The Tree through the Seasons #2

These photos were taken this past weekend - the massive sentinel in my backyard. Seasons change rapidly in Minnesota. Today it is 50 degrees - yesterday it was 70. Tomorrow - who knows?

Just before the riot of tumbling leaves and endless raking - soft sunshine, crisp breeze, blue sky, puffy clouds - just teetering on the edge of summer with the promise of the winter to come. Northern life - four seasons to treasure.

Get a Life

Whew - I have created only 6 or 7 blog posts for this entire month. I miss it and I miss my time to roam, visit and write in this familiar blogosphere. Not enough reflection time for me and my spirit. A reminder to myself: my blog, my life, my priorities - they are in my hands.

The current work project is enormous. It ends October 30th. Looking forward to the end of the project - there is still a very difficult path to walk with the board and with the staff - they are creating a new and exciting future - hard times yet to come before the leaking ocean liner of an organization begins to steer a new course.

Autumn is hovering just at the edge of our vision - tree pictures this weekend.

Happy New Year

To my friends and family - L' Shana Tova. May this year be sweet, may your travels be safe and may you be surrounded by love.

Sweaters

Ahhhhh, today was the first day to put on a sweater, jeans, socks and little black boots. What a delicious feeling that is - the first tang of the change of season. A little rain, a little wind and scrunching your toes, nice and warm, in socks and comfy boots.

Winter is around the corner and one of these days we will be complaining about the cold but for now, one of the blessings of living in four seasons is celebrating the small rituals of their comings and goings.

Trees - Mark the Seasons as They Pass

Right out my back door and overshadowing the yard and patio is the most amazing 100 year old Cottonwood tree. This huge tree has three trunks - it is an awesome sight. We have an Arborist that takes care of the tree - every three to four years he comes out to trim, cable and just pouring love into that tree.

A tree of this size means that an Autumn pastime at my house is raking leaves. I thought it would be fun to document the passing of the next few seasons using the tree as the subject. Here is the first in a series. Lots of autumn foliage to come. I hope you enjoy it.

Visitation

Circle
(Our Song)

Today - IPod with our music - face down on the grass - no tears left - driving home - spent - filled with gratitude for having you - I know we thought we would have more time - no guarantees - my love flies across space and time.

Happy Anniversary Tom.

Summer's End

Here are the front and back gardens. I have posted many pictures of the backyard and flower gardens but never the front.

This is the view looking out from my front door. My wonderful friend and neighbor V and I love to do this container gardening. We winter over most of these plants in our garages and pull them out ready to renew themselves in spring's light.

You can see that things are in their deep green - just before red and gold transformation. The trees are still green but not for long. This is the most wonderful time in Minnesota - one of the reasons we all live here. Autumn - crisp, first sweater days, trees dressed in every color, homemade soup, and lovely walks in the woods.

Saturday is my wedding anniversary and so have been fighting tears at regular intervals. I miss my darling so - nearly 22 months and still I cry, "why?" And still I weep.

Warm and snug in my bed at night I hold your 3 tee shirts that have not been laundered in all this time. They live under your pillow still. I hug them and inhale - your smell, our smell.

Our life together torn asunder and my life renewing itself - fueled by our unconditional love - the lasting memories of you, of Fall, of wedding vows, of Mendocino, of sleeping under the stars in the enchanted cottage, of pledging ourselves - till death do us part.

Only our bodies part - the spirits joined - live forever.

HOME

YES - I am and after two nights' sleep of 12 and 10 hours respectively - I am feeling human. Today, I had a luxurious 90 minute massage - Deb brought the massage table to me this morning. I swept the deck after a wild rain storm and took the day off from work. Now it's time to sit down with a good book and relax.

I snapped some garden pictures yesterday - the plants and flowers headed towards Autumn - but for some reason Blogger will not let me upload them - so after four hours of trying - I am logging in to say - I am home for the next two weeks and happy to be here.

Wicked was wonderful - the cast, the costumes, the sets, the lighting, music, song and story. I loved it. Defying Gravity - such a wonderful song - I purchased it at ITunes and have been listening to it today. My massage music - Gregorian chants.

Happy Labor Day. The end of summer - September, one of the best months in Minnesota. Autumn is just around the corner. Pictures to follow.