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crinkling and peeling, autumn

specks of vine maple

autumn:    a period of maturity verging on decline
(the free dictionary.com)

It arrived this week.


Yep, fall officially debuted on my calendar, with its cooler nights and warm days, bushes screaming for attention while the leaves are in the throes of death, to quote my husband.

I love autumn; crunching leaves with my feet like a little kid and eating bowls of soup that have been ignored while the weather was scorching.  I like to slip a fuzzy scarf on with my t-shirt, since the temps are in between…and did I mention the leaves?  Yeah, I kinda did.  Big, small, gold, burnt umber, okra and coffee colors; some crinkling and others still pliable, at least for now.

crinkling

Walking in my neighborhood is like a kaleidoscope, ever changing as you turn the lens.  The same occurred on a long - over 200 mile - drive about last weekend.  Every corner of the long and winding road (sounds like a Beatles song) tossed colors refracting in the pale light of the day.  What is my strange fascination with the withering, a distinct beauty in what was and soon will no longer exist?

underneath the surface
woodland chimes tinkle in the wind, softly glowing in the sun sitting low on the horizon
candlelight colored, broken edged leaves hang from twig chains dripping from chalky pillars rooted in black, rich earth
overlaid spider-veined, peeling bark shyly reveals hidden dark inner birch

Do I see decay or exquisiteness?

  Missy


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  1. Wildlife Art by SylSeptember 25, 2015 at 4:15 PM

    Fall is my favorite time of year..maybe you inherited it...haha Love Mom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Missy ASeptember 25, 2015 at 4:32 PM

      Maybe...are all of your aspen trees turning brilliant yellow? I love the sound they make when the wind blows, which it does a lot here in Central Oregon. I'd forgotten about that.

      Delete
  2. sewsavySeptember 26, 2015 at 6:16 AM

    Oddly, autumn is my favorite time of the year. Does anyone really love summer? The leaves come down to warm the roots of the trees for the winter like a blanket. I don't rake till spring. I too love the crinkly, crunchy sounds of the leaves and the wind blowing. I am so ready to be indoors each day and cozy up. ;) Hope you are doing well in your new location.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Missy ASeptember 26, 2015 at 9:06 AM

      We are doing really well. I do love summer and being outside, but fall is my very favorite. In fact we are out enjoying it some more this weekend - the Fruit Loop - near Hood River. Have you done that little day trip?

      Delete

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