It's been a while since we've taken a walk in the park. I'm heading there right now. Would you care to join me?
I love when the sun is at this angle, late in the day. Long shadows and saturated sunlight makes everything look a bit more beautiful. If we hurry, we can catch up with Frank and Benny. When Benny is being particularly accommodating, he does his business when we're close to a garbage can. He's pretty thoughtful that way.
Speaking of Frank, I recall something sweet that he told me about his older son when he was little. They were visiting a relative whose place was home to a few children, dogs and others. It was a bit chaotic and disheveled but welcoming and warm. He took a look around with a delighted smile on his face and declared it to be "a beautiful mess!" That's how I think of this smattering of berries, asters seeds and leaves strewn across the path here in the park. It's a beautiful mess.
There's a busy roadway on the other side of this fence but you'd never know it from where we're walking. Have a look at the deadhead flowers against the wires above. Is it just me or does that remind you of musical notes on a staff? Squint if you have to. And lie to me if you must.
Look up at that cloud - all peachy and golden and all on its own in the sky. Now look down at its reflection which looks like a fiery duck floating upon the water. Or perhaps I'm just quacking up.
That beautiful, rich light, low in the sky sure does know how to illuminate its surroundings. Just a shaft of sunlight cut through some branches to highlight the hues in these leaves. Summer, I'm going to miss your vibrant colours but your sister, Autumn sure knows how to use her paintbrush.
Across the pond, the sun is making its way beneath the horizon. It's time to bid another beautiful day "goodnight." Thanks for joining me. As always, you were great company.
72 comments:
Hilary: Neat captures of a neat park, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the walk. I love the musical notes, I didn't even have to squint. The red leaf is awesome.
simple beauty...thanks for walking with us hilary
Fabulous photos and commentary to match! Yes those were notes on the wires ... I'm singing now: "O Canada ..."
Loved the little pink cloud and its reflection in the water. You have such a good eye for capturing the beauty around you!
Great walk in your park Hilary, and I especially love the peachy cloud; it made me think someone up there was just testing out the brushes, getting ready to produce another magnificent painting.
"a beautiful mess" - I love that and know exactly what it looks and feels like
beautiful photos as always and of course any glimpse of Benny is a treat
that guy Ben's walking is kinda cute too
Musical notes, fire ducks, what a great eye and fine mind you have. Love those pics.
Now that you mention it, it DOES look like musical notes. And that illuminated leaf is so beautiful. They are all lovely. Thanks for the walk!
Hilary, these photos are some of your most artistic. You are right in sync with mother nature.
Oh, how I enjoyed walking along with you and yes, I did see the musical notes!
It does remind me of musical notes. I wonder what it would sound like if someone tried to play it? I also love the photo with the reflection of the cloud and the leaf after it. Beautiful. You have such an amazing eye.
Absolutely beautiful. And none of it a mess....Love the fiery duck!
Loved the musical notes, Hilary! Thanks for the walk - I enjoyed it immensely.
It does look like musical notes .. but the reflection shot is my fav
Nice assemblage of nifty shots. I especially like the solo leaf, the "beautiful mess" and that prosperous-looking gentleman in the first pic.
And yes, I could easily see the musical notes. And I'm not lying either. And no, your butt doesn't look at all plump in those pants. :)
It's always worth a visit round your park. Brilliant photos. I particularly love the berries and the flowers together. Beautiful colour combination and that picture of the fiery cloud reflection in the water is just lovely.
Thanks for asking me!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Oh my, what a beauty! You captured the light beautifully!
you really do capture the light so beautifully. no, you are not quacking up either ;)
the beautiful mess picture and story just made me smile.
Yes, my dear, this does make me want to walk with you and see the unusual and beautiful in the familiar.
I see the musical notes. Down here, we have an ad for PBS like that: a frustrated composer is sitting at his piano, then he looks out the window and sees a bunch of pigeons land on the telephone wires, he gives it a run-through, then he's off.
How about a little Michael Hedges: Aerial Boundaries?
Wow, Hilary, those are fantastic. I did see the music notes (and I'm not musical). I love the duck on the pond, and I must say sometimes you "quack" me up too. All gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
I love to go on walks with you and to see things through your eyes -- the world, or at least most of it, is a wondrous place, and even the messes are beautiful. Love the dead-head music!
It's a beautiful time of year.
I love when we go to the park.
Pearl
I LOVE fall! It's a photo waiting to be taken at every turn.
You've captured it well my friend!
Thank you for the vicarious walk in the park.
I'm going to adopt the "beautiful mess" saying. My life is a beautiful mess, so is my home.
I really like the first shot. So lush & beautiful. And, the leaf is gorgeous too. Can't beat nature.
Oh, and such a grand walk it was! I quite liked the musical accompaniment. That red leaf looks like a Virginia creeper, one of my favourites and the beautiful mess is a lovely composition.
