Saturday, October 20, 2012

One October Day

Early morning mist.
It was a gem of a day. It started with fog so thick I could not see my neighbor's house. The sun burned it off by nine, shedding gold across the yard and making the air mild as milk. There are no song birds left - the mornings belong now to the crows and the jays and the raucous geese. The pond is awash with hundreds of Canada geese discussing their winter plans. They splash down, eat and groom, gabble together and lift off again, trailing water like discarded diamonds.

Hundreds of geese gather on the pond each fall.
There are three mute swans on the water this year, a cob, his mate and their single offspring, still covered in its youthful gray feathers. They float among the geese, their graceful necks and gleaming backs a contrast to the dark, chunky bodies all around them. The pond this morning seemed a water color in progress with the leaves tinted red and yellow, vermillion and orange. Geese rose and fell, flying into and out of my camera frame, their wild clamour beating against my ears as their wings beat against the wind.

The mated mutes and their still-gray offspring.
I spent some time tidying the garden beds and then sat on the outdoor swing watching the breeze-borne leaves play catch across the lawn. The laundry snapped and danced on the line. I brought a book, but the caress of the sun on my cheek, a sudden swirl of wind-cast leaves, the strident call of a jay, all kept pulling my eyes from the page. Finally I gave in and just sat, drinking in the golden light, soaking myself in warmth and beauty until I was sated and sleepy. Somewhere I read that heaven is what we make it. I'd make it a day like today.

Water color in progress.



13 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles...sounds like a beautiful day...a little bit of heaven....lovely pic of the swans....

no fog today but it has been thick this week...

June said...

I have a friend visiting and we spent yesterday afternoon doing just what you did. We sat on the patio, with the hilltop wind swirling around us, growing drowsy and dazzly from the sun and the views.
It was so comforting!

Tabor said...

These lovely days are so common to many of us who send time outside. Nicely described!

Judith said...

Air as mild as milk, geese trailing water like discarded diamonds, oh gorgeous! Simply gorgeous. You take us with you and open our eyes to the wonders that are so visible to you ---
For which, many thanks.

Pauline said...

Brian - it was one of those days that seem perfect

June - comforting - yes!

Thanks Tabor - Being out of doors is my favorite past-time, even when there isn't much to do but sit and appreciate

J - thanks. you do pretty well at that yourself with photos and words

Friko said...

I did something similar, except I don’t have a pond to look at. I do have a placid river though. At the moment it keeps well within its banks and the ducks paddling on it turn and turn about in circles. Even some of the leaves sit on its surface like little golden boats.

I read your previous post too. Yes, deep breath, there is nothing which can give as much pleasure as a life well lived, eyes to see and ears to listen. Riches? we have them, if only we will take them to our hearts.

Pauline said...

Friko - some day we must really walk together and talk! If I ever make it across the pond (I have friends in the Midlands) I shall look you up!

Brian Hayes said...

California's autumn is so different. There's four cows in an acreage across the street that stand at their fence and moo as I open my front door. Why? A couple weeks ago, I poured a crate of ground apples over the fence. For any peace and quiet, now I'm doing it almost every day! As rains begin to appear, I'm hoping new shoots of green grass will help them forget boxes of apples.

Hilary said...

What a lovely day. You describe it so beautifully.

Murr Brewster said...

I love that you said "shedding." I have a great love for the perfect verb. Happy autumn. I'm greatly enjoying our rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, showers, and rain.

molly said...

You make me miss the northern Autumn, though I then remind myself it's followed by a northern Winter----which you can keep! Your images are like paint----I can see it all perfectly. Hope you have several more such perfect days before that northern winter sets in!

Pauline said...

Brian H - feed a cow once... lol

Thanks for coming by, Hilary :)

Murr, my son who lives in Oregon says it rained all summer. It's STILL raining? Send some east, would you?

Molly - I don't mind the winters. I'm hoping for some snow to make this one seem like a real winter, though.

Jean said...

Quelles belles photos !
Tout en poésie !