Great timing for our morning constitutional today. Out the door and down the steps just in time to catch the morning sunrise.

This is the sky that made the walk spectacular, and caused me to wonder once more why we are so wont to take for granted this eternal gift of beauty.












The camera captures the gorgeous flamboyance, but not the glow, - the sweet tenderness of the very air you walk through. It takes a Turner to interpret the glory of the skies.

Old Autumn roams the tops of the hills before descending into the valley, and everywhere his mantle touches the colour changes so very subtly. Above the line of the pasture fence the longer grass begins to turn a naples yellow, and if we were on the hillside and able to see it closely it would create a sea of soft yellow as the wind winnows through the grass.

Down here in the valley the odd leaf is turning yellow, and the cool nights are sending signals to the Sunset Maples that it is time to start the show!


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They respond with startling colour and clarity against the bright blue sky.



This morning Husband went singing, and I was left to my own devices. After taking care of lunch by putting on a hearty veggie soup I turned my back on all the things I had thought I might do and was shamefully lazy.

It was cool on the deck, and I sat there with my knitting and a cup of coffee and quietly watched and listened as the small birds flitted through the sunflowers, carrying on a conversation as to who was first in line and thus first served, and ignoring the fact that there was enough to go around - seeds galore for everyone.

Can you find the dozen or so little lady goldfinches lunching at the Sunflower Bar?



Or the ones who are putting up their feet and gossiping in the curly willow lounge - such chattering and twittering.....



Well, all whimsy aside, it was a quiet, serene and restful morning.

Sometimes the little old gentleman dog wakens at the most inconvenient times, but in deference to his needs one leaves the cereal to get soggy and the toast to get cold, and goes to retrieve the leash. The cat saw us to the door, and we set off.

He was in good form this morning. The sun was not yet up, - the air was cool and invigorating and yesterday Husband had clipped the overhanging eyebrows that interfere with his shadowy eyesight.

We stepped smartly down the road. At the turn we stopped to visit with the dogs from the Big House who had raced up to meet us. Caspar touched noses with Simba, who is getting pretty ancient and arthritic too. They may have discussed how they slept in the night, - who knows. It seems to be a topic of conversation quite important to the elderly. After a short chat we got about attending to the business of this morning meandering.

While I waited my thoughts wandered to the stage of life we now inhabit, where the circle grows more and more intimate. Husband and I, the dog and the cat, hold hands together and care tenderly for one another. Well, sometimes the cat is aloof, but for a cat she is amazingly friendly.

At one time the circle was a broad, bright band, encompassing so many other souls, and I felt such responsibility for all who resided within it. Now I cast my lot with faith.......

I suspect that eventually the ring becomes, as it was at the beginning, a silver circle to hold one solitary soul.