Fall: On the Streets Where I Lived

Yesterday I did a photo tour of my hometown of Kellogg, Idaho. The leaves are just starting to turn on the tree lined streets  that I remember fondly from childhood. Heading up Depot Hill  I caught an image of the McConnell Hotel, which remains similar in appearance.  I love how the wires are still hanging high on the telephone poles.

Next I sat in the alley next to Mary Pavelich's house where we often played. I reflected back to when the low stone wall was built to the side of her house. As I looked up Maple Street I wondered how tall those trees were when I was six. They always seemed to be tall. I can see why the street was named Maple.

The first home I remember looks quite a bit different on the outside,but I could still picture my brother and I sitting on the front porch with Grandma West. I would love to see the inside.

Looking down Portland Hill the vivid red and orange leaves stood out from afar.

This tree was closer to my second home I lived at on Cameron Avenue.

A fiery orange tree by Stein's Grocery.
photos were enhanced with the Picasa 1960's image processing.

Fall: Surrounded by Leaves Again

My mom removed the trees from her front yard years ago. Her two neighbors kept theirs so today I captured images of the leaves surrounding Mom's house.

Fall: Give Thanks

This isn't just a Thanksgiving reminder. It is an all- the- time reminder. Give thanks.

Fall: Praises for a Wood Fire

Ode to Fire, Ode to Heat by David Budbill   Half my wintertime life, or so it seems, I spend standing beside our old Round Oak stove—which stands at the center of our house—hands behind my back, resting on my butt, palms out, warmth of the fire in the woodstove working its way into my body. Then turn around and bake the other side. Too hot? Just move a step or two away. It’s so simple, easy. And all you’ve got to do is work all year, sweat and heave and groan to make this little moment happen. Oh, now I sing praises to a wood fire, to the heat this smoky burning liberates, the heat that keeps us warm all winter. Oh, praise this primordial fire, praise heat in its most basic form: the blessed warmth that comes from our old, wood burning, Round Oak stove.

I can never write enough words or take enough pictures to really capture my deep love for wood heat. It warms my feet, my soul, my spirit. I love the smell of the fire, the sight of the fire.   I love the line at the end of the poem that says  " Blessed Warmth that comes from our old wood burning stove. " Annie certainly shares my love for wood heat.

Fall: Appreciating the Light

Even though the days are getting shorter the fall sunshine provides unique light. The slant of the sun is different in October and I played around with light in the yard recently. Above is late afternoon sunlight on the native grasses.

The light through the window in the Annie Room.

A glad in bloom in the kitchen window.

A coleus through filtered light.

The setting sun shining through the wind chime on the front porch.

Fall: Leaving the Outside Rooms and Moving Inside

At our house we go through this transition in October. We spend less time in our outside garden rooms and more time inside, unless of course there is a fire in the gazebo. Issabelle loves this!

When it is sunny I still love to cozy up on the swing on the deck, but as the days grow shorter I am ready to enjoy a wood fire inside . I look for a comfortable place to rest or read a book. The Annie Room is always a welcome spot.

The animals follow our ritual, especially the cats. When I arrived home today we had cats enjoying comfortable spots on autumn throws and comfy chairs inside. The kittens are figuring out that their time romping in the late afternoon on the fence may be coming to a close.

The greenhouse is also a welcome place as the days grow cooler. It is like summer all over again.