Thursday, October 6, 2011

GREEN-GOLD AFTERNOON

Buckeye butterfly on goldenrod. 
What a day! The temperature outside is a balmy 75˚F.  Bright afternoon sun is gleaming through the lush canopy leaves of the sycamore, hackberry, and box elder trees along the river, turning them an autumnish golden-green. Slowly but surely the new season claims the land, each day bringing a bit more color.

Yesterday, friend and fellow-father-in-law, Rich, and I spent several hours ambling around various prairies and old fields, looking for fall color scenes to photograph. It's still a bit early hereabouts, but the goldenrods and asters were lovely. Given the number of cold nights we've had recently, we were surprised at the number of insects—especially butterflies—we found still active—though as of yesterday morning, I still had a hummingbird at my dooryard feeder. 

I've spent today mostly inside, working at the desk, looking out the window and wishing I could be casting for smallmouth bass in the sparkling pools, or driving some rural backroad in search of that perfect red maple for a photo. A couple of hours from now I'll have to head into the city to attend the monthly board-of-directors meeting of the area's community health centers.

Alas, there's always something needing doing; a necessary bit of work, a task best not put off any longer, a meeting to attend—something which takes time and energy and is important, which nevertheless also gobbles up another small piece of your finite allotment of life. That isn't a complaint, merely an observation—a sort of self-reminder to pick and choose wisely when agreeing to such matters.

I well know I'm luckier than most in the amount of free time I have to spend any way I want. Honest, I don't take such a blessing lightly. But I also must admit that it's never enough…especially not in October, when the days are mild, the river gleams, country byways beckon, and sunlight shines golden-green through riverside leaves.
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6 comments:

bonifer said...

Beautiful photo and well said, Grizz! That butterfly is so colorful..you captured him perfectly.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - our nature colors are the same - the green is a rich golden emerald, as summer color hangs on giving way to spatterings of red and cranberry. The colors will not really intensify due to all the rain - still, the cooler temps are heavenly.
Enjoy your days as I Know you do - I too am blessed to be able t savor natures gifts.
Love Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Bonifer…

I'm glad you liked the photo (as well as the post) as it was my favorite of several I took that day. I just thought the different viewpoint/angle and rich gold color made for an interesting photo.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

I'm hoping to get out for a photo ramble sometime this afternoon. The color is increasing steadily but slowly—still mostly yellowish-green. Today and for the next couple of days, we're supposed to have temps in the 80s, and lots of sun. Not feeling too much like October. Don't know what the final color outcome will be.

I will indeed enjoy my days—sunny, warm, or not. I know you'll do the same. Autumn is a wonderful time of the year. Take care…

KGMom said...

October is my favorite month of all. I love the golden light--which your photo captures so well.
We spent the day visiting Hawk Mountain--and I am preparing a blog on that visit.
And, for today, happy birthday to James Whitcomb Riley.

Grizz………… said...

KGMom…

October's light is wonderful…and November's, too, in a different way. Glad you got out and about and had a great trip. Bet the color was lovely. I didn't make it out myself. Maybe tomorrow.

Yup, happy birthday to Riley!