autumn is my time.
i am most radiant and full of energy
when the leaves are falling
and
there is a ghost of change in the air.
-author unknown
—
still walking
as october begins
and
the parks and i
change with the season.
(now at 120 and 30-some to go)
—
north lilley park, ann arbor, mi, usa
fall is only ‘fall’ to americans, even though the term was coined in britain.
what do you call the picking of ripe sweet potatoes, apples, squash and pumpkins?
harvest.
that was the word used until the 1300s to describe the next few months of weather.
because “harvest” also meant the gathering of ripe crops, when the word “autumn” showed up in english writing, its popularity soared.
some time after, poets coined the phrase “the fall of leaves” — shortened to “fall” in the 1600s.
the word “autumn” still remained popular throughout england’s period of colonizing the world.
the lack of consistent communication between the english and the people in the american colonies led to differences in the language.
by the mid-1800s, the word “fall” had firmly rooted itself in america.
—
and apparently something was again lost in translation
when communicating with mother nature
as yesterday was the official first day of
fall/harvest/autumn
and our temps in michigan were in the 90s.
(photo: fuller park, ann arbor, mi, usa)
—
credit: cnn news
“the best way to resolve any problem in the human world
is for all sides to sit down and talk.”
-dalai lama
—
miller nature area, ann arbor, mi, usa
(110 parks down – 50ish to go)
one september morning
i went to a place beyond dawn
s source of sweetness that flows
and is never less.
i have been shown
a beauty that would confuse both worlds.
-rumi
—
reflection of the sky and trees in the huron river
gallup park, ann arbor, mi, usa
and so –
my ann arbor parks walk (150+) has begun
here are the ‘a’s
#1 – Allmendinger Park
old school merry go round, in neighborhood in town, near the stadium, got really lost walking home from there and doubled my walk, picnic spots with grills, volleyball, old trees, basketball, tennis, baseball diamonds, ice skating in winter
– 8 acres
#2 – arbor hills nature area
between neighborhoods, ponds, loud frogs, birds, picnic spots in sweeping expanses under trees, wooded trails, scared a woman when i emerged from the woods who was shocked that i had found it
– 6 acres
#3 – Arbor Oaks
neighborhood park, basketball, open pergolas, open fields, picnic area, pirate themed playground, rain garden, baseball, i was the only person there on the day i visited
-8 acres
#4 – Argo Nature Area
– unpaved trails with beautiful views of the river, livery with canoes/kayak/paddle board rentals, river cascades, long, narrow park, large variety of trees, wildflowers, very quiet in the woods
-22 acres
and onward……many more to follow
—
“i believe that there is a subtle magnetism in nature,
which, if we unconsciously yield to it,
will direct us aright.”
―henry david thoreau
I didn't have my glasses on.... 