Musical notes, beautiful mess - you see and capture so much beauty, your posta are always priceless gifts. My life is richer for knowing you.
Yet another talent of Bennie's. Selective pooping to minimize toting his turds. What a dog!
I love the fiery duck! Wow!
Hilary, I love that solitary cloud! But all of them are great. I love to walk with you!
I'm not lyin', they do look like musical notes. And oh, that leaf! How lovely.
My favorite thing about this post, however, is the story of the beautiful mess. Wonderful.
A beautiful mess -- that's what I'll try to tell myself about how this place looks, what with 4 kids, 5 cats, and 12 current foster kittens.
Mi, mi, fa, sol, sol, fa, mi, re, do, do, re, mi, mi, do, do!
Loved the walk... thank you :)
and especially the 'beautiful mess'
Marvellous shots - so poetic and nourishing!
I love the way you look at the world.
Quirky maybe but not Quacked up. That was a good one. Great pictures. FYI - I am pretty sure there are no pink ducks.
Best walk I've had in a long time! Thanks for taking me along!
"A beautiful mess." I love that :-)
Your neighborhood and the light is lovely. Thanks for taking us along.
jj
Excellent shots Hilary, love the walks you share with us. :)
• Thanks very much, Tom! :)
• Steve, thanks kindly. I'm glad you joined me. :)
• Brian, I'm glad you came along. Thank you. :)
• Thanks very much, Bonnie. If you're singing O Canada, I'm standing up. ;)
• Jane, that's exactly what it looks like! I love that. Thank you. :)
• Thanks, Dianne. I thought that guy was kinda cute too - until in his comment below, where he implied that my butt is big! Thanks for stopping by, my friend. :)
• Thank you very kindly, Leah. Such a lovely thing to say. :)
• DJan, thanks very much for joining me. Your kind words are very much appreciated. :)
• Steviewren, thank you so much. That means a lot to me. :)
• Jillsy, thanks for joining me and I'm glad you could see the notes. :)
• Ellen, I was kind of hoping that someone would say that they've tried to play it. Then again it's so jumbled in clusters it would probably just make "a beautiful noise" ;) Thank you so much for your always-kind words. :)
• MPM, thanks so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• Baggie, thank you kindly. I'm always happy when you join me. :)
• Daryl, thanks very much. :)
• Frank, I do believe you're implying that my butt is big. I know way better than to ask you any such thing. Good thing I was walking behind you. :P :)
• Maggie, thank you so much. I'm so happy to have you along for the walk. You're always great company. :)
• Lakeviewer, thank you so kindly. :)
• Lime, I'm glad you got a smile out of the post. Your kind words always do likewise for me. :)
• Tabor, thank you kindly. I'm so glad you joined me. :)
• Cricket, the birds on the wire sounds a bit familiar. Maybe that's why I saw the flowers as notes. Thanks for the musical accompaniment. As usual, it's spot on. :)
• Linda, thanks very much for joining me. I'm so glad you enjoyed the post. :)
• Pat, I'm so pleased that you enjoyed the walk. You're so right about the beauty in the world. It's a joy to be able to share it this way. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Pearl, thanks for joining me. I always enjoy having you along. :)
• TSannie, thank you kindly. I'm happy to share. :)
• Mami, as long as it's beautiful, we can probably handle the mess. Adopt away! :)
• Carolynn, you sure can't. Thanks for the kind words. They're very much appreciated. :)
• Reb, I do believe you're right about the Virginia Creeper. There's a fair bit of it around here. I'm glad you could join me on the walk and that you enjoyed it. :)
• Jinsky, you are so sweet. What a lovely thing to say and it means so much to me. Thank you, dear friend. :)
• Travis there is no end to Benny's talents. Wait, I mean, Benny has a talented end. Or something. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Mama Zen, thanks for the visit. :)
• Thank you, Karen. I'm always happy to have you along. :)
• Thanks, Kate. I've always loved that story too. I'm happy to share and thrilled that you enjoyed the post. :)
• Sing it, Messymimi! I knew someone would get a tune out of it. ;) You sure do have a full house. Thanks for being a caring kitty foster mom. :)
• Thank you, Robyn. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• LadyFi, thanks very kindly. Much appreciated. :)
• KC, thank you so much. Such a nice thing to say. :)
• Greyquill, thank you kindly. But no pink ducks? I think that might depend on how much Tequila you've had. ;)
• SD, always happy when you can join me. :)
• Joanna, thanks for joining me. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• Thank you, Indrani. Very much appreciated. :)
Such beautiful pics! Love the "beautiful mess" pic! It truly is!
Hugs
SueAnn
Exquisite images! It does indeed look like musical notes.
Brenda
My goodness you have a talented eye. I would never have thought of taking a pic of those power lines against the sky, but it is so beautiful. And they do look like musical notes.
