Mourning the End of Fall
The wind has been blowing all night, stripping the last of the leaves from the trees … raising whitecaps which slide across the deep blue surface of the lake in sharp, but flowing contrast. Fall is over in our little part of Maine. As we slip into the raw New England winter, I wanted to share these thoughts with you …
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The sun creeps over the barren hillsides and leafless trees, peeking between the gnarly arms which are raised heavenward in empty supplication for a return to the glory they’ve so recently lost … and the rays of thin, almost bleached out, warmth hit the surface of the lake – raising billows of mist into the crisp morning air. Such dismal beauty … |
| The chill dawns into a clear stillness … the earth and the waters seem to be holding their breath, in wait for the colors to be completely absorbed … hues drained from the sky, the trees, the depths … like the lifeblood of nature dripping endlessly into the void of winter dreams. |
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As the last of the warmth slips slowly behind the trees, shades of vermilion tinge the skies with the inexorable passage of time, stealing yet another year’s carefree greens and golds. It’s useless to rage against the silent beauty … we are powerless against the encroaching bleakness … herald of a silent cold. |
| Soon, another morning will dawn … shades of gray and white will mute the sounds of warmth and life. Such an empty tranquility … such sterile life. And yet, beneath the pale misery … |
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… will lay the hope of life and warmth, of soft greens and flowing streams, of carefree thoughts and peaceful summer dreams. |
Defend your blog from theft!
October 21st, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Aaaah you’re such a poet! Love the pictures too…
Look forward to spring… It will be here in due time.
October 21st, 2006 at 9:31 pm
beatiful words and awesome pics miss moof!!!
October 21st, 2006 at 10:58 pm
I like all of your pictures except…
For the one with snow in it.
;+ )
Nice post Moof.
later…
October 22nd, 2006 at 4:13 am
Goodness, if you’re planning to change profession, be a photographer Moof. These photos are postcard perfect. You could sell these.
Good post!
October 22nd, 2006 at 9:07 am
well that was certainly beautiful moof!
as i sit here in south florida (the air conditioner went out last night – it is 30 years old! sigh…)
bee
October 22nd, 2006 at 11:50 am
Moof..thank you for this lovely tribute to the end of this season, Fall..I like to call it the curl up with a good book by the lit fireplace,naps with the cat and hot chocolate, or go on a long crisp, crunchy leaf underfoot hike, then more hot chocolate season and the beginning of what I call Winter, the sleep season for all of nature including us, with just one or two bright Christmas lights flashes, New Years fireworks flashes to wake us out of our winter hibernation stupor momentarily..till Spring..aaahhh Spring..sorry going on today..:) your pictures sent me on this mind journey..great pics and great words..thanks Moof..m
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:06 am
Sarah, thank you my dear … I needed that reminder. I’ll need it again fairly often before spring … *blink*
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Wolfbaby – kind as always, thank you my dear.
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TJ … ohhh my … I don’t like the one with the snow in it, either. Anybody who lives south of the Mason Dixon line have an extra room for a chilly Moof? ;o)
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Ipanema … I don’t take all of the pictures. Some are mine, and others were taken by my two youngest sons – who are both wonderful photographers. Of those above, the sunset was taken by Daein, I believe, and the stream was taken by Dougie – right near here, up at our camp. I took the other 3. I love taking pictures. I have 6.07 gigs of photos on my hard drive! *LOL*
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Bee … now, that’s not fair, my dear! C’mon … share the warmth! ;o)
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Madd … *LOL* … you are definitely the poet here! And by the way, you don’t really care for hot chocolate, do you? >;o)
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:01 am
Great photos.
God bless,
Maria in the UK
http://www.inhishands.co.uk
October 23rd, 2006 at 8:08 am
I love your photo enhanced musings. I am sitting here in the foothills of the French Alps at the moment and looking out the window at the venerable town of Grenoble, where I’ll be for the next three weeks. I’ll be keeping people posted via my blog.
cheers, my friend, Ian
October 23rd, 2006 at 3:47 pm
When you are not out defending the blogosphere for us, you are waxing eloquent or hitting the books. Girl, how do you do it all. Loved your pictures and your poems. Walt Whitman sit down!
October 23rd, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Maria … thank you for dropping in to my blog and taking the time for leaving me such kind words! :o)
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Ian … the French Alps!!! And you didn’t bring me!? *blink!*
Lucky you! I hope to have some time to do more of my blogrun tonight. I’m going to have to come visit you to see if you’ve written about your trip yet. Thanks my dear!
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Traveling Doc … my goodness! My face is red! *LOL* Thank you very much for being so sweet! Walt Whitman! w00t! :o)
October 24th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Oh Moof I love looking at your pictures since you added that plug-in for your pictures…These pictures are especially beautiful…I also hate to see fall end and winter get here. I’am a spring and fall type person.
October 26th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
those pictures are so beautiful moof! thank you for sharing your part of the world.
October 27th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Hey Moof!!!!! I’m back!!!! My computer is up and running!!!!!!
October 27th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Your words are as beautiful as the pictures, Moof.
October 27th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Lovely….
MJ
October 28th, 2006 at 2:25 am
Salut Moof: If you do not intend to submit to this weeks Grand Rounds, I am drafting this one. Sorry, you have no choice in the matter . . .
October 28th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Stopping in to wish you a happy weekend.
October 28th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
I love your eloquent thoughts and beautiful pictures. I am glad that I am not the only one that waxes all poetic at this time of year. Stay warm and have a great weekend!
October 30th, 2006 at 2:45 am
Cathy … I’m a late spring and summer person. I have an intense dislike for being cold. If I could winter in the south, I would do so in a heartbeat!
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Kt … thank you! Even in the bleakness of the last few weeks, there’s been a sort of austere beauty, as if the morning mist rising from the lake has been trying to hide the naked trees in shame. It’s beautiful – but it’s not a friendly beauty …
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Peggikay! Welcome back! I’ll be over to see you as soon as I’m fully home and a bit unpacked …
Still going back and forth between home and camp, trying to clean and winterize the camp, and finish moving.
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Lakshmi … you’re always too kind! Thank you!
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Thank you Mother Jones! :o)
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Dr. Hebert … you already got my rather confusing email replies to your kind invitation …
I saw that comment at about 3:30 AM, and misread it the first time. Even when I wrote you a second time, I wasn’t sure I was reading it right. Next time … I’ll go to bed, and try to answer you in the morning instead … *blush*
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Deb … thank you. You comment did, indeed, increase my “happiness quotient” considerably. I appreciated the thoughtfulness, more than you know.
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Dr. Whoo … not sure I’ll be staying warm, but I appreciate the wish nonetheless! Have you been waxing poetic on your blog? I’m going to have to come take a look as soon as I can! :o)