Thursday, November 20, 2008

As Autumn Fades

We got our first few inches of snow yesterday evening. The balmy weather we enjoyed during the first week of November has dropped to frigid overnight lows, creeping to just above-freezing temperatures during the day. Most of the leaves have withered or dropped to the ground, and bare branches are covered with their first blanket of snow. There will be many months of winter photo opportunities ahead, but for now I'd like to continue to enjoy the colours that warmed the fall landscapes before this frost set in.

Below are a some photos taken earlier this month. Please be sure to click on them to enlarge.




This is one of my favourite places to walk in the morning. The cedar-lined path runs alongside the creek, across the road from Frank's place. Through the winter, he'll pack a container of bird seed and a handful of peanuts, and he'll leave them in strategic areas for the critters to find. He's an old softie that way. (please click to enlarge)




Most of the trees have lost at least half of their leaves, making it easier to spot animals and objects on their branches. A couple of weeks ago, during one of our walks, we spied this empty bird's nest. It was within reach so Frank bent the branch gently so that I could get a shot. (please click to enlarge)




At home, a walk around the park reveals a similar state of bare-branched trees. This squirrel watches closely. Maybe we have something for him. (please click to enlarge)




Good Evening. Something about this scene made me think of Alfred Hitchcock... (please click to enlarge)




This lone leaf clings to the tree as if to deny the season's passage. I can empathize. (please click to enlarge)




Looking down, a scattering of pine cones and tattered leaves blanket the ground. (please click to enlarge)




As the foliage thins out, it becomes easier to see the lake through the trees. The late day sun illuminates the colours of the season. (please click to enlarge)




Slightly off-path, kids like to sit on this rock or climb a branch and daydream. Others party. Unfortunately, it's taken its toll on the tree which has seen better days. As the sun goes down, it still look pretty wonderful to me. (please click to enlarge)




Living near the airport as I do, our skies are busy with arrivals and departures. Sunset offers a startling sky for lingering contrails. (please click to enlarge)




A walk at sundown reveals the last colours in the darkening sky. The slivered moon peeks out between the branches. (please click to enlarge)

To see some beautiful photos from around this area, head on over to Frank's blog.
I'll have some more autumn photos of my own in a few days.

38 comments:

Latin Lupe Lu said...

WOW!
What a wonderful picture of the moon and the bare tree. I'm always trying to get a shot like that. Is that with your small Canon digital or have you upgraded?

Michele said...

Beautiful photos... I enjoy the colors of Autumn and I know what you mean about the snow. We have had snow for over a couple weeks now in the mountains but I hang onto the Fall color photos as long as I can... as I know the winter months will be here for the next 5-6 months ...

~Michele~

Kat said...

Those shots are just gorgeous. Much better than snowy shots. ;) On some of the woodsy pics I almost expected to see little fairies dancing around. It looks so magical the way the light was glowing in a few spots.
Gorgeous!

Leah J. Utas said...

The sliver of moon and the bare branches is a beautiful shot. Gorgeous composition.
And I totally thought of Hitchcock, too.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Thanks for taking me on your walks, Hilary. I am refreshed in mind and spirit by the beauty seen through your eyes, and my body didn't get tired at all.:)

Loved the tree full of birds!

Country Girl said...

Love that last shot, Hilary. And I have never before seen a squirrel this color!

Anonymous said...

Do you call that a black squirrel? I have only seen one other one, near Georgetown University.
Your photo of the forest floor with leaves,pine needles & pine cones would make an excellent greeting card. Have you considered selling your photographs?

I fear that Alfred Hitchcock is going to show up in my dreams tonight! But that's okay, I will remember that it is only happening because of your beautiful pictures.

I know what you mean about hanging onto the colors of fall. The wind chill tonight puts us well below freezing and tomorrow's forecast is for snow flurries.

I am always blessed by your interpretations of the beauty of each season.

Zuzana said...

Hilary, we are expecting snow this weekend.
Your pictures are as evocative as ever. My favourite by far is the last one, as I am fascinated by the nigh sky, particularly the moon. I always try to capture the silver disk in the sky, but the photographs are never satisfactory. Nevertheless, I will keep trying, perhaps one day I will take as wonderful pictures as you do.

