Mist rising

It was a driving afternoon. I started the weekend a little early, heading out at 2 PM in order to miss the Friday afternoon exodus (heading west) from Boston along the Mass Pike.

Gray was the color of the day, getting darker and darker, unusually dark given the time of day, until rain started falling. The rain stayed with me until western Massachusetts, when I was treated with an incredible view. Water stopped falling from the sky, and the mist started lifting. Waves of mist were still visible, with bright autumn colors popping underneath the mist, highlighting the trees. What a beautiful sight.

I have to admit, it took a lot of self-control for me to not give in to the desire to stop and attempt to capture some of that beauty with my camera. But oh, stopping on a limited access highway with cars flying by at 70 to 80 miles per hour is really not a good idea. And yes, I did behave (this time). Photographs are only available in my mind.

Bark, bark! dog

...bark, bark!

Do you talk to the animals? I do!

I can't tell you when I started having discussions with strange animals I've met on the road, but yes, I do talk to them. I was walking down a quiet street when I passed an occupied yard. A dog was happily wandering. He sensed my presence and started barking. I didn't stop walking. I looked in his direction, and said "bark, bark! dog, bark, bark!".

Funny... He looked at me, and he stopped barking.

Of course I'll never know if his bark was a greeting and if he would have stopped on his own. I think I'll continue talking to the animals.

Shrinking light

My afterwork activity has switched from biking to walking. I almost switched back again this afternoon, but it's a good thing that I didn't.

I suppose that you could call me overly cautious, but I really don't like being on the road on my bicycle around the edges of daylight. Yes, there are really good lights available, but even those lights don't get past the setting sun in your eyes syndrome.

I headed out walking in full daylight. As I was looping back towards home, dusk was hovering. Ah - I think it's time to start adorning myself with my "walk in the dark bright blinking lights" again. Tomorrow...

Mind wandering...

...remembering, sorrow and smiles, memories, a life ended too soon.

Neal, you've been gone for six weeks now. It feels like yesterday, yet if feels like forever too. And you know what? You may not be here (in person), but you're here. You're still in my thoughts; I think that you always will be.

I look up to see a picture of you flash across the corner of my (computer) screen. Funny stories wander through my head, childhood memories... I think of the love pouring out from you and to you from so many people. I think of your children and the memories of you that I'm sure that they treasure. I try not to think of the pain you experienced for too long, and I feel sorrow at the thought that the only way that the pain was removed was death. I wish that you were here, yet I'm so glad that your pain is gone.

I think of you often. You're not here (physically), but you're with me. I remember...

Sky decorations

Images in contrast

There are patches of (autumn) color, and patches of green. And there are still flowers showing life. Cooler weather, shortening days...

Sky transition

The sky was a tease this morning. The beautiful morning morphed into rain, but the morning sky? Amazing...

Low-lying gray clouds covered the horizon, but looking up I saw blue skies decorated with wisps and narrow, jagged bands of white clouds backlit by the sun, glowing, popping against the bright blue background. True beauty.

Pictures? Only word pictures this time...

Wildflowers and colored leaves

Colors are really starting to pop. There are areas where the trees are wearing their autumn splendor (although it does seem to be slightly muted), areas where the trees are showing their summer shades of green, and there are wildflowers that continue to contribute their own brand of beauty.

I'm not ready for the bare branches that are in the not too distant future, but I have to admit that I do enjoy the autumn colors.

Glimpses of...

...my wanderings in Maine

The photos from my trip have come out of hiding! There are photos in my journal, and there are more in my (five) photo galleries at A coastline beckons - September 2007.

I've included a randomly generated photo from each of the five galleries below. You can click on a photo or the name of the gallery to access it directly, or you can use the link above to see the gallery grouping.

Images of Acadia


Looping Eastern Mount Desert Island


Contrasting old & new structures


Mid-coast to Deer Isle


Saco Heath

Hey, thanks for posing!

Yes, my camera accompanied me as I walked this afternoon. That really doesn't surprise you, does it?

And a little chipmunk very nicely posed for me. He looked at me, I obeyed his request that I not walk any closer, and he happily sat still for a few minutes.