Thanks for taking us on the walk! :)
An incredible walk!!! I LOVE the single leaf with the shaft of light...what a gorgeous "painting" indeed!!!! Sigh...You inspire me, Hilary!!! Thank you!! Your posts are always fabulous!! Have a terrific weekend! Love, Janine XO
Oh my, the single leaf, the beautiful mess, the last fleeting bit of sun...masterpieces all.
Perhaps the "musical notes" are playing What a Wonderful Life.
Or is the song "Its a Wonderful World"?
I would walk with you anywhere--thanks for letting us tag along! Every photo exquisite (and those are definitely musical notes; I'm not lying!). So clever, you.
A beautiful walk.
Benny, you da man!
Hilary, I love the way your mind works. You see the unique in commonplace things and then help us to see them, too. It's always fun walking with you.
It's not a lie, it does look like music notes on a staff! Gorgeous as always. Thanks, Hilary.
Your images are breathtaking.
I recognize the light in the first picture, it is so similar to ours, when the sun is lying low in late autumn and winter...
The copper cloud in the sky and its reflection creates an almost enchanting atmosphere.
Have a lovely weekend dear Hilary,
xoxo
These pictures are wonderful! I especially liked your observation on the musical notes!
I love watching the seasons change through your eyes. the pond is spectacular :).
I always feel like I'm entering an alternate universe when you take me on these walks. Mystical, etherreal, calm.
What a gorgeous collection of shots. It is a vivid world in which we live :-)
That reflected pink cloud looks like a fiery sea monster, rising from the depths of the lake to join its mate in the sky.
That or it is the much famed Cotton Candy Specter. Don't let the name fool you, that's one sticky ghost. Cross paths with him and end up adhered to a tree until such time as you can eat yourself free :-)
glorious captures...post!
Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Thank you for sharing your walk, it was beautiful!
Such gorgeous autumnal views. Thank you, friend.
Gorgeous photos, Hilary. I especially like that last one, as I can feel myself sitting on the edge of the lake watching the sun set. And I'm preparing for some roasted marshmallows . . .
• Slommier, thanks you kindly. Very much appreciated. :)
• Brenda, I'm glad you think so. Thank you. :)
• Kat, thanks for joining me. I'm glad you enjoyed the walk and the photos. :)
• Janine, you're too kind. You always have the nicest things to say. Thank you so much for that. :)
• Sue, Wonderful Life.. Wonderful World - it's all good. Thank you for your always kind words. You're a smile-evoker. :)
• DS, I'm so glad you joined me. And that you enjoyed the images. :)
• Thanks, Sandy. Benny wags his tail in appreciation too. ;)
• Linda, thank you ever so kindly. Such a nice thing to say. I'm glad you came along for the walk. :)
• Thank you, Terrie. Much appreciated. :)
• Zuzana, thank you, dear friend. Don't you just love that time of day - no matter the season. Just before dusk is so beautiful. That magic hour. Thanks for your always-kind words, Z. :)
• Michael, thanks very much. It pleases me to know that you like them. :)
• Amy, such a lovely thing to say. Thank you. It's good to see you. :)
• Nancy, thank you so much. I quite like that you think so. I'm so glad that you could join me. :)
• Alane, your comments are so incredibly creative and amusing. I love when you allow a glimpse inside that creative grey matter of yours. Thanks for the kindness, my friend. :)
• Thanks, Cloudia. Aloha. :)
• Welcome, Connie and thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated. I hope you'll return again soon. :)
• Sandy, thank you so much for returning to say so. :)
• Fragrant Liar, thank you for the kind words. Funny that you should mention marshmallows. I ought to have a couple of those for you in about a week. ;) Thanks for stopping by. :)
Absolutely gorgeous, one and all. But the one of the leaves is my very favorite -- perfect.
btw, I'm happy to report that I squinted as directed and it looks like a musical staff to me too -- and I wouldn't lie to you. :)
Gorgeous photos as usual. I can't actually pick a favourite this time....for once!
• Thanks, Sandra. I'm glad you see what I saw.. even if it took the squint to do it. Thanks always for your kind and warm words, my friend. :)
• Thanks very much, Gaelikaa. I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by. :)
These are just amazing. Sublime. Thanks, Hilary. You make me feel like I am there, a part of this beautiful world.
siiiiiiigggggghhhhhhhhh...
Autumn photos, very nice! And yes, I squinted and I saw the notes on the staff! Reminds me of my piano-playing days! Nice of Benny to be so accommodating. :)
• Sandy, thank you kindly. I'm glad you came along for the walk. Your company is always wonderful. :)
• Thanks for stopping by, Pauline. :)
• Rainy, I'm glad you were able to see the notes. Thanks for joining me. :)
over here via Unknown Mami (see should change her name to umami - look it up)
I do see the musical score. I wonder what it would sound like. I don't really see a duck in the reflection but then every since my Jesus toast I've become more careful.
Welcome Lisleman and thanks so much for the visit. Your comment made me laugh. Thanks for that. :)
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