Mental P Mama said...

Beautiful shots. As always;)

Anonymous said...

The bird's nest is a very neat and interesting picture .. A live human hand .. a dead leaf .. baby birds hatched and gone .. and new growth buds on the tree limbs. Ain't nature wonderful!!! Great pics as usual ..
Hugzzzzzzzzz!!!!

the Bag Lady said...

Great photos, as always, Hilary! I love the Hitchcock photo - exactly what came to my mind, too. And your favourite spot to walk would probably be one of mine, too. If I ever get to your area, you'll have to take me there!

Chi said...

I don't know what is was about that pic that made you think of Alfred Hitchcock. Maybe it was... (dramatic pause) ...The Birds.

Frank Baron said...

Terrific pics, as always Hil. Thanks for the plug. :)

Michelle H. said...

Wonderful photos of fading Autumn. I have to admit that I love winter weather. The snow is falling heavy today, but I'm hoping to snap some pics of the birds eating at the feeder so I can post them on my blog.

photowannabe said...

This is such a beautiful collection of the moods of Fall. You really live in a magical place. Thanksfor sharing.

cheshire wife said...

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Wonderful photos, especially the one of the moon.

Anonymous said...

What a huge sense of loneliness comes over me when I walk alone in the woods or along the rivers. I don't like to do it anymore. I think about the laughing children, and the grunts and groans of people working. The crashing sounds of running deer chased by a wolf. Sounds are silent and I am not to eager to listen. But I do like the walks in spite of it all.

Reb said...

Lovely as always Hilary! I really like the sliver of moon in the trees and what would we ever have done without Hitchcock? I love the photos from last post too, especially the fence!

Daryl said...

O'Henry's The Last Leaf ... have you read it? Read it.

Wonderful pix all but the leaf is my fav

:-Daryl

Dr.John said...

I loved your fall pictures and your comments. Great!

JC said...

Wonderful, awesome, beautiful pics, thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

i am desperately hangining on to the last few remnants of colors too......why do all good things have to come to an end!!!!!

Hilary said...

• Thanks, LLL. I'm still using the Canon digital. I'm playing around with aperture, shutter speed and ISO a lot more though. It's opened up a few windows for me. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Michele. And yes that's the feeling, alright. I still have a few autumn pics that I've not posted yet, so they'll be coming up soon. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Thanks very much, Kat. It is a bit of a magical area and when the sun is just right, a magical time of day. I've not seen any fairies just yet though. Maybe next shot. ;) Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Leah. I was pleased with how that came out. I never know with night shots. I don't always have great luck with them. Thanks for the kind words. And Happy Birthday! :)

• Thanks so much, Pat. It's a pleasure to have you along for company. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Thanks, Kate. The squirrels where I grew up (in Montreal), were all grey. It was only when I moved to Ontario that I started seeing black squirrels. They were quite a novelty to me at the time. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thank you so much for your very kind words, KC. They're very much appreciated. The squirrels are indeed black around here - or at least most of them are. We have some gray ones, but far fewer than black. They're pretty much the same otherwise. Thanks also for the wonderful award you gave me. It made my day. :)

• Thanks very much, Protege. You're too kind. I'd like to be able to do better with night sky shots too. My camera has limitations though.. and then there are my own. I just purchased a tripod and maybe that will help a tad - at least in some circumstances. Thanks so much for the visit. :)

• Thanks very much, MPM. :)

• Bulls! I'm glad you liked that photo. You're right, there's a lot going on in that way. Thanks for stopping by, Gary. :)

• Thanks, Baggie. If you ever head out this way, I suspect we'll have a blast. And yes, of course I'll take you walking with me. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Nope, Christopha. That wasn't it at all. It was that looking up at them gave me Vertigo and put me in a bit of a Frenzy. Ultimately I took the photo though my Rear Window. ;)

• Thanks, Frank. Right back at you. :)

• Thanks, MLH. I have to admit that I'm less intolerant of winter than I ever used to be. I put up a feeder for the first time last year and am enjoying that aspect of the season too. I'm looking forward to seeing your shots. :)

• Thanks very much, Photowannabe. I'm enjoying my surroundings more than ever before. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Welcome, Chesire and thanks for the kind words. :)

• Abe, I'm sorry to hear that walking in the woods makes you sad. The surroundings are so full of beauty and wonderful sounds of life. And you, with your incredible photographer's eye should be seeing that at every turn. I hope those feelings will pass and you'll take pleasure from those walks. Thanks for stopping by.

