The Last Lingering Leaves

On my way to work this morning I snapped what will probably be my last photo of our maple tree:

Mighty Maple October 21, 2012

 

 

As you can see, he is pretty much bare now. Just a few leaves remain on the very bottom branches. They will probably be gone in the next few days, and there will not be any difference in the photos until the first snowfall coats the branches in white. If I remember, I will take a picture that day and post it. It is always a beautiful site when that happens for the first time. It is even pretty when it happens for the fifteenth time, especially if it is a big, wet snow that clings to each and every branch. I cannot believe that next week will see the first days of November creep their way onto the calendar.

 

Before we venture into a new month, I received this wonderful picture of my adorable grandson yesterday:

 



Oh my gosh, he is smiling! Isn't he just the cutest? I miss him, he looks like he is growing up way too fast. Okay, okay, he is just a few days over 6 weeks old, but still... I had such a great time with him and his mommy and daddy for those 10 days. At that point I had been with him for nearly a quarter of his life, and I saw lots of changes in that short time. What fun. It's hard sometimes being so far away, but I know they will do well. I can hardly wait to see him again at Christmas.

It is Nearly Finished

 

I started these postings about our Mighty Maple Tree at the end of August, with the first photo on the 25th. Here it is, nearly 2 months later, and when I drove past the tree this morning there were only leaves on the bottom third of the tree. The top is completely bare. I would have taken a picture, but it was raining, and it just doesn't show well in dreary weather. However, here is what it looked like 2 days ago, on the 17th:

 

Mighty Maple on October 17, 2012

 

It still looked magnificent, and yes, those are the cows enjoying the trees' branches. They often hang out under the tree, but that's also where their water tub is. I know I probably missed peak foliage this year because of my trip to Maryland, but here is what this tree looked like in its prime on October 12 of last year:

What is truly amazing is to compare Mighty Maple this year (see previous blog) to almost the exact same date last year. What a difference! Now the sun and the blue sky really does affect the brilliance of the picture, but still, there is a remarkable variance in the extent of progression. If I can remember to do it, I will be curious to see what this tree looks like in the years to come right around the same time each year. I'll try to capture it within a few days of October 10th, when its nice and sunny.
After I snapped the photo on Wednesday of the maple tree, I stopped and took this one looking towards our neighbor's barn with the trees reflecting in our pond.

 

 

It really was a breathtaking drive to work that day with the blue, blue sky and the sun shining on all the trees along the hills. Soon the trees will be completely bare, and the scenery dull and brown until those white flakes start drifting down to coat the world in its blanket of cold.

The Weeks Go By

I'm late.
I know I'm late posting my Maple Tree photos, so here are some catch-ups:



Mighty Maple October 11, 2012



Mighty Maple October 10, 2012








Mighty Maple October 10, 2012

You probably notice that there is a gap in the dates of the pictures. I started out taking them each Saturday morning on my way to work. It went well. Then the weather changed and I had a cloudy day, when the changing colors of the tree just doesn't seem as vibrant. And then, on September 29th, I flew down to Maryland with my daughter and granddaughters to meet my new grandson. I was gone for 10 days, and for some reason the leaves just kept changing colors and falling from the tree! When I came back, the tree looked like the pictures above. However, this is what it looked like just before I left:







Mighty Maple September 28, 2012





Mighty Maple September 22, 2012

   


Amazing what a week and a half will do at this time of year. There are still many trees that are yellow and orange and beautiful looking. But on my way home tonight I can see that the hills are nearly void of color now, and most look that rusty shade right before the leaves really come down. Soon most of the trees will be completely bare, waiting for that first dusting (or dumping!) of snow. Some areas towards the mountains did have snow flurries last Friday, and there was visible white up on the mountain tops. Even Swanton had snow for about 45 minutes, although I was at work and saw no signs of it in Burlington or when I came home. No worry, the season has not even begun, and I know there will be plenty of opportunity to see the world covered in that pristine blanket.

 

 

Of course I can't end this post without inserting my favorite photos of those wonderful grandchildren of mine. First the girls:

And then the newest little guy:

 

 

It was so much fun having a short visit with the girls up here, then traveling down there to spend the 10 days with my other daughter and her son. I love the special time right after a new little one joins this world. Everything is centered around every possible thing he could need or do, and each day brings another journey. Holding that sleeping boy in my arms for hours at a time is such a warm, wonderful feeling. It was hard to leave. It was hard to say goodbye. It was hard to put all those miles between us, and not feel that tug of guilt at being so far away. But I know they will all be okay. I know those little children are in the very best hands possible. And I know that I will love and miss them each day.