Foto Friday: Arrival of cold weather

I was going to our local library at about 2:00 pm when I saw these ice crystals hanging down in this tree.  Most days they should have melted already. Ahh, the visible arrival of cold weather.

September

When the first day of September came, so too did the cold.  Eerily close did the change in temperature match the date on the calendar.  Most of our mornings have been below freezing, and one day this week marked the first fire I lit in our stove to warm up our house.

Willows and trees are changing their colors, and the rivers are running low.  The geese began flying by in August, and now we hear only an occasional mountain blue jay and the black birds that will hang around until the very last minute.

Part of my mind became used to my "summer" clothes.  Now I am wearing my warm socks and am back to wearing a sweater throughout the day, at least keeping one close for when the chill on the breeze swings by.

For many the season of Autumn, because it is already here for us, is the season which tells us the year is about to be over.  Visible changes are occurring and will soon be covered in white. For me it is really the beginning of my new year, since by birth date is in September, and yet it is even hard for me to think of beginnings instead of ends as I see the colorful leaves fall.

And so I think about how learning and changing are continual, not matter the season.  No matter if we are at the beginning of a year or nearing the end....

Foto Friday: American Lakes Hike

Just over a month ago my sister and I had two days together where we could hike with no restraints, other than what our bodies could handle and what the weather would allow.  We visited trails that we had hiked on several other occasions, seeming to be seeing old friends from the past.  However at younger ages then and, for me, in a bit better shape.  But we totaled 20 miles that weekend.  Our final trip up to American Lakes in Colorado which is pictured here.

Several lessons were learned over that time we spent on the open trail.  One being how alive I felt as we moved through forests and past wildflowers, standing above timberline looking across valleys towards mountains that were massive and overwhelming and yet more majestic than I have words to describe. 

Life will always become too busy, too occupied.

I was reminded to be alive while I'm here.  That's what I think of when I see this photo.

Full Moon

Last night was a full moon.  The light illuminated all of the night and, like the moon, my mind was full of thoughts. 

The thoughts moving across my mind went back and forth over the busy summer that has been passing all to quickly, the upcoming events in August, always having been the final month and last hoorah before back to school, on and on until I wished I could just fall asleep.

I had heard of others not sleeping on a full moon, and now I know it's true.  Will I forevermore be sensitive to its timing?

I wondered, as I looked out across the prairie grass glowing under the moon, how distant we humans have become from nature.  Even I, one who tries to pay attention to all of the beauty surrounding me can be quickly distracted by my cell phone beeping to tell me I have a new e-mail, text message, or voice mail.  All of my attention becomes diverted, often unnecessarily.

It's quiet I want to get back to, focus on.

Perhaps it's a good thing to be kept awake at night by the full moon.

Pronghorn in the pasture

I have been waiting to see the baby Pronghorn that come to our pasture to graze, wondering when they will come by for a visit as they have done each year we have lived here.  Finally the other morning I saw four down along our irrigation ditch playing in the grass and sage.  Two sets of twins.  I thought I would sneak out, take a quick photo of them.

As I crept up, still at least 200 yards away from them, I heard one of the does call out.  I had missed seeing their mothers as they had been lying just under the hill where I stood.  They both sprang up, ran to their young, and scurried them off away from me.

Even though I missed taking a photo of them, the scene reminded me of something quite similar to my own life- spending time with my sister or a friend as we talk and watch our kids play.  It does make me wonder what those two does might have been "talking" about before I snuck up on them.  Maybe they were simply relaxing and enjoying the company of a companion, no words needed between them. Perhaps they were content with only the warmth of the sun and to have returned to a safe place for their young to grow and play.