• Thanks very much, Reb. I'm glad you liked them. It's good to see you back in circulation again. I miss your posts. Thanks for taking the time for a visit. :)

• Thanks, Daryl. I will read it and get back to you. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks very much, Dr. John. Much appreciated. :)

• Thanks very kindly, JC. And right back at you. :)

• Moi, so that we can appreciate them all the more when they come back again? Thanks for the visit. :)

Lulda Casadaga said...

Always amazing stuff here...well you can't go wrong with that kind of subject matter! ;)
That squirrel looks darker than the ones here in VA...I suppose he's wearing his winter coat. :D
Have a lovely weekend and keep warm!!

Anil P said...

Such beautiful environs. It must be so very refreshing to be walking through them.

Dave said...

I too especially liked your photo of the crescent moon showing through the tree branches. Well done Hillary! - Dave

RiverPoet said...

I, too, thought of Alfred Hitchcock when I saw the blackbirds hanging around in that tree. That used to be my #1 scary movie as a child (though I owned birds!).

It's cold here now, too, and I find myself longing for those balmy days from earlier this month. Even the bulldogs don't want to go out right now!

Peace - D

Aly @ Lip Zip said...

I'm so jealous. We used to live in an area like this and now we are hundreds of miles away from that breathtaking scenery.

Kappa no He said...

May I ask what kind of Canon digital? I've got a Powershot S5 IS. I know they name them differently from country to country though. (I'm sorta a camera nut.)

Woman in a Window said...

Nice. Nothing beats getting out there and being IN nature. I love it. Find it so rejeuvenating.

This weekend we went sliding! (Holy cow, in November!)

Anonymous said...

Hilary,
Great pictures. I agree with Latin Lupe Lu.... a beautiful shot of the moon and bare tree. I love it!
We have not had any snow yet here in central Indiana, but I'm sure it is on its way. Had a great visit with my grandkids in Indy today....
Have a great week.
Catch yah later,
The Bach

Anonymous said...

Captivating shots as usual, Hilary. I am eagerly waiting for your winter shots.

Oman said...

just simply amazing set of pictures. i envy your four seasons. in the philippines, we only have rainy season and summer. i am looking forward to your snow photos, i am sure they will be great.

Crabby McSlacker said...

Beautiful shots! It's hard to see autumn fading and winter creeping in.

Tip: move to California!

Ok, perhaps not too practical.

Hilary said...

• Thanks very kindly, Lulda. That squirrel might well be wearing his fluffier winter coat, but he'd still be dark gray or black in summer. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Welcome, Anil. They absolutely are. Thanks for stopping by and please visit again soon. :)

• Thank you, Cimba. Much appreciated. :)

• I can't blame you, or your pups one bit, Riverpoet. It's going to be a long, cold winter. Good for watching movies - perhaps even The Birds. :)

• Welcome, A&LZ and thanks for stopping by to comment. I hope you find a nice area for walking where you live now. Thanks for the visit - please return soon. :)

• Sure, Terrie. It's a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. I'm about due for an upgrade -preferably to a digital SLR. ;)

• I agree, WIAW. It's never wasted time. Winter sure is starting off early this year, eh? Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Welcome back, Bach. It's good to see you in blog circulation again. Glad to hear that you've been enjoying time with family. Thanks for the kind words. :)

• Thanks very much, Indrani. They're up now, as I type. :)

• Thanks kindly, Lawstude. I was going to post a few more autumn photos but since you and Indrani asked... I'll just have to hold them for another time. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Crabby. I'll stick out my thumb if you and the Lobster will slow Fran the Van to a halt. ;) I hope your cross-country trip home is going well. Thanks for the visit. :)

Louise said...

Each one is so beautiful. I love the spot of light on the ground in the first photo, the damaged tree, and the sliver of the moon. I also love that you take food for little critters when you go. What a beautiful place to walk.

Hilary said...

Thanks so much, Louise. Your kind words mean a lot to me. :)

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