something in me rails against the institutions of learning out there…sigh…always the rebellious streak. I will say, my mother taught me to read at a very early age and I read stacks of books, weekly, before I was even in preschool, which is very good for the active vocabulary and writing abilities. Start them on the books young, people! Start them young.
Thanks for not finding my writing ostentatious.
Wouldn’t that be horrid. I never want to NOT sound like myself.
Its terribly difficult for me to stay in touch while traveling but I awoke early in Brooklyn this morning with an urge to fly towards you rather than home today….. I am desperate for a squeeze and a long walk with you…. I love you and am terribly happy that you are staying on in the lcitw (did I get that right)????
p.s. the hummy happened… photos to you once I’m home! All the x’s and o’s, friend :))))
LSL,
Oh.
My.
Word.
Can’t wait to see it.
Wish you could see LCITW in person! You would shoot off 500 frames in the woods here in a scant hour. Can’t wait to see hummer baby…just put one in the mail for you! XXXX
hi jilly willy! hope you’re having fun up there. I’m in jackson on a fire. miss you two. tell Robert I say hello. see ya
Jeffie Pie! Miss you back. We’ll be home in November-ish. Glad you are safe and well. Dubs is coming home tonight from a Mt Rainier fire — will pass on the halloo! X
ssshhhh…I hear it too! xx
*tip toes*
Even we still wear flip-flops it’s starting here too…but in a diferent way….
I love breathing the beginning of your fall though your pictures and words…
It’s wonderful…
Thank you…
Thank you, little beauty. x