Thanks to John Updike

This poem spoke to me today about how moving into winter does represent a certain sense of loss. He also referred to the beauty of the bones of the garden. Yes, the year is old, but yet we have a reason to say thanks.

November

by John Updike

The striped and shapely
Maple grieves
The loss of her
Departed leaves

The ground is hard
As hard as stone.
The year is old.
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
Nevertheless,
Displays a certain loveliness--


The beauty of
The bone. Tall God
Must see our souls
This way, and nod.

Give thanks: we do,
Each in his place
Around the table
During grace.

Moving Into Winter

Our seasons have a natural rhythm that is determined more by temperature, length of days, and precipitation than the dates on a traditional calendar. When the days grow shorter I feel like winter is quickly approaching.

Moving into winter means not seeing the gardens during the week. It is dark when I leave and dark when I arrive home. Even if many plants are done blooming and the trees have lost their leaves, I like the stark beauty of the bones of the garden. It gives me something to look forward to on the week-ends. There are always images to capture on a cold winter day.

Moving into winter also means beginning a natural hibernation. I wrap up in warm blankets as the day moves into night. I take more naps.  Winter is the time to rest the gardens and rest the body and soul. We need winter like other animals for our own hibernation. We need our own sabbath.

Moving into winter also means sipping hot soups, craving comfort food like meatloaf and macaroni and cheese, and enjoying a warm drink at the day's end. Winter is pumpkins, squash, and apples saved from the tree mixed up into a homey crisp while sitting by the fire.

Moving into winter means tackling that pile of books that have been waiting to be read. It is time to find those writing inspirations in a journal lost during the fall, time to organize photos, and get things in order. Winter is wool socks, warm sweaters, flannel pajamas. Winter is cats each finding a spot to curl up and sleep and the dogs quietly snore in front of a fire.

Each season draws me in for different reasons. This year as winter is approaching, I am reminded to slow down, rest, reflect, revive myself, and be warm. 

Leaves and More Leaves

After our short visit with snow the leaves reemerged with their mix of autumn colors. I even discovered a rose still blooming. We may move leaves off the sidewalk, but we have started letting the rest work into the ground all winter and I think that has helped our soil.

No matter which plant or tree a leaf comes from, it always holds unique beauty. This one is from a oak leaf hydrangea.

The flowering crab apple tree has a distinctive orange color the her leaves.

The front walk is a mix of many trees created a mosaic of colors.

One single leaf from the cherry tree ((I think!). Today I am thankful for the beauty of autumn once again.

Kindness

I love poetry and often return to those poems that have stayed with me for a long time. "Kindness' is one of those poems. I had a very upsetting experience today, but when I returned to this poem it helped me make sense of my situation.

Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

~ Naomi Shihab Nye ~

(Words From Under the Words: Selected Poems)

Beauty of North Central Washington

 I think where I live is one of the most beautiful corners of the state. We just returned from the Methow Valley in north central Washington state. It has it's own beauty. Higher mountains, stark landscapes, river, and lovely trees. Above is a view in early morning on the highway. 

Here is a view toward the Okanagan Highlands.

The bare trees bunch together in the morning light.

Here is a view looking toward the Cascade Mountains. 

It is a beautiful part of the state and well worth a visit.

Simplicity of Nature

Even though the walk took me a longer time this morning, I decided to really concentrate on the small things of beauty as I walked with my husband and dogs on a river trail near where we were spending the week-end.I am sure I could have found even more simple images of nature if we had walked further. Enjoy.