AS LEAVES SPIRAL IN BURSTS of wind to the ground, the season of autumn nears the exit here in Minnesota.
We are all cognizant of that impending departure. The farmers as they hurry to harvest crops. The squirrels as they gather and hide walnuts. And those of us who still have yards to prepare for winter.
I feel that pressure. To get the leaves raked,
the flowerbeds cleaned, flowerpots emptied,
the tabletop fountain hefted above garage rafters.
I wish for more days of cobalt skies, sunshine blazing warmth onto my back as I rake leaves, stuff them into trash cans.
I wish until I realize that by wishing, I am missing the season. So I grab my camera and turn it toward the maple leaves on the solo tree in our backyard, toward the woods edging our property, even to the neighbor’s bare branched trees.
Of course, I wish I could slow time, grab back summer days, hold onto each leaf stem yanked by the wind. But I can’t.
Every season brings its joys, its sorrow, its light, its darkness. That is a given. I can yearn for another season. Or I can choose to embrace the season in which I am living.
THOUGHTS?
© Copyright 2018 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I’d say you’re embracing the season wonderfully, documenting the changes, the beauty.
Thank you. I’m nearing the end of yard work. Another day or two and I’ll be finished.
Your wrist must be well healed if you’re working so hard at yard works.
I can definitely feel all that yard work in my healing wrist. It’s been sore after the past several days of raking, which indicates that perhaps I’ve been pushing it too much. But the work needs to be done and there’s limited time. If only “the kids” lived close enough to help the aging parents.
I tried to reply that I don’t remember my kids doing that much raking when they lived here
Now that I think of it, mine didn’t either.
I have been enjoying the varying shades of red on the Burning Bush shrubs as I deliver my mail route! As one of the last things to turn to their glorious color, I also know that fall is now leaving us quickly! Enjoy the colors now before we have to turn our eyes to the beauty of white that will be here next!
Oh, burning bushes are simply glorious. You really get an up close view of the changing seasons on a daily basis.
I think we all have our “favorite” seasons. Being a fellow photographer, I find unique challenges with each season when my wandering spirit takes hold. With each new season, we are presented with a new color palette, I agree with you that it is best to embrace the season we are residing in. It gives us hope for the season waiting around the bend.
I need to remind myself of that embracing of seasons, especially when winter arrives and then goes on and on.
Gorgeous Autumn photos! In stark contrast to my bloggy friend, Meredithe, who resides in Melbourne,AU, and posted (“Pomegranate and Chintz” blog) her beautiful Spring flowers. We are all connected, thanks(?) to technology!!!
It’s always amazing isn’t it, this connection via technology.
Lovely, Audrey. Indeed, enjoy the moments!
It’s another morning of sunshine here in Minnesota. Cold. But sunny.
Beautiful photos, as always. Sure would like to see more harvest dust though… Remember how in years past, you could see the dust trail of a combine from five miles away? Not so this year.
Oh, yes, the dust of harvest. How are conditions down in Almost Iowa?
Still somewhat wet and slow going
I’m sorry. What a difficult harvest season. We need more days of sunshine and NO RAIN.
What was that old song back in the 50s ‘I will love you most of all when autumn leaves start to fall?’ The beautiful Autumn Leaves no Doubt hummed a few notes to the writer of that song.
I’m not familiar with that song given my young age in the 1950s. But, yes, nature definitely inspires writing. Good to hear from you.
Autumn is a beautiful season to embrace…but brings a lot of work too…all those beautiful leaves to rake! But the fresh air is crisp and knowing winter is coming helps to get me out and enjoy the fall.
I’m taking a break right now from yard work to check my comments and also to check the squash baking in my oven.
The yellows and golds, with a few reds are just beginning down here. Not every year do we see color – just a lot of brown. I think this year there is promise of fall color!
Oh, I hope you get that color. Typically our autumns are splashed with color. But not as much this year, much to my disappointment as autumn is my favorite season.
Beautiful Fall photos Audrey, I love the change of colors and the Harvest and all that goes with Fall. Every season brings change in more ways than just the weather. This season is hard for us as our parents are aging and ailing. But I will hold on to this season as a privilege to give back to our parents… to love them the way they’ve always loved us. Rick and I tackled our flower gardens on Monday, got everything tidied up. Out little Audrey even came over on Sunday to help a bit. It’s been so nice to see the sun.
Thank you for recognizing that this post is more than just a post about fall colors. It’s about, as you explain, the changing seasons of life. I know it’s hard sometimes. But I also know that you are making the best of the challenges of aging.
I hope to finish my yard work this afternoon.
We are still waiting for fall here. Some of the leaves are changing but it is even later than normal and even when I was in Ohio the leaves were still mainly green. We woke up to a frost here this morning so I suspect we will be seeing more color changes in the South now which will be wonderful. Thanks for your lovely captures.
It’s always interesting to me to hear about seasonal changes in other parts of the country. Most trees are bare now here in Minnesota. Last evening we hauled our last load of leaves to the compost pile.
A season.
A purpose.
A time.
The people we encounter ( big one )
—God KNOWs what we need before we do.
This gives me comfort. xxxx
You uplift me. Every single time you write.
I think it’s natural to remember the past and dream of the future but one also needs to remember to live for today
Thanks for that reminder.