Toby slept with me last night which always means an extra-early awakening.
Grumpily pulling aside my curtain, I noted a small glimmer of light in an otherwise dark sky and decided it would be an uninspiring dawn.
So I sat at my PC for a bit.
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When I went for tea minutes later, I was just in time to witness the last gasp of what had been a great pre-dawn sky which had developed behind my back.
In the seconds it took to get my camera, it was gone.
Ah well. It’s not as if I am short of photographs.
Such a gray day asks for light and colour…
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…and humour…
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Zoomer the chipmunk has been desperately stuffing in as many peanuts as it can manage…
“Maybe if I stand on tippy-toes and breathe deep?”
If they didn’t rush about so, they wouldn’t burn as much energy. But then they wouldn’t be Zoomers.
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Late afternoon on Thursday
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When the sun hits the hill at a certain angle, it really does look gold.
The almost dead tree there is often in the way, but I cannot take it down because birds perch there.
We call it the waiting-room because they sit watching for the seed trays to be filled.
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Another blogger commented today that the almost final stage of Fall is his favourite. I feel the same, though I can’t quite put my finger on the reason.
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Maybe it is partly the apparent softness the already naked trees add to the images.
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Friday was an early day too.
It was back to Clifton Park for another appointment.
Which turned out to be pointless.
But it was a brilliant day for the drive.
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Rather than make a left turn across a busy highway, we meandered through an unfamiliar parking lot until we found an exit that looked promising.
And turned in what seemed vaguely like a good direction.
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It is not lost on me, what a luxury it is to be able to do this.
How many wonderful places might one end up if not always in a tearing hurry?
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We almost always find an empty road,
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..a pretty sight or a cool tree.
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A real mix of colours and textures.
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Last year at this time we noticed these trees with a few sparse leaves left and round black pod-like fruits. They turned out to be:
Black walnut trees.
I like their look!
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If I thought about it, I could come up with a caption for this but it might be cruel, so I won’t.
Feel free to make your own.
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In a certain light, the trees seem afire.
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Driving along beneath such tall trees can be almost daunting.
The colour scheme and setting is all wrong, but they made me think of crashing waves.
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Without at all trying, we found ourselves back in Stillwater where I saw this pretty little tree.
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That river again.
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Especially on such a day, a beautiful sight.
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The riverbank was full of colour,
but Stillwater clung to sedate brown.
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Back across the Hudson, we followed River Road .
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Those other trees seemed like crashing waves.
These are more like spectators at a sporting event, leaning over a barrier, waving and shouting encouragement.
No?
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Perhaps I should quit while I’m ahead.
I love your interpretation of the tress, there are some wonderful combinations.
Do you know what the very wide ladders are used for (leaning against the green roofed barn)?
Well spotted, Peter. Indeed I do not know. I shall keep an eye out for those next time we are out.
Grant says they are for fruit picking, although the only fruit around here would be apples and those are on short trees, so…
I’ve just commented the same…Great minds think alike!
Thank you, Carolyn, for the spectacular photos; I love the black walnut trees!
Joanna
Goodness, Carolyn, you are a speedy Gonzales!
Joanna
Stunning photos!
Love the Fall colors in contrast with the very blue sky!
Your chipmunk makes me smile.
Thanks for sharing. 🧡
Catherine
Oh my, Zoomer’s table manners leave a lot to be desired 😁. I love the golden colour of autumn – who thought the world could be so beautiful? And once again your imagination is in high gear with the trees you describe so beautifully!
You do indeed have a knack of finding those empty roads, and you treated us to a real feast of colour today, Carolyn.
Best wishes, Pete.
Ha, ha, Zoomer made me laugh!
Gorgeous shots of Autumn. I’m seeing autumnal colours here in Lviv (arrived a couple of days ago) – what a beautiful city!
Wonderful post Carolyn