Monday, October 10, 2011

A GOLDEN BLAZE ... AUTUMN INSPIRATION ...

Another week is upon us friends. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend.

Chicago's unpredictable weather graced us with periwinkle blue skies, dappling sunlight through a few fluffy clouds, and soft balmy breezes. Today the temps dropped a bit but left us with a lovely autumn day.

This is one of my favorite times of year. The once bright green leaves of summer are knoq ablaze with color ... stunning golds, pumpkin oranges, and fiery reds. As I write this post, I am surrounded by blazing color framed in each one of my five living room windows. No painting could compete with nature's beauty.

Each new day brings me a new gift. How can one not feel inspired? Beauty surrounds me in my home and in my neighborhood. My lakefront power walks now trail my steps with maple, oak, and elm leaves frolicking playfully by my side. What better companion on such a fine day.

Blustering winds kick up my friends into blazing spirals, whisking them away for others to enjoy. I'm not alone for long, for in a moment more leaves will return playing tag with one another.

So my friends in the north, this time is so fleeting, don't miss one of nature's truly amazing seasons. Leave your computer's, tablets, and phones, and discover new friends waiting to play tag with you.

I hope you all get to enjoy an autumn day. Let me know how autumn inspires you. I really want to know!

Don't forget to drop by for my second segment in the Rule of # on Wednesday...

I'll leave you know with nature's glory.... Have a wonderful Monday.





35 comments:

MG Higgins said...

What a gorgeous photo! I LOVE the fall. The geese are just starting to fly south over our house; the sound is so wistful and magical.

N. R. Williams said...

I love autumn as well. It isn't as colorful in Colorado unless you go to the mountains.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, Fantasy Author

Anonymous said...

I miss Chicago. Moved away when I was 17, and only went back sporadically in the intervening years. I haven't been back since my cousin's wedding in 2007.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm inspired by cooler temperatures and less humidity!

Anonymous said...

I love all of the seasons, I couldn't pick which one to love more. But, I think it comes from playing the game of the four seasons as a child, which is now the inspiration for my book.

I love the flowers of spring, early sunrises of summer and heat that could melt your shoes, the ripening of food and the smell of autumn, I love the sparkle in freshly fallen snow and the mist of your breath when you go outside.

I love all seasons because each is beautiful in it's own way.

Southpaw said...

Fall is an inspiration season for me. IT really gets my juices flowing.

I can't see the picture (browser issues I think, I've been having them for a while now, ho hum).

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Since I was born in October, Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. Your photo is lovely, Roland

Unknown said...

Sounds glorious! I love this time of the year in South Africa... Actually, I love the MORNINGS right now (before the wind gets up and ruins the day). The sun is rising earlier and earlier and you can smell summer in the air. I LOVE that! The fresh smell of it!

mshatch said...

I love the colors of fall, and I love the Indian Summer we're getting here. What a treat!

LTM said...

last year autumn gifted me with a new MS. This year, I'm waiting to see if it will ever get picked up by a publisher.

bleah. :p

But the girls are off for two weeks-! So we're going to get out and PLAY! :o) <3

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

It snowed here. I kinda feel that we skipped right from summer to winter. But today it is significantly warmer and it feels more like fall. Just that damned winter storm we had was a real downer especially a week after eighty degree weather.

Johanna Garth said...

Great picture! I love this time of year too. Pumpkin bars and going for runs through the crunchy leaves...it's perfect.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

We're still a few weeks from the leaves turning. I hope the bad weather didn't ruin the coming fall.

Heather said...

I love autumn too! It's one of my favorite times of the year. The rich colors, the scents, the tastes, it all makes me feel so content!

Lorelei Bell said...

I live south of Dekalb, Il. and we went to Oregon, to see the beauty of the white pines and eat at the White Pines Inn, today! It was gorgeous today. great to have the weather last just a little longer. In another day it's going to get nasty.

I love fall and Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday!

Jodi Henry said...

Fall is my favorite season ever. I wish it was Fall all year long. Thank you for sharing the beauty of Chicago with us today :)

Golden Eagle said...

That sounds like the weather we've been having here. :) The trees are turning, too; some of them have already dropped all their leaves.

