Wednesday, November 6, 2013

RAIN & LEAVES

I've just edited and sent off a column which I wrote this morning—a piece on November. I know I'm in the minority here, but I love November, counting it among my favorite months. And no, I don't expect my column will sway many hearts. 

Between the writing and the sending I made a brief trip, driving a few miles to the village where Myladylove works. She's shorthanded on employees today and couldn't get out for lunch, so I took her a sandwich and soft drink which I purchased along the way. After that I stopped at the grocery for a few things before returning home.

The photo above was taken just up the road—snapped between wiper swipes through the truck's windshield via my iPhone. As you can see, it's raining here—a damp, dim day, but at 60˚F, quite mild for the season. Some color remains; a fair bit of green, too, though a lot of that is, alas, honeysuckle. Moreover, what you see is about as good as it ever got this year—golds and yellows and rusty-browns, a few oranges, and even fewer reds. Not as spectacular as usual, but still pretty. 

My yard is awash in sycamore leaves, some the size of dinner plates. A few are still clinging to the trees. I'll probably wait to start raking.
   

18 comments:

The Solitary Walker said...

A bit of synchronicity in our respective posts here, Grizz!

KGMom said...

I'm with you, although I love October a bit more than November.
But November is that time of year where season turns from autumn gold to early winter--lovely times.
And it also had Thanksgiving--to my mind one of the best holidays. No purpose other than family and friends, fellowship, food and fun.

Grizz………… said...

Solitary…

There is indeed, and I expect drawn from remarkably similar wells…though being the poet, your post was caught in mere flicks and bits, and those lovely turns of phrase. Really nice.

BTW, (per your previous post) I'd happily share my best bread recipe if—IF!—it was anything like foolproof. Alas, it is as capricious as November's weather. I've come to suspect those rare master home baker's who turn out consistently perfect bread are covert sorcerers. On the other hand, even mediocre bread, warm from the oven, slathered with butter, and daubed with homemade jam, is still sublime.

Grizz………… said...

KGMom…

You know, if I had to choose between October and November, I'd pick the latter, which must sound awful coming from a photographer.

But I love the ragged, tattered mess of things, the heaps of leaves scattered upon the ground, and the spare, pared-down look of the trees. I adore the slanting, muted light, often infused with the silky shimmer of a river pearl.

It is not, however, winter—not even early winter, but autumn…that other overlooked and forgotten autumn when the wind again finds it elemental voice, and geese cleave brooding skies.

November speaks to me, reaches inside and stirs me in a way no other month manages. I find myself looking inward come November, reflecting, and realizing anew how truly thankful I am to be so richly blessed in so many ways. I just can't wait for the end of the month to celebrate.

The Solitary Walker said...

BTW, I've changed the prose piece now into a poem. I think it's improved it. Hope you agree!

Grizz………… said...

Solitary…

I fully agree! You've found the piece's natural form, set it free and given it life. Nice job! And still synchronous.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Some colour remains Grizz??? The lining of that road is exquisite.

Debbie said...

We may not have as many leaves on the trees, but the color is fabulous. It all looks very well when you consider the drought we had all summer. I'm putting off the task of raking too. Might as well wait till they're all of. Nice road. Mine has too many houses on it.
Deb

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

You're right, of course…the roadside color is exquisite. But not as exquisite as last year; not to the typical degree of exquisiteness we expect or at least hope to see. A relative observation, rather than any lack of appreciation. Like chocolate mint ice cream…always delicious, just sometimes a tad less delicious than the serving before.

Grizz………… said...

Debbie…

We had plenty of leaves, but many—like those on the walnuts—came down early, unchanged from their late-summer attire. Most of the showy reds stayed missing. We had golds and yellows and bronzes, a few amethysts and oranges, but an awful lot of tans and browns. Pretty, for sure—but not heart-stopping, knock-your-socks-off spectacular.

Re. the road…the river's on the right down a steep, 50-foot bank, and a rather large park/nature area is on the left—so no houses. The fewer houses anywhere the better, in my book. Neighbors at a distance; towns farther. (Until I have to run to the store for a sack of meal to make cornbread—then I want to be able to get back home before all the green beans and fried chicken gets scarfed up, along with the pan gravy and mashed potatoes.)

