Last weekend was especially cold. Temperatures dropped and the wind blew. The snow that had fallen remained, and the lake was frozen. Walking along the shoreline, I saw this leaf resting on the ice. As the time went by I saw frost forming all along its edges, outlining it carefully as if Mother Nature was painting each crystal in its place – so delicate, and yet so very temporary too.
landscapes
A black and white landscape
The past three weeks we’ve had a Friday snowfall, and each one has been different. One was wet and sloppy, one was a dusting of dry snow, and another was driven from the north. This one painted the trees on one side only, outlining them from the wind direction. Birch and aspen that are generally white had an extra coating of brighter white on the north. With a cloudy sky overhead, this color photograph became a black and white scene without any alterations. Each of these snows have been short-lived as they’ve been followed by warmer temperatures and sometimes rain. But as the months progress, we know there will soon be the snow that stays and is increased with each storm – all the way until next spring.
Transition time
We are in the middle of the transition from fall to winter in Minnesota, and Mother Nature has her own agenda. With fall colors still evident, we had two quick snowfalls. We love the four distinct seasons we have, yet we can be confused when the boundaries are blurred. My neighbors have a beautiful euonymus tree in their front yard. Its leaves are a wonderful pinkish-red in fall, and yet this week the branches were covered with snow. The white made the leaves glow a bit brighter, and contrasted them to the more usual golds and browns that were scattered on the sidewalk below. The wetness of the snow had its affect on the leaves; the next day the tree was bare and the ground was dappled with red.
Following the fall colors south
Last weekend we headed south to the Kansas City area traveling through southern Minnesota, Iowa, and northern Missouri. The occasion was a special one – my brother’s wedding (congrats to him and his lovely bride!). Fall colors had peaked already in Minnesota, but by heading south to warmer climates we were able to enjoy more of those rich colors in the landscape. This scene in central Iowa caught my eye. Not only was the fence post and its decorative saw blade unique, but the white of the post and the red of the gate seemed to contrast and compliment the green pasture and the golden fall colors on the distant hills. Fall is soon to be a memory in Minnesota, but it was wonderful to enjoy the season in other states, and it was a perfect weekend to celebrate family and love.
A crisp and brilliant autumn day
When autumn is as brilliant as it’s been this year, we want it to continue. A crisp but not cold day, blue sky with some clouds, the changing colors with their deep hues, and a country road that winds through the woods with leaves crinkling under the tires and the deeper smell of fall in the air – the very best way to soak up a prime day of this most beautiful season.
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