pameladean: chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly (Libellula julia)
[personal profile] pameladean
I have a new phone with a more primitive camera, and I forgot my real actual camera, so you'll have to make do with words.

It was 47 degrees and sunny today, so I went for a walk. Everything has that swept-clean, expansive feeling that comes after all the leaves are down. Houses that are veiled by leaves in other seasons stand out, and you remember again that the red one has that funny round window and the gray one has a strange little corner porch on the back and the blue one has that look-again-no-really side dormer that looks as if somebody was quite drunk when designing it. The grass is still brilliant green, and small fantastical castles made of half-melted leftover snow stand around upon it. Here and there a sunken partial snow person leans sideways. Most leaves of all kinds are down. Rosebushes are still turning red. Some are still flowering. A sheltered garden has here a bright yellow snapdragon plant blooming away, and there a clump of chrysanthemums, bright red or white or wildly golden. Creeping phlox and sedum and periwinkle are all evergreen in milder climates, and they are as green and creeping as can be, though not in bloom.

Everybody was out with dogs and children in strollers. Chickadees uttered short, sharp warnings, maybe about me, maybe about hawks. House sparrows contended about deep philosophical issues, or perhaps about territory or food.

Nobody has dug up my bulbs yet.

Pamela

Date: 2016-11-26 10:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mizkit.livejournal.com
Those are some very fine words. <3

Date: 2016-11-26 11:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sartorias.livejournal.com
Thank you for that word picture. It sounds so lovely!

Date: 2016-11-27 06:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] castleclear.livejournal.com
Oh dear! Not words, from Pamela Dean. (gasp) Whatever shall we do?
(and Yes, I am I hope entirely being silly.)

We too have been enjoying unseasonably find weather, which does make getting out to walk easier and more enjoyable. It's not that I am such a fan of snow and ice, but well, here at least, we really can use the moisture.

Date: 2016-11-27 02:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maiac.livejournal.com
A vivid picture!

I smiled at the chickadees. I have a special fondness for them because they're the favorite bird of a friend who's an ornithologist. She says people should be more like chickadees: brave but not aggressive, forthright but always polite, fearless in defense of what's theirs but never greedy.

Date: 2016-11-27 08:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
I like that list of virtues and their delimitations! I've always been fond of chickadees, and now I'll think of your friend's description when I see them.

Date: 2016-11-27 02:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] inlaterdays.livejournal.com
I love your descriptions so much.

Also, hooray for bulbs being left alone.

Date: 2016-11-27 08:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
small fantastical castles made of half-melted leftover snow stand around upon it. Here and there a sunken partial snow person leans sideways.

Oh I can see it exactly! Perfect words--thank you.

House sparrows contended about deep philosophical issues, or perhaps about territory or food. --Probably some of each. The ones talking about deep philosophical issues shake their heads condescendingly when they catch snatches of the others' conversations, while the others just roll their eyes and say "posers" when they overhear the philosophers.

Nobody has dug up my bulbs yet. -- those lazy squirrels! Never hire their landscaping firm again!

Profile

pameladean: (Default)
pameladean

January 2024

S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jun. 8th, 2025 09:45 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios