Fading Away

It is a gray, rainy day, and these leaves photographed last week are now glistening wet. I purposefully did not rake them up because I think they are still so beautiful even as their brilliant colors slowly fade away.

The last days of the 2009 school year are also fading away this week with end of the year parties, holiday school programs, semester tests, and baking teacher gifts (oatmeal bread to go with the blueberry jam we made this summer). In my sons' Montessori class today, we will celebrate his seven years of going around the sun as "six-years-old" fades away, too.

Taking the time to notice the changes in these leaves on my front walkway and outdoor chairs helps my worries fade away-- at least for a while. Today, all of the leaves have fallen from the tree, and the branches are decorated with raindrops and stray pine needles caught where once there were star-shaped leaves.

Mid-Afternoon

a carpet of melting red and sun

one chair is covered in leaves

the lone leaf from the early morning was joined by a few others

leaves left like ornaments

Mid-Morning

One of the first objects of my photographic play has been this tree. Saturday's snow dusted its red leaves for some nice color contrast. I checked on the way the light affected the colors and melted the snow throughout the day. These shots were taken just before and after the first rays of sunshine started filtering through the tall pine trees on the east boundary of the yard.

As the sun rays hit the tree with full strength, the snow and leaves started dropping to the ground-- a few plops every second. Later, it almost looked like it was snowing again. Instead of a red tree, I found a red carpet. The next post will reveal some afternoon photos.

Back at Home

Thank goodness for my maple tree. It is my only decoration as November turns to December, and like clockwork, it turns brilliant red every year during this next week. It greeted us on our return from Arkansas a little less orange and a little more red.

Every other house in the neighborhood may have their lights strung and inside trees decorated, but we wait a few more weeks into Advent. I love Thanksgiving so much, it is hard for me to switch gears towards Christmas. The trees around us in this southern part of Mississippi still wear their autumn dresses. I'm not quite ready for red and green until I see the leaves of my maple painting the brick sidewalk and green grass in front of my house. This eases me into December towards Christmas. For now, I'm still at home and content to see a few more autumn leaves fall slowly and silently to the ground.

November Colors : 3

A new knitting project (to keep me warm when typing at the computer is cold work) and to take to a conference. . .

and

an observation about my Japanese maple: the leaves that reach through to receive more sunlight are turning from green to orange/red much faster than the leaves that stay in the shade closer to the house. I was thinking about this because my friend took a photo of a brilliantly red Japanese maple this morning, but mine doesn't usually turn red until the beginning of December.

I've been blogging for just over a year now, and I'm still looking at this tree (and others) and knitting.

Needing Nature

The wind and rain from the cold front blew down a few small branches from the live oak in the front yard. They were covered in interesting lichens (something I know nothing about). I'm wondering how many kinds there are and how different they look. These three types vary greatly in color, shape, and size. Perhaps a topic for some future research. . .

For now, I'm content to look at them, marvel, and allow them to give me the "nature" that I need after another busy week.

P.S. I heard this story about the sexton beetle on NPR this morning, and I can't stop thinking about it.

Tree

Light of June

shining through
leaves of green
with persimmon
and cherry.
My friend
in
summer.

Among the Trees

When I am Among the Trees

by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

From Thirst. Poems by Mary Oliver published by Beacon Press, Boston, 2006.

This is one of my favorite poems-- ever. I have a lot of favorite poems by Mary Oliver. Her words and images resonate with my experiences and crystallize them in beautiful, prayerful ways. I love poetry as much as I love trees and leaves. April is National Poetry Month, so I indulge in poetry's words a little more than usual.

Rain on Easter Afternoon

I watched the clouds all afternoon
waiting for promised thunderstorms
and rain
to nourish and bless my dear friends
standing tall
reaching high
welcoming, inviting, and transforming.

Fading to Green

Every day I say to myself, "how can I take another photo of this tree?" I mean, just how many photos of leaves and sunlight does one really need? But, every day, this tree amazes me, and I am compelled. My neighbors must think I'm crazy. One has stopped to ask me if we are selling the house and gathering photos for a listing. "No, I say. I'm just taking some photos for fun." It is fun.

The deep burgundy is beginning to fade to green-- especially from underneath the leaves when the sunlight shines through. I wonder what mixture of colors it will be next week? I'll be watching and waiting to see and share.

Walk Around the Yard : 5

These crepe myrtle leaves look like they could be fall leaves, but the leaves below (from a different crepe myrtle) reveal the true season with spring greens.

The Japanese maple could also trick you into thinking it's autumn, but the lavender azaleas in the background speak of a different season.

I miss fall. I'm not sure that I'm ready for spring and Easter. My personality is definitely fall.

I love this tree. It eases me into spring with its gradual turn from red to green. It centers me as I come and go from my home. It reaches into my heart and soul with its colors, gentle movements, quiet sounds, and cycles.

Self-Portrait Series

These photos emerged from just a few minutes of sunlight and shadows. I looked outside in the late afternoon and saw leaves on the crepe myrtles glowing in the sunlight. Then, I turned to find that the Jasmine surrounding the live oak was on fire. My shadow loomed large across the Jasmine-- almost as large as the trunk of the live oak. As I turned to look at the bark of the live oak in the sunlight, I saw silhouettes of something I love to do-- photography. I played with the shadows, and I snapped away.

Walk Around the Yard : 3

Walk Around the Yard : 1

A break from the storms. . . but I can hear thunder even now.

Looking Back and Forward

Nellie, this cat above, sleeps a lot in her old age. In general, cats sleep a lot. Nellie sleeps even more-- lately on the red wicker chair in the bay window of the kitchen. While the weather was beautiful and springy, she was found outside in the sun a little more. When I was reading outside on the deck yesterday afternoon, Nellie caught a lizard, killed it, and ate it. I saw part and heard the rest. Even though I have rescued my share of birds and other small animals/reptiles/insects from the grips of many cats in my day, this time, something in me said, "good for her."

We are in the midst of making sure everything is ready for school and work tomorrow-- lunches or lunch money, back packs, lesson plans, and after-school plans. The tax documents are in an envelope ready for mailing. The laundry is folded and put away (until the next time). School uniforms are laid out--and shoes and socks. My husband read "Harry Potter" to the children early in the afternoon because he already had work commitments to take him away from the usual bedtime reading. Things are getting back to normal.

It is hard to not want to stay in spring break mode because it was such a good week of rest and renewal. While everything on my list did not get checked off, several things did. I feel good about what we did and did not do over the past week. Homework in the afternoons was exchanged for playing and late bike rides (a certain 6-year-old learned to ride his bike during the week)! I had started sleeping past 5:30 am. Our time was easier and more spontaneous.

Everyone seemed a little moody today knowing that the future brings more busyness, stress, and homework. But, we still have Easter break ahead even though the week before Easter will be one of the busiest of the year. . . and then summer swimming soon enough after that. And, I have more photos to take, more reflections to make, more blogs to write, more lessons to plan, more yarn to knit, more cloth to sew, more books to read, more walks to take, and more bread to bake. Life goes on. The Japaneses maple returns to glory.