Monday is usually for me a recuperative day when I try to stay home and catch up with myself after a lot of Sunday “output.” It didn’t happen the same way today, because I wanted to get to the post office early and mail lots of Christmas packages. It was a cold but not freezing, clear and sunny day, and once I was relieved of my burdens, I knew I would take a walk.
It’s very strange, how for more than a year I have been stubbornly averse to the long-familiar walks in my neighborhood. Is it “familiarity breeds contempt”? But as I always say, every day is different out there, and if you can’t see that, then certainly week by week you would notice, that the plants and the weather are obviously different, so that it is not the same place you are walking. I still didn’t care.
Autumn, after the rains, always tries to pull me out for an explore. But until today, I resisted. I had too much on my mind, on the calendar, and didn’t feel the freedom. It was a providential synchronicity that today, when I am transitioning into the remainder of Advent, the weather was perfect for it. As soon as I neared the creek the heady scents filled my head — of wet earth and leaves, infused with the sweetness of fennel seeds fermenting in the dampness.
We’ve had enough rain that the sheep in the pasture had plenty of bright green grass to graze on, and I think it made the fall colors extra bright. And my mood was bright. Now on to cookie baking!
Gladsome Lights 
This looks like an interesting place to walk. Oh, the cookie baking … I’ll bet your kitchen smells wonderful!
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Yes, it does 🙂
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Especially love the last one, and I am baking cookies too. They run out, before I start again the next day.
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Walking in the opposite direction to your usual circuit also makes a big difference to the views you get.
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It’s interesting that you would say that, kaitiscotland, because though I didn’t mention it, I did just that, set off in the opposite direction from usual to do my loop. That did help me to break out of whatever attitude was hindering me.
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Pretty! We woke to a fresh layer of snow yesterday. I also keep Mondays a catch up at home day, with laundry and maybe food prep. I baked a batch of gingerbread yesterday. I think we each ate 3. Mmm! Maybe you’re making cookies, too?
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It looks like a lovely walk and a grand thing to get out there!
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It’s nice that you were able to appreciate this walk.
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What beautiful photos! Makes me want to go for a walk on that trail! We seem to be a season ahead of you.. all is brown here with a skiff of white on the hills and white on the distant mountains. We are lacking snow and experiencing warmer than usual temperatures, but it still feels like a (mild) winter most of the time, especially when the wind picks up!
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It still looks very much like Autumn out your way; not at all like the middle of December. That yellow leaved tree in the last picture is so pretty. I’m glad you got out for a walk. GM
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You have such glorious autumn color there still. Monday is always catch up day for me too and I’m not even very busy on Sundays anymore. I actually kind of like Mondays. My walks are pretty much limited to our property now and I stroll leisurely around its 2 1/2 acres. Walk as long as you can, keep your legs strong!
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