Peaceful Walk

I tried doing too much this morning, time got away from me, but I determined to take a walk at the Arboretum.  I ended up going late afternoon, and had a beautiful walk through the woods with my camera.

I thought of the path the Lord has us on, this lonely, hard path that--to me--is a road to recovery:  recovery from three very hard years in our journey, recovery from the continuous valleys we found ourselves in, recovery in our finances, and recovery to a new life of travel, of holding down the fort, of a four-days-a-week job for me, of adult men in my home.

I'm still trying to figure out this new life, how to juggle life with four men in my home, but they're still sons, and how do we work out meals, laundry, chores...  It's confusing for me, since I was a stay-at-home mom for so long, and now they're grown but still home, and I'm gone much of the time.

This afternoon, however, is a time for just me and my camera, and the beautiful woods that is The Morton Arboretum.

A tree had fallen across the path.  It was easy enough to climb around, but it reminded me to stay on the path, reminded me of #three words--whatever it takes--to make this new life work.  Fernando and I have a long road in front of us, to dig ourselves out of this valley (financially, anyway) we've ended up in.

But, the sun is shining, and our path seems lit with His peace.  We'll keep walking this path until He shows otherwise.  We'll keep hoping for permanency with this company, as we work hard and spend little time together.  We know there's peace as we both work toward the same goal, for His glory.

I reached my favorite spot, the place past the spruce plot where the tree trunks have fallen along the path.  I stopped, just breathing, taking in the scene, knowing that in a few days, or a few weeks, this place will be awash in yellow.  It will be a brief, glorious time, and then it will be gone.  I'm determined to see it.

Back in my car, I drove toward the exit, but just had to stop since the sun was turning this tree on yellow fire.  I had to take in this moment, knowing it would be gone the next time I visited.

I love the brief brilliance that is autumn, the bright bursts of color, as if the Lord is telling me--store this up, this beauty, because you have a bleak winter ahead, and you must remember my glory through it.

Storing it up...


Back to life,
Christine

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Goodbye, Lake B

Monday morning, August 15.

My goodbye ritual remains the same.  When the (rental!) car is packed and we're ready to head home, I head on down to the lake for one last look.  It didn't disappoint, either, with a picture perfect scene complete with wispy clouds as I stood on the dock.

So many memories, stored up in my heart as I turn my face toward home life, treasures I pull out as I close my eyes and see these scenes.  Goodbye, Lake Bonaparte--I will see you next summer, Lord willing.


Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Goodbye

Wednesday morning.  Time to say goodbye.

My personal ritual is to visit the lake one last time, just to drink in the view and store it in my memory.  My camera helps me with that, too--I usually take one or two pictures, say my goodbyes, and head back to the car for our leave-taking.

May I visit again.


Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Sunday Boat Ride

The day after the cook-off, a boat ride-and-float tradition began at some point, and continued this year.  It was a little bit warmer (meaning it wasn't finger-frosted-forty like Saturday's cook-off temps.  It wasn't raining, that was the main thing, and a little breeze would not put us off.

I think the colors were at their peak today!

The other pontoon boat was catching up to us.

We floated around, both pontoon boats tethered together, behind Round Island, where the breeze was blocked and the water was calm.  Snacks and drinks and general conversation were the goal, and we all enjoyed a great time together.

Rich photobombed Dad and Mom.

When it was time to go, we untethered the boats, waved goodbye, and met back at the Jackson dock.

Al points the way.

Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Post Cook-Off Sunset

The cook-off ended, and it was time for me to head down to the dock and the lake and the sunset.

Sometimes the best sunset picture is a while after the sun sets, as the clouds turn brilliant purples and pinks.  Tonight, though, I think the best picture was just as the sun was setting, with the sky painted in a patchwork of  white clouds.

Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Saturday Boat Ride

Back from my Saturday morning walk yesterday, I relaxed for just a bit until one of my cousins came up and told me there was a boat ride that very minute.  No time to waste!  Dad, Mom and I trotted on down to the dock and onto the pontoon boat for a relaxing first autumn ride.

The lake was like glass that morning, and the colors were brilliant.  Even in the cold, it was the perfect boat ride.

Little Round Island, forlorn without its little house.

Someone spotted a loon with its winter colors, and Rick (our boat driver) angled for me to get a good shot--oh, for a decent telephoto lens!!

Mini suns reflected on the water.

Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Saturday Morning

A crisp, cold Saturday autumn morning at my lake seemed like the perfect time to take a walk down Hotel Road and Hermitage Road and see how long I could last in the 30-degree cold.

Standing at Hotel Road and Creekside Drive, looking toward Hermitage Road.

It would definitely be beautiful this morning, as far as color was concerned.  I heard a tap-tap-tap, and looked up to see a woodpecker in the tree below.  You'll have to look closely to see him as I didn't have my telephoto lens with me.  He's almost at the top of the main trunk, with a red head.

I stopped on Hotel Road right where it meets Hermitage Road (the main road out to Route 3), and looked up.  Oh, yes, the colors were beautiful!

Up Hermitage Road is a nature preserve--actually, the preserve covers a good sized space along Hermitage and Hotel Roads--and this morning it was still and peaceful, with a few pops of color.

 Crossing the old railroad tracks beyond the nature preserve.

Wildflower along the railroad tracks.

I lingered a while, then came back to the nature preserve, below.

As I made my way back to Hotel Road to turn and go back to my parents' cottage, I paused for this shot below.  It's the best one from my morning walk, with a variety of colors and trees, with the leaf-lined road curving to the right and to my parents' cottage.  I know the lake is there, just around that corner; that makes this particular photo that much more meaningful.

Back to life,
Christine

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