One Autumn Morning; Photographs of a Beautiful World
Our world is both vast and small. It is filled with beauty to share with those who visit its charm. One early Autumn morning, I did.
This Autumn day I decided to visit the park and walk. It was such a nice October morning: No wind, warmth with a sweater, colorful tinges and rich earthy hues becoming apparent after a light frost. Before preparing to leave I stepped out to the back yard to check my Mirandy rose and shoulder-high Moringa tree. The old-fashioned rose bush still bore five dark red velvety blossoms deeply fragrant.
Then I saw this fabulous HUGE spider web at the back porch corner by the fence. An orangy spider was repairing his magnificent web that had been damaged by winds in the night. Its web was almost three feet high, not counting all the attaching threads to the fence and roof. It was a fantastic piece of spider artwork, highlighted by bright morning sun.
Then as I examined my still blossoming Four-o-clocks I found a tiny strikingly gold spider on a stem. It held its arms wide and 'froze'! When it finally moved, I snapped more views of its unusual self. It was such a distinct golden color, less than an inch long with legs outstretched. When I had taken its picture, I saw another very large garden spider in Four-o-clocks by the garage wall. It remained warily centered in its web while I took portraits. It was amazing to observe the colorful markings of each creature. Whatever feeling of fear or shriek of panic might sometimes occur regarding spiders, these creatures were amazingly colorful, and I enjoyed taking their pictures while keeping a cautious distance.
After admiring the spider's handiwork, I snapped a few pictures of fragrant Four-o-clocks, for they would not last into the day. Four-o-clocks bloom in late afternoon and wilt in mornings but may stay open later when weather is cool, as they had this autumn morning. Each color may yield a different fragile fragrance and I do love to sniff them all!
Gazing up at an azure sky, I first heard, then saw a few geese. A plane was exuding a chemtrail overhead and it appeared to point at their flight path. I thought, laser-tag, right! In more ways than one... The geese of course, kept flying south, unharmed.
As I walked to the back porch I noted a large fly-creature that was not a despicable house-fly. It remained totally still as I stepped near, camera ready. After several photos, I gently bumped the fly with a blade of grass and it flew away. Seems my picture-taking-morning had started well!
Neverminding the photographic back yard delays of this early day, I soon gathered my purse, sweatered myself, and camera in hand, drove to the park. I was going to capture more small beautiful things among the sunlit autumn folige.
Part of our amazing world is quite small indeed. Just look....
Sometimes one must look intentionally to really see those small, small gifts of nature. Too often, we may miss their exhibit of beauty...at no charge, no ticket
Strolling down the pathway, listening to chirps, tweets and caws, autumn sunshine became almost too warm for my sweater. The splashing aeration spray in the pond made a faint rainbow in its circle, and I could hear ducks quacking and muttering to each other as they preened.
Autumn's paintbrush was stroking its gorgeous array of color upon the landscape. Brilliant greens of trees and pond made a beautiful background for striking red and yellow hues of fall. The air was clean and crisp, wafting soft skittering chatter of squirrels in antique black walnut trees along the trail to a gently sloping hill.
Brilliant touches of Autumn splash reds and golds among the still green trees and quiet pond on a peaceful morning at the park.
The Good, the Bad, and the Funny!
Ticks tend to fall from the trees in wild forested areas of the park. They use people and pets for landings.
Sometimes ganders fight in flapping frenzy, splashing water grandly as they grab feathers and yank!
Turtles eat baby ducks in the pond and I have seen a dozen ducklings decrease to three or four.
Sometimes mosquitoes are more than a nuisance, and other bugs bite or explore up ones' nose unexpectedly.
There is poison ivy growing in small groves and one must be aware of its mighty presence. Or else!
Whatever these negative occurrences may be, the enjoyment gained by a walk in the park on a bright autumn day could never be outweighed for the gifts it brings to a body and mind. The refreshing lung-exchanges of fresh air, scents of pine, creature voices and bird-song, all are small treasures to enjoy as they erase many stresses of everyday hassle. Deal is, you are exercising body and mind...and enjoying it tremendously while surprising photo-shots occur bringing excitement blessed by pleasure.
This video is of somersaulting geese, of crazy smart creatures that gave a tremendous laugh by their absurd antics. But they enjoyed it all...and so did I. Here's hoping you do too!