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ November IS and has been my favorite month for years. I so enjoy the leaves falling and the branches standing naked and the colder temperatures and windy days with gray skies abounding. I am in my glory. We too had a rainy day and now the colder temps are taking hold. Love it! Nice of you to bring lunch to your Lady Love, nice indeed. :-)
I am getting excited for our first Thanksgiving here. As this feels more and more like home every day. Also, we will begin decorating for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving which I am so excited about as well. The Christmas season wil make our cozy home here so real, so ours, so traditional and as we have termed it, "ACT THREE" commencs. Yes, ACT THREE, quite a different stage set for ACT THREE, simpler, and the most important feature? Time, time to love and be loved. Amen
Happy November to you and yours and I am so happy that albeit via this forum I am glad to have you,to know you, to call you friend, love you as I am able in ACT THREE!

Love Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Ah, ha! I'd forgotten that November is your number one favorite month. If I had to pick, I might say late-April/early-May…two weeks of each. But I just might instead opt for November myself—and for pretty much the same reasons as you've given. Plus I love Thanksgiving and the fact that it leads us to Christmas.

I bet you'll have a dandy Thanksgiving and Christmas in your new place…and it's wonderful how you've embraced the joy of your change.

Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Independence Day. Those are the only real holidays that feel like full holidays in every sense of the word to me. I observe Memorial Day by driving to various cemeteries and decorating all the graves of family and friends I can. I take Myladylove out for dinner (or nowadays fix it myself, given the zoo that trying to go out that evening has become) and buy her a card and some chocolate on Valentine's Day. And Myladylove and I always have a quiet, just the two of us dinner traditional dinner late, at home, on New Year's Eve…and maybe family over for a bigger feed on New Year's Day, if they're in town. We try and do birthdays, though sometimes, to share it with family, we have to celebrate on whatever night or day everyone's free.

The rest of the "holidays" are, to me, just days when the mail doesn't run, banks are closed, and most folks are off from work. Hallowe'en has been co-opted by adults looking for an excuse to dress trashy and party til they puke…like a nasty underbelly version of St. Patrick's Day without any saving benefit of good Celtic music and lamb, stew, corned-beef, or soda bread. I liked handing out treats to little kids in their cute costumes on Beggar's Night, and carving a jack-o-lantern or two beforehand, to light with a candle and place on the walk.

BTW, I'm really glad for our friendship, too. You have no idea how often I think about all you've dealt with these past few years, whereupon I promptly given myself a kick in the butt for losing perspective—before drawing inspiration and courage from the way you've dealt with whatever issues life has tossed your way. Trust me, you are truly a very dear friend.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - I hear ya about the "real" holidays. When I was working those other days were a chance to have a day off w/pay!
It is cold and windy here today and the leaves are swirling about. Our first Wintry mix is expected on Tuesday. I am excited about that.
Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday, she would have been 90! And it is also the 11th year anniversary of my sister's son Clayton's passing. An untimely death that changed the fabric of our family forever. We are headed out to buy a bouquet w/sunflowers - Clayton's favorite flower and a tradition I have been honoring ever since he died. I put a song on facebook for Clayton and for my Mom, if you get second take a listen.
Thanks for all you do Jim to remind me about nature and simple pleasures. And I was humbled to know that any part of my journey has inspired and encouraged you. Wow!
Love Gail
peace......

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Same wintry mix for us on Tuesday. Today, however, was lots of sun though a bit on the cold side. The fire in the woodstove feels great.

Hey, I had a listen…though at first I thought you meant the Maurice Chevalier oldie instead of the Eels piece. Silly mistake, huh!

Gail said...

H GRIZZ
silly is good :-) and ya, the Maurice Chavalier song was for my Mom, her name being "Louise" :-), the Eels song for Clayton. Yup! It's all good.
Love to you
Gail
peace.....

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

My mother's first name was also Louise…or possibly Louisa; there was much discussion re. this point.

(FYI I answered you back early this morning, via my phone, but it didn't post. Just got back in.)

Afromto said...

thanks for the fall country road pic-I didn't get out much this fall missed some good painting days.|We have our 1st blast of winter here and boy I hate abs brakes in the snow going downhill.

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO...

In spite of the road pix, it was a poor color year here this time. I didn't shoot much.

Hey, I hate ABS in many situations, especially involving ice or snow.