Nature in All Its Glory

How beautifully leaves grow old.

How full of light and color 

are their last days.
~John Burroughs

There's probably a lesson there, isn't there? Cold gusts will send more leaves crashing from their perch this week. Leaves dance their way to their inevitable end, whether it's crushed underfoot or crowded into overstuffed plastic bags.

As I age, do I focus on the aches and pains? Am I consumed with perceived slights? Do I get set in my ways? Do I resist change?

A change of perspective often helps us see things in a different light. Last week, I was coming home from Manhattan after a fun Halloween evening with the girls. 

I so enjoyed my time with my little trick or treaters - a 4-year-old bumblebee named Brooke and a 6-year-old witch named Kinley. (Kinley insisted that she was a good witch - not a bad one.)

However, I was not looking forward to the doctor's appointment scheduled for the next day in Hutchinson. After getting Kinley on the bus, I drove back to Hutchinson and had some time before my appointment. So I switched my dress shoes for tennis shoes so I could walk the paths of Dillon Nature Center.

If ever there was a natural blood pressure reliever, it has to be Dillon Nature Center on a beautiful fall morning.

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
--Naturalist John Muir

During this month of Thanksgiving, Lord, open my eyes to the light, the color and my blessings that would fill more sacks than the autumn leaves.

 

A few days ago, I walked along the edge of the lake
and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves
with each step I made.
The acoustics of this season are different,
and all sounds, no matter how hushed,
are as crisp as autumn air.

                                                         --Eric Sloane

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
William Cullen Bryant

falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly
John Bailey
Autumn, A Haiku Year.

Autumn wins you best by this, 
its mute appeal to sympathy for its decay.
Robert Browning

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.
Elizabeth Lawrence

Thank you, Lord, for autumn!

Walkin' In a Winter Wonderfand

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

In the lane, snow is glistening ...

Walking in a winter wonderland.

Now wait just a minute! Shouldn't we be humming "Autumn Leaves" right about now?

 

The calendar says October, but it felt more like December for a little while on Sunday night and Monday morning.

The weird weather continues. We had another 0.90" of rain during the day on Sunday. Then huge, wet snowflakes began tumbling down Sunday evening (October 14).

After another glum day, we were glad to see the sun come up on Monday morning. The Sunday rainfall brought our total to almost 13 inches of rain in just a little more than a week.

The snow didn't stick around for long. But it made for unusual photos since most of the leaves are still on the trees.

 

While I couldn't find records for Stafford County, the National Weather Service said Wichita's earliest measurable snowfall until this fall was 1888. On average, Wichita can expect its first measurable snowfall around December 2, with that chance increasing to 90 percent by January 1. Last year, we didn't get any snow at all here on the Stafford/Reno County line.

Jill's in-laws had given us homegrown pumpkins and gourds when we were in Manhattan for the K-State/Oklahoma State game.

Our Sunday night snowfall put a little "frost on the pumpkin" and seemed to confuse Oreo the cat.

The vine on our house had more icicles than it had fall-colored leaves.

The temperature is supposed to rebound this week. By week's end, we may push 70 degrees. I just hope it doesn't include any more rain. We are still drying out from the last round, and it's going to take awhile.

With milo to cut and more wheat to plant (or re-plant), we're not ready to "swing" totally into winter.

"Leafing" Fall Behind

Thanksgiving weekend helped us "leaf" fall behind. But not before we had a little fun in the bountiful leaves in Manhattan.

We rendezvoused at the Riley County Historical Museum Wednesday afternoon for family photos for our Christmas cards.

Photo credit to Jill Grogg Photography, Manhattan

After the pro left, I couldn't resist getting my camera.

 We all had some fun - the girls in the leaves and Grandma attempting to capture the moment.

 It's not so easy with amateur equipment (and an amateur operator)!

That evening, we went to the K-State women's volleyball game. Brooke was getting tired, so any attempts at documenting her first volleyball game photographically were unsuccessful.

However, Kinley was a fan. She said she understood the game much better than football or basketball. Randy and I couldn't believe how small Ahearn looked. When we were K-State students, that's where we cheered on the Wildcat basketball team. Now it's home to the volleyball team.

We made more photo Christmas card attempts with my parents on Friday morning. (I took most of those on my mom's camera, so I think the better ones are on there.)

Grandpa Randy took the girls to the park while Jill and I did a little Christmas shopping Friday afternoon. But then it was time to usher in the Christmas season with the Manhattan tree lighting that evening.

 (You can barely see the girls, Jill and Eric as they went through the candy cane tunnel.)

The Blue Earth Plaza has 100,000-plus lights. Santa was there. But I think our local celebrity - football coach Bill Snyder - got just as many cheers.

We skipped the line for Santa and for hot chocolate. The girls indulged a little hot chocolate with marshmallows at home instead. 

The perfect end to the weekend with a last-minute victory in "Farmageddon," the football game between Iowa State and Kansas State.

 

Yes, Brent, Randy and I stayed to the end so we saw the Wildcat touchdown as the time expired.

 We also watched the Wildcats take a victory lap around Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

As the "society page" used to read in the weekly newspapers, "A good time was had by all!"