The aging of an old, abandoned house takes on a special poignancy in the fall. The fall foliage signifies the end of another growing season, the wear and tear of many seasons signifies the ending of another’s dream.
Slabsides color to tree trunks.
Fall took on a somber season look today.
Falling more as rain than snow, the first few flakes drift sporadically, mixing with misty rain or as Thoreau says “mizzling”, confusing the fall and winter season. Some leaves still hang, some trees are bare, transition is everywhere. Perhaps there is no greater chill than rain and snow on a cloudy fall day. Summer thinned blood still flows, in February such a day would be a joy, a break, a Spring-thought day. A chill shutter courses momentarily through the body.
At least in October some green herbs and colorful leaves still appear to soften the mood, in somber late November that is not the case. The cold and wind are not softened by hustling through bare branches and open fields. The chill shutter becomes a shiver. Winter thoughts presage the season, late fall is more early winter than late winter is early spring.
Quick on the heals of a mild fall, the winter entrenched itself before November could say goodbye. The record cold left no doubt that winter has arrived early, as an Arctic air mass slipped off the polar pie sending a slice our way. Snaking around the Arctic cap, the polar jet stream wanders, oscillating continuously, dispensing cold willy-nilly. Settled early cold definitely lengthens
winter. Each cold day is stolen from the fall, not to be replaced in the spring. Mild winter weather is just that, mild winter weather, but pleasant fall days are a joyous blessing.
The chill penetrates, cooling the ardor that comes in the short bursts that yield clarity of thought.
Snow falling in extreme cold conditions, when moisture seems frozen from the air, is other-worldly, like the concept of snowing methane in totally alien planetary environments. Snow falling near freezing temperatures maintains the sense that carbon-based life forms are still welcome.
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