Friday, August 15, 2008

Shadows of autumn...

There are shadows of autumn appearing in things around us. Each Saturday morning as I awake, I am greeted with this scene at the cottage. It looks as though a pastoral scene is going to greet me as I open our rolling blinds. Is there an elk in our garden this morning? It almost has a misty look of early morning in the countryside.


It is a shadow effect from a candle holder which stands in this window. It makes me stop and appreciate the beauty the sun coming into the window creates each morning. The sun turns my blind into a work of art. And is that a tree to the left?


No, it is the shadow of one of the Hydrangea paniculata (pluimhortensia) which stands just outside the window. You would swear it was a tree in this shadow.

We are seeing signs of autumn earlier this year. The pumpkins and gourds are for sale already at least two weeks ahead of the normal time. We arrived at Cranberry Cottage last Friday to find some beech tree leaves already laying like artwork sprinkled here and there in our garden. I even smelled autumn early this year. It is that lovely scent that rises from the woods along where the cottage lives. Cranberry Cottage is a place that to me does have a life very special to itself.

I long for the cooler days of autumn. Wrapping up in a quilt...wearing a warm sweater and scarf while we walk in the woods...searching for those magical toadstools...coming indoors afterwards to make a cup of real hot cacao to warm you inside. Ah! Autumn is the very best season!

"In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees,
gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down
and broke their tender limbs."

~~ Henry David Thoreau ~~

16 comments:

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Heidi, you are right! Your misty photo does look alot like the one I posted! How fun that the candle holder and hydragea are creating that misty scene!
Penny

Nancy said...

I only looked at the picture and read the top script. I thought it was real. Wow, what a picture. You should enlarge, frame and hang it in your cottage. Well, you once were a photographer, so you do have the eye for it.
Love you, Mom

Melissa said...

Heidi,

I love the picture of the elk. You know how I love things deer or elk related. Makes me think of my British colonial look that I love so much.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear one.

Melissa

Sweetie said...

I love the picture of the elk. We are going to take three grandsons to Benezette next week - Benezette is famous to its elk population. The elks are almost tame and rest in people's yards.

This is my first visit - I'll be back.
Sweetie

Carolien said...

O yes, autumn has its own charm! I like your misty and shadowy scenes.

Have a great weekend & hugs, Carolien

Shari said...

how pretty!!! We have deer in our backyard/field that get close like that! How very neat! Oh, how I love autumn. We have had the foggy mornings here too, reminding us fall is just around the corner.

Rhondi said...

Hi Heidi
I love autumnn too, ther crisp clean air, the changing color of the leaves. It will be quite awhile before we see any signs. I got a kick out of thinking about you and your mom discussing my kitchen as you chatted online! Isn't this blogging community amazing? Here we all are so far away and yet we share this special connection. Thanks for all your sweet comments. I cherish your friendship.
Hughs, Rhondi

Reginas Cottage said...

Hi Heidi
I like autumn ,with all the beautiful
colours . Wonderful pictures!!
I wish you a wonderful week my friend
Hugs Regina

Mia said...

What a lovely entry, Heidi! Is shows your affection for Cranberry Cottage and your love for the coming season. And I too do love autumn, even though I always await the arrival of spring so eagerly, love the summer and fret the passing of it and loosing the lovely light we have here in Scandinavia during the short fleeting months. But autumn does have a special charm of its own, I do love how everything slows down (at least here on our smallholding) after the hurly burly of summer, how I once again can retreat to my studio, the sheep are back in the barn (in October) and the lovely autumn colours. And reading your lovely blog has made me to appreciate the different seasons even more.

I do blanche almost all the French beans and some of the peas (we tend to eat the peas while they are in season, while the French beans always produce such a glut that most of it is frozen for later use).

Amy Marie said...

We feel like we are just getting into summer in Ohio and you are ready for fall! Hope you are enjoying these last days of August! Thinking of you!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

What a marvelous sight to see every morning. And, it does make me think of the autumn that is coming. I can't wait!

Suzann said...

What lovely pictures. Autumn does not feel near here in my part of the world, but it will arrive.
Enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Anonymous said...

Heidi,
Autumn is my favorite season too!

Karen said...

I see signs of autumn all around me now - and I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival - now I only hope it last for awhile, LOL. In my neck of the woods it never lasts long enough.

Hugs - Karen

Shari said...

Heidi,
visit my blog for a surprise!

carolr said...

Hi again Heidi! I do love your blog with its music and warm, nurturing-looking photos.
I am not really sad about going back to work. Usually I am ready for the fall and work=fall! I teach 2nd grade, so it's kind of fun!