A Beautiful Life

This time of year I continually find what I call filigree leaves. 

They fall from our birches, and are the work of caterpillars munching away high in the branches. I think they are beautiful. 

I love the idea of a creature creating something so lovely just by living out its days. 

If we could all be so lucky. 

A Mountain of Cloud

Sometimes, having rain overnight produces the most interesting sunrises.  Not every beautiful sunrise is bright and fiery.  I often find the most beauty in the cool blues and purples and creams.

 

 

Dramatics

What's the difference between the feeling of making a monumental mistake and just being unsure?

How do you know if the fog of uncertainty is clouding your point of view, or if that feeling in the pit of your stomach isn't just doubt, but a premonition of bad times to come?

How can you reconcile the changes you are facing with your happy existing life?

 

When the rug is being swept out from underneath you, how do you find your new normal?

The sun comes up and we start again.

The pictures today were all taken during a dramatic sunrise this morning.  The clouds were on fire.

From the Weather Book

September 4
- cool, rain

September 6
- warm, sunny

September 8
- RAIN, and plenty of it
- thunder

September 9
- dry, cool, sunny

September 10
- cool, breezy, sunny

"Then Labor Day came and went...

...and we shed what was left of our summer skin."

Fall isn't here yet, but it's in the air. 

It's in the quiet, calm waters of Maple Lake.  It's in the wood smoke in the air in the evening.  It's in the absolute absence of any other human made noise, and of course it's in the first turned leaves.

Autumn doesn't officially arrive until September 22nd, but I'm still welcoming these early signs with wide open arms.

Title lyrics from "Summer Skin" - Death Cab for Cutie

From the Weather Book

August 19
- cool morning

August 25
- sunny, nice

August 26
- hot, humid

August 27
- RAIN

August 28
- sparkling blue, splendid day

August 29
- sunny, warm, gorgeous

August 31
- rain and fog in the morning
- hot, humid and sunny in the afternoon

Rain

It's a wet day today. 

I'm enjoying it because we have had so few wet days this summer. 

I'll be interested in seeing what kind of fall we have - if it's drier than normal, or wet, or what.  Maple lake is so low right now, and the deep aquifers and ground water is depleted. Trees, in particular maple trees, are orange-brown and the ground is littered with leaves.  It looks like late fall on some stretches of road on higher ground.

The tamarack tree in our front yard has already dropped its needles.

We need a rainy fall an a snowy winter.

Quiet

Good morning.

I know I haven't been writing much lately, and I don't really know why.  Sometimes, even in my non-blog life, I feel like hibernating, being quiet.  I don't have much to say, I guess.

Summer is winding down, and while on one hand I'm glad for it - I love the fall, on the other I'm a bit sad.  The school year is starting once again, and once again I will not be in front of a classroom.  Last year was because I was on maternity leave; this year because there are just no jobs out there.  I moved during my leave, so if I want to teach again, I will need to get a job in my new board - the old one is too far a commute.

I miss my school and I miss our old home during these times.  I miss my classroom and I miss my colleagues.  In this respect, I feel useless and unwanted.  Life is moving on without me.

All these thoughts are keeping me quiet right now.  I know I need to not dwell in the past and embrace my present, because my present holds so many wonderful things. 

But it's hard.

Taste of Fall

What a strange, dry summer it's been. I've been feeling fall for weeks. It's the dry air, I think.  The sky looks like fall, the leaves sound like fall, the morning and nights are cool.

I love it.

I imagine we have another heat wave on the way - summer's last hurrah - but for now, I am loving the weather.  And lamenting the fact that we haven't a working fireplace on the upper level.  I long for cool nights, a crackling fire and hot chocolate.

Soon.

Garden Update - Artichokes and Corn

We have corn!  My mom is here for the weekend, and she pointed out that some corn is ready to pick.  Can't wait to try it!

From the Weather Book

August 4
 - HOT and HUMID

August 5
- Hot

August 8 - 10
- Very much needed rain, clouds, cool

August 11
- Wild thunderstorm

August 12
- Warm, humid, overcast

August 14
- Cool, rainy
- Lee visits

August 15
- 9C in morning
- Breezy, sunny/cloudy

Garden Update

Onions and baby carrots (from thinning)

Artichoke

Baby melon