Falls Away
November 6, 2008|Comments (26)
In the front yard of the house I best remember from childhood stood two large maple trees which enjoyed a breathtaking view of the Shenandoah Valley’s loveliest farm land. The gently rolling hills laced with crooked streams, and dotted with assorted trees, aging barns, fields planted with corn or alfalfa, cattle, sagging fences, and bluegill-filled ponds made for some particularly scenic seasons. The maples were taller then the up-most eave of the old white farmhouse and in storms the branches brushed against the windows above the porch.
Before leaving Virginia on my 3,000 mile journey to the great Northwest, I returned to gaze at the twin maples which saw me ride my bike without training wheels to the curve in the driveway where a dogwood grew and caught me out with the horses instead of doing chores. Those trees watched my parents’ marriage disintegrate, my mother’s sanity erode, and countless moments which my memory has thankfully erased. I could not leave Virginia without looking up through those leaves again and wondering where life would take me.
Afterwards, I felt renewed and equipped to tackle the next chapter in my life’s journey to self discovery and since that time, fall has always brought me back to that moment with the brightly colored leaves spinning above me, the rush of the wind moving the heavy branches, and the tickle of the Kentucky blue grass blades against my skin. Empowered by physical evidence that life moves steadily forward with or without us, I face new challenges with greater enthusiasm. Autumn seems to ignite that fire and drive in me.
What surprises await us on the other side of winter? As the leaves dance to the ground and the cloudshadows race across the land moved by a high and secret wind… one cannot help but wonder where we will be next fall and what trees will frame our views.
Have you seen what else is new on our site? Check out our blondes in the buff, knitted dishcloths, nordic braided bread, green manure groundcovers, and a lullaby for a stormy night. If that’s not enough then you’ll just have to wander through our Best Of section for more goodies. Want to comment? Click here.
The comment box is below the way-cool advertisement.
Please leave us a comment. We love reading them and feel that they are the best part of the site. Thank you!
Very lovely photos.
Such beautiful pictures and trees! I’d love to experience fall in the US. It’s so much more colorful!
Cheers,
Rosa
Sigh.
Are you from the Shenandoah Valley?!?! Did I know that?!?!
I am from Winchester, VA- lived there until I was in my early 20’s.
Do you write poems?? You should write poems! You have such a way with words.
Beautiful pictures 
Those are BEAUTIFUL PHOTO’S!!! WOW
Lacy, these words sent goosebumps to my heart! It’s beautiful and so complete with the entanglement of life’s turmoil to life’s treasures.
You are amazing, young lady!
~Many Hugs~
Momma Barb
(no, Cowboy WON’T be going to Pike’s Place Market! That 5 mi. he has to drive will be trecherous enough for his sanity! When we lived in AZ, he never drove around the city’s..I did. If we go to the coast to see families…I drive from North Bend on…he hates chaos,congestion, confinement…claustrophoic? possibly)
Breathtaking pictures!!!!!!!!
Nice pics! Beautiful colors!
When I go back home my past comes back to visit me, too. The good, the bad, and the in between! It also makes me wonder about all the paths my life could have taken. I am soooooo thankful I’m on this one! Sounds like you’re very appreciative of your “present life” too! Beautiful pics!
Wow, such beautiful photos….my favorite season is Autumn and we barely get one here….most things just go from green to dead.
As one of my favorite fellow bloggers likes to say, we have 2 seasons in the central valley of CA - summer and January
There IS just something about Fall. There’s change in the air and such hope.
Wait.
I’m starting to sound like the presidential campaigns- LOL!
But I think I know what you mean! ;o)
[...] you seen what else is new on our site? Check out our blondes in the buff, simple living confessions, nordic braided bread, green manure groundcovers, and a lullaby for a stormy night. If [...]
P.S. I snatched the one with the trees and the pond. As I’ve said before JR will love a fall color painting for Christmas. Thank you for posting them.
Dear Lacy,
Awesome, just awesome.
lol…love always
GORGEOUS! Sigh. Having lived in the Midwest and in Colorado - but now in the low desert - I MISS fall terribly. I love fall and seeing these pictures. It’s such a layered season, literally and figuratively - and I see it is complex for you as well. I’m so happy for this chapter in your life.
Those are STUNNING! I love the pictures! There is nothing like the fall colors to brighten up the day!
I was just thinking today that I should take some pictures of the leaves. your pictures are beautiful and I can almost smell the fall in the air.
The next 3 months are rough ones for me.. gotta get through that winter!! Spring and new life awaits on the other side!
Lacy, although I LOVE it here in Key West, I miss the fall color. Those pictures are beautiful. Did you take them? If so where?
Hope you are both doing well. All’s fine here. Take care. MJ
Hey Mary Jo!! All the pictures were taken between Pine Mountain and the marina at Green Island Hills. The leaves were really bright for a few days but have begun to fade now. It’s sort of sad to see the leaves begin to get brown spots and the edges begin to curl. Gosh, we miss you! Love ya! -LC
I love fall…. the colors are so vivid. The weather is warm and cool. The air smells so fresh! Beautiful photos! Happy Fall!
nothing looks as beautiful down here in florida.
wow!
Oh, I LOVE the photos! You know how I feel about Fall and I MISS those colors so much! Could you please box me up some leaves?! *giggle*
Hugs,
Dianne
Lacy lovely photos. Lovelier words-this post truly spoke to me. Life goes on with us or without. So I should try harder to stay in life not in the past.
What wonderful memories and descriptions. Great photos as well. We just don’t get the same colours as you do there.
I really wish, we had those colors here.
Fall doesn’t look that pretty here either. I love your pictures.