Ciara said...

Our leaves just exploded with color. I have to ask, if I'm going to RT in April, what kind of weather should I expect. Are the hotels kept pretty warm?

Alleged Author said...

Autumn--more than any other month--inspires me to write!

Natalie Aguirre said...

It's been gorgeous in Ann Arbor too. I've been walking more and working in the yard to enjoy it.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Fall always makes me think of the Albuquerque Int'l Balloon Fiesta, the largest in the world. The last day was yesterday. I really, really miss it.

Sam Walker said...

Fall on the west coast where I am is more like a slippery decline, this year especially; summer, when it did make an appearance, ending right on the nose, descending to wintry conditions and not needing to be asked twice. La Niña, that naughty little girl responsible, slipped Mother Nature’s hand yet again, returning, it seems, to stop play once more, come, to not float, but batter leaves to the ground with spiteful breath, manufacturing a precarious mulch for all who dare to venture out, instead of outsourcing the weather to India, as we thought might be the case.

But yes, I do love the fall normally, especially those autumns in Britain; the swirls of leaves gate-crashing our hallways like packs of rats, the humour of hastily written signs in railway stations that state unapologetically ‘due to leaves on the tracks there’s no way we’re operating today matey; find another bloody way to get to work.’

Like Vivaldi, I embrace all seasons, each possessing its own unique beauty, clipping our ears with their melodies as they go. But as I get older, enter my own autumnal period, perhaps I relate to the rusty disposition of fall more and more. Yes, no longer green, no longer sizzling, blistering even, but blustering, warm as a chestnut, my vibrancy not quite faded either, still able to conquer, preparing me for the sagacity of when days will grey, when life will simmer, and when I might break a hip by way of random leaf.

Nice piece, and beautiful picture Michael, I enjoyed it... sorry I got a bit carried away there, inspiration taking me over.

Danette said...

I love crashing through the leaves when I take walks in the fall. I am sure the neighbors don't enjoy me splashing them about as much as I do, but they'll just have to get over it! :)

the wild magnolia said...

What a wonderful share of autumn.

Happy brand spanking new week!

Kwee Cats and Art said...

Those are such beautiful colors. I love the colors of Fall. Thank you for sharing them.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Super photo! Fall here passes so quickly. You just get used to the idea and BAM winter is upon us. I imagine it is the same in Chicago. I don't think we are that much north of you???

Have a wonderful week enjoying nature. :D

Sarah Tokeley said...

Thank you for the beautiful photograph. It's rainy, windy and cold here. Just how I like it :-)

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Great word pictures!
I love fall -- beautiful colors and crunching leaves.

Brenda Drake said...

I love this time of year! This past week in Albuquerque almost 700 hot air balloons went up each morning, adding to the beauty. Enjoy the season! <3

Laura said...

Autumns my favourite season. I love the smell of the air as it gets colder, and the colours everywhere. I always feel at this time of year more than any other that anything is possible. Beautiful post Michael!
Laura xxx

Ruth Schiffmann said...

Hey Michael, I found you through Elliot Grace's blog. I'm a campaigner too! Love the vibrant fall picture. The leaves haven't turned yet where I am, but I'm looking forward to those magnificent colors =)

dolorah said...

Hi Michael. Lovely picture. I love opening my doors and windows and getting a whiff of fresh air. I wouldn't mind if it were 72 year around :)

..........dhole

Margo Benson said...

Lovely photograph! I adore Autumn, especially when the sky is clear and there's a hint of frost in the air. Sadly today in our dark corner of Britain it's that fine misty rain that seeps into your bones and shrouds the beautiful trees.

Carol Riggs said...

Periwinkle! I love that color, and the word. :) We have fog today, no color. Just GRAY.

Hey, your first page post is now up on my blog! The comments trickle in over the next week, so be sure to stop by, and feel free to comment to the commenters, right on the post if you'd like.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Marvelous photograph and beautiful writing, Michael!

Here in coastal Virginia, the leaves are still bright green. The only ones fallen are those blown down by the late summer hurricane.

Monti

NotesAlongTheWay