Saturday, November 2, 2013

Season of Thanks


We are having our first storm of the season. 

These are the days when we really get used to the idea that winter is on its way in earnest. 


This is when we break down and put on the warm sweaters and boots and keep the umbrella by the door. 


There is a golden melancholy to these diminished hours, the leaves falling all around us, reminders that the serious business of nature's cycles carries us along on its endings as well as its beginnings. 


But there is a marvelous symmetry in the gracefulness of time as it moves forward, giving us these precious few weeks of gilded light before we are plunged into the cold and darkness of winter. 


Here along the edges of wilderness, the sky falls down to meet the landscape, with misty clouds obscuring hillsides and tree tops, changing by the moment and limiting our view. 


Now we are no longer seeing the big picture, but rather a more focused vision as our world moves with nature to find cozier places away from the cold. 


We are suspended in time, as this year's experiences start to fade away, ready to be transformed and recycled to feed next year's renewal. 



Walking along on a beautiful fall day, kicking the leaves and marveling at the diversity of colors, forms, and shapes reminds us that nature is indiscriminate in its encompassing embrace, with wisdom gathered over eons of time and space. 




Ever evolving and adapting to the swirling winds of change. 

As nature's children, we have learned this rule as a key to survival. 

Even in this modern age, we must adapt and change as we move forward. 




So as we prepare to close out this year, let's give thanks for this remarkable ability to weather whatever life may lay at our feet. 



Gathering the leaves of time, treasuring the most beautiful memories for safekeeping and sweeping the rest away to be transformed into composted food for thought. 


For next year's delightful gardens of enlightenment.  

xoxo


When true friends meet in adverse hour,

'Tis like a sunbeam through a shower.

A watery way an instant seen,

The darkly closing clouds between.

- Sir Walter Scott -

32 comments:

  1. just AMAZING beauty!!! so many gorgeous shots. the soft gray layers. the brilliant mountain aflame in color. the cloud hanging low over the mountaintop. *sigh*

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  2. These are so beautiful! I love, love the sun lighting up the golden leaves and the clouds on the mountain!

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  3. Dearest Karen,
    The best view, besides the mountaintop with its ever changing sight, is the thick carpet of yellow maple leaves on the ground! Perfect compost for spring's new fresh start and a great insulation too.
    Hugs and happy weekend.
    Mariette

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  4. Beautiful photos and great thoughts. We had a small thunderstorm early afternoon, it's windy now with rain showers. Not at stormy as we had the first weekend of fall. That was a bit worse. Cooling down a bit here, but kitchen is warm with dehydrator drying apples and cooking applesauce on the stove. Oh so delicious! Stay warm!

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  5. So beautiful this time of year - and the clouds over Mt. Ranier - stunning. You are lucky that you live right there and can catch the glimpses of the mountain when it peeks through - we have to drive to see Mt. Baker, and it isn't always out when we are on our drives. Great photos.

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  6. What a beautiful post, Karen! One of the things I like best about living in the country is being more in tune with the seasons. I really like the changes that come with each one.
    Have a great Sunday!

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  7. I'm not sure if I have ever told you this before...but you are an amazing writer! Your words are so strong and fit so well with the movement that exists in our lives. These photos Karen are amazing! The 5th photo is gorgeous! I am thinking that you need to frame some of these!! A very happy weekend to you!

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  8. Your photos are stunning in their beauty but your way with words is entrancing to read.
    A beautiful post Karen!
    Those golden leaves are like a blanket of sunshine!

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  9. This is a gorgeous post in both photos and prose. It is exciting to see a bit of snow in some of your photos and the fall color is stunning! I think you are getting the brunt of the storm ~we are just getting a few heavy rain showers every so often. Hope you are having a good weekend!

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  10. You live in a truly beautiful part of the world.
    Merle...........

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  11. Hello Karen.
    Incredibly beautiful picture series you show. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures with us. Wishing you and your loved ones a good Sunday :) Hugs Hanne Bente ♥

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  12. Hello Karen, I'm shocked by your images, they are really amazing! that's the advantage of living out of the city. Nature is always amazing.

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  13. As others have said, your photos are stunningly beautiful. Thanks also for your interesting reflections, and the Walter Scott verse. I take comfort from the fact that Nature, like me, needs to have a rest-time!

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  14. Oh Mrs. Karen, I just want to live where do you live :) so peaceful and beautiful.
    anyway, there was storm here other day here...
    Praying for you :)
    Delvalina

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  15. Fantastic landscapes. You can just feel the winter seeping in through some of your images.

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  16. Beautiful post Karen, Your amazing photos are a delight to see...you have captured the season perfectly...A lovely peaceful post.... Hugs May x x x

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  17. Amazing selection of photos of the season.You are such a great photographer Karen but of course you take advantage of the generosity of this rich nature which surrounds you. Your wise words are sweet and poetic.I fully enjoyed your post.
    Happy new week!
    Olympia

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  18. Dear Karen,

    I wanted to thank you for your sweet comments on my blog. They helped to ease the pain a little.

    The mists between the mountains, the fall colours...it al looks beautiful! It's getting colder in The Netherlands as well. We had our first hail storms today.

    Happy week!

    Madelief x

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  19. Maybe you'll find my comments a little boring, but I find this series very beautiful. As always... :-)

    Best regards from the Netherlands,
    dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com

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  20. Beautiful are your photos, Karen!
    Greetings, RW & SK

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  21. You really have some beautiful scenery in your area.

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  22. Wow Karen, you live in a fairy tale place :) Your photos reveal such magnificent beauty! It is always a joy to visit you, dear friend. Have a lovely week. Hugs!

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  23. Such gorgeous photos! I love all those beautiful golden leaves fallen to the ground. And the photo of the sweater just looks so cozy :)

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  24. Beautiful prose and pictures, Karen! I'm headed to the Pacific NW tomorrow for a ten day visit and I'm looking forward to seeing the beauty of the PNW once again. Hope all is well.

    Blessings,
    Dianne

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  25. Breathtaking photography Karen and the words so beautiful too! Your living environment is something to aspire to, everything so perfect especially during my favourite season! Thank you for your gorgeous comments on my blog too Karen, I'd love to reply to you but you are a no reply blogger, so I'll say thank you sweet friend xx

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  26. Photos magnificent Karen, I love winter! Here we are in the summer, this time very hot and stuffy, I do not like it, I like winter ...
    Schedules, readings, films, rssssss dating. I love seeing the mountains and how they sinlizam arrival time. A big kiss and a nice week my friend.

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  27. Hi Karen,
    It's so nice to meet you! My hubby and I were high school sweethearts and we also had four children. My beloved sadly passed away this past August after battling prostate cancer.
    Your photos are so gorgeous and thank you for their beauty.

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  28. So beautiful, your pictures are breathtaking! Today was cold and I have to admit this is my favorite time of year :)

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  29. It's easy to become settled in one's life and begin to take the beauty surrounding us for granted, but you, my dear always bring us your beauty to enjoy, sharing both your beautiful images and your prose...such a pleasure to visit with you!!

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  30. One of my very favorite things about blogging is seeing the beauty of the places other bloggers live. You have certainly shared the beauty of where you live in this post. Absolutely splendid

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  31. Even with winter settling in, you are so blessed to be surrounded with beauty like this every day. Amazing! Thanks for sharing Karen.

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  32. Your post and your photos have really touched my heart Karen! This late fall is such a reminder of so many things to me. Thank you for commenting on my post yesterday, and it is so true how some of the things in our own lives have so formed us in to who we are... the good, the bad, and the ugly. Difiiculties in our own lives refine us, and turn us in to gold.

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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