Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Beautiful Autumn Days: But Winter is Coming

The fall foliage is waning.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Fall Foliage Waning

With twisted trunks leaning against the elements.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Twisted Trunks

And leaves with dramatic curves in contrast against the sky and the conifers
.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Contrasting Foliage

The dark nights are filled with hazy full moons.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Full Hazy Moon

There is always so much to do to tidy the yard for the change in seasons.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Getting the Yard Ready for Winter

Seventy dozen bulbs have been placed and mulched into our corner garden in memory of my Mom's passing this year and my late Aunt Elaine from eight years ago. My favorite women who have influenced my life and my thinking and my values. Tulips. Daffodils. Grape hyacinth. New fritellaria, both vulpis and meleagris mix. Scheduled for early, middle, and late spring blooming.  There should be great joy when the new life emerges after a season's repose in the cold, dark earth! How Mom and Elaine loved the flowers, color, and the birds in springtime!

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Seventy Dozen Bulbs Resting Till Spring

The garden has been pulled up, weeded, roto-tilled, and laid to rest with a bed of shredded leaves. I had a few sprigs of late broccoli, leaves of swiss chard, baby carrots, beet greens, and, lo and behold, there was a handful of late season raspberries! The only thing left for continued use is the kale.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Garden at Rest

My wife wanted an additional cabinet to organize in the kitchen and display some of the canned tomatoes and peaches. We bought the base cabinet to match the rest of the kitchen, modified a display cabinet from a store closeout for the upper tier, and added a butcher block top. Our design journey included selecting a palette for the kitchen which includes a yarrow yellow wall, an artichoke green, and the barn red for cabinets. Picture frames in black and in gold leaf on the walls.  All the colors of the bittersweet vine. It's befitting for both American and French country decor. It matches our European style plate ware. It makes me think of our jaunt through the Boston Beacon Hill area last month. One of our visiting young friends looked around at the yellow walls and declared it "cheesy"!  The double meaning is endearing!

Copyright James E. Martin 2014  Palette of Bittersweet Vine

These decisions help us get started on a brief kitchen makeover. I added a window over the kitchen sink looking into the back yard this past weekend. We will see if we can spiff up the kitchen and finish before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The nights are turning colder so a gathering around the fire pit is soothing for mental health and family conversations.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Warmth on a Cool Night

These are beautiful, unseasonably warm autumn days in New England. But winter is coming and I am not ready. Trying to Live the Moment. But I am unsettled.

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