The Cutoff is blanketed in a quilt of golden snow as the leaves continue to fall, their softened sounds a magical mystery. It has been a most beautiful Autumn here. I knew it wouldn’t, couldn’t , last, yet, like all good things, I kept hoping for just a bit longer. I wandered about in the leaf strewn grass, soaking up the colors, the mustiness and the crisp air, recalling the summer afternoons sitting under the arbor, sipping tea and reading.
My eyes were drawn to a flicker of gold in the distance. A ray of sunshine was playing tag with something. I needed to walk back to see what it was. Can you see it just beyond the bluebird house? Click on the picture for a better view.
My footfall was noisy as I dragged my feet. One must drag and crunch and shuffle through leaves to fully appreciate them, don’t you agree? I marveled at how our landscape had changed overnight, exposing things hidden during the lush days of summer. Ancient farm implements, long forgotten by previous owners, emerged from their hiding spots,
and I caught a slight movement from within the brush. Can you see her? Our eyes met and held for a spell, then I walked on as she bent her head down, gnawing at whatever was tasty upon the forest floor.
The rest of the foraging expedition were eyeing me from the other side, waiting for me to move on . . .
. . . and so, I did, looking for that hint of gold I saw from the arbor. I found it. It was a single leaf, stopped in its descent by the tip of a small twig which had skewered it like a toothpick in search of an appetizer.
The sun illuminated its translucent beauty and I stood in awe at nature’s perfection.
Simply beautiful, Penny. There’s something about sunlight through a leaf…
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And I meant to tell you how much I like your pillows on the bench.
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The sunlight makes the colors so intense and transparent, doesn’t it? Thanks, Teresa. Those pillows are real troopers and make sitting on the bench a pleasure.
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Sheer beauty.
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Thank you, Helen.
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All those tempting photos of the colours, Bocelli and the deer…and then that beautifully caught leaf…just gorgeous.
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Thank you, Janice. It was a little adventure in the middle of a long day.
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Dear Penny, thank you for taking us along with you on this walk. I could hear and feel the leaves as you explored your backyard. And the sights you gave us within the trees brought back to me memories of my life out in the country when I was a child. Here the sun is warming a chilled day and so I must put on a jacket and take a walk too. Peace.
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You are welcome. I hope your chilly walk was pleasant, Dee, and that you enjoyed the sunshine, maybe scrunched a few leaves as well.
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Such a pretty color, that leaf. And, you’re so good at getting deer to pose. How do you do that?
In your honor, I am listening to Nat King Cole. He just crooned Route 66.
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They are so used to people that they just stop and wait for us to stop our foolishness, Andra. I don’t get too close, especially now in rutting season. I didn’t know they were about when I went wandering.
Hey. Good to hear that. Last night PBS replayed a feature on his life. It was interesting to watch. Enjoy.
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What a beautiful piece of writing this is Penny; I was engrossed from the beginning. It felt like you took me on a quest, and together we found treasure. I love your sentence about the toothpick in search of an appetiser. And that evocative music playing as I read the post. Just perfect!
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I’m so pleased to know this, Juliet. It was a special treasure, wasn’t it? I’m glad you had the music playing as you read. I was hoping for that. Thank you for your words here, Juliet.
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Penny: Your Fall story was that of absolute perfection
as you described this fleeing season in all of
it’s golden glory. As you crunched through
the leaves toward that golden surprise
I could almost hear the crunch!!
A true story teller you are and a bright spot
in a day after being called to Minnespolis to
be with our daughter. All is going to
be ok!!!
Happy Fall dear friend!
Mary Anne. ox
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I hope that all is well with your daughter, Mary Anne. My thoughts are with you.
You are too kind. I appreciate it very much. Most of the leaves are fallen now and we have much work to do cleaning them up. That “golden surprise” was a sweet gift of Autumn, as well as the deer. Small pleasures.
Take care.
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What gorgeous photos and an incredible experience, Penny. I think the deer come just for you so you can share them with us! You eye to see that little lone leaf was keen, too. What lovely autumn weather you’re experiencing. We are STILL waiting. LOL! But I’ll borrow some of the joy from your lovely words and photos! oxo
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The sun was shining right on that leaf – as if to call my attention to it. We have had some wonderful autumn weather and the trees have been quite showy this year. With the drought, I was happily surprised at that. Here’s to cooler weather there on the coast and hopes that the tsunami isn’t anywhere near.
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This was just beautiful. As for the music…..sigh…. I love your curious animal friends. We still have some leaves on some of the trees but we mostly have the golden quilt you so beautifully describe.
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Aw, thank you Janet. They are curious creatures, aren’t they? You should see what they’ve done to the hostas and a bush. Oh well . . . they do pose quite nicely and are good sports when I blog about them. Enjoy your golden quilt down there.
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So lovely in your world! Fall is a beautiful season — it just doesn’t last long enough.
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No, not long enough at all, Sallie, which is why we try to savor it while we can. Most of the leaves are now carpeting the grass, the drive . . . still loving it. Enjoy those sunrises and sunsets from your window.
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Beautiful encounter, and so perfectly described, Penny. I always feel these creatures are innately wise, but perhaps I’m just superimposing here…that golden leaf is just glorious.
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They sometimes feel that way, Kate. A regal buck has been hanging around, being that time of year, and he definitely seems wise – much wiser than I. Thank you.
By the way, I had a fox sighting the other day. I happened to look out the window when the foxy fellow slipped by, right in front of me, with a squirrel, poor thing, in its mouth.
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Oh, well, That’s dinner sorted, I suppose…how wonderful. Ethereal creatures!
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Dear Penny, yesterday I read “The Day My Mother Left” by James Prosek. I can’t remember if I got the name of this book from one of your postings. But if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend this young adult novel about a child of nine and what happened in the next few years after his mother left his family. The writing is true to how a young child writes. And the feelings he shows are so real and poignant. Peace.
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That wasn’t my recommendation, Dee, but it is now yours and is on my TBR list, with my thanks. The title sounds vaguely familiar. I’m wondering if we both saw it on another blog or someone suggested it here.
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I really loved this post, Penny, with its evocative portrait of autumn’s glory in word, image and song. You have the skill of a miniaturist in capturing the beauty of the little things in life.
P. S. How nice to hear another and different version of “”Autumn Leaves”. 🙂
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Oh my, thank you for these words, Perpetua. You made my day.
I thought it might be nice to hear this version. When we think of Autumn Leaves, Nat King Cole or Yves Montand usually come to mind. When I came across this rendition with Andrea Bocelli I thought it might be a bit different for all of us.
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Nature’s stained glass! This was such a nice post, it helped me reflect upon autumn just as you were. Great photos too!
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What a perfect description, Janet. Thank you.
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