Leaves & Laughter

As predicted, Autumn arrived and visited our area in the glorious array of color that only the season of Fall can bring.   God's handiwork in creation is to be admired, as we are treated to golden leaves with touches of orange and red among forest trees and countryside shrubs.  Since we are nearing the end of fall, declared by trees naked of leaves, the landscape now resembles twigs and branches devoid of color and form.  Spring and summer have had their way giving blossoms of color and richness of green to delight our human world in the vision of nature in beauty and smell.

The above photo was taken several years ago at a friend's house while raking an abundance of fall leaves.  Work turned into play, resulting in a fun shot of being engulfed by such a pile!  It's also great to take a walk through such leaves and listen to the crunching sounds beneath your feet.  Aahh!  We all need to take time out to be kids at heart in a much too often serious world.

Laughter is good for the soul.  Scripture says in Proverbs 17:22 - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones."   Have you ever sat and listened to the laughter of a child or children??  It is so contagious, you find yourself laughing along with them.  It is a melody of gladness which makes one want to join in the experience of lighthearted moments in the world of a child.  I posted this 20 second sound clip of a baby's laughter just in case you haven't heard an innocent's laughter in a while; I hope it brings you a smile.  You can also hear it at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5KBCu3Wre4

 

If the season of Autumn had sound, I'm sure we'd hear a crescendo in the rise of colors from muted green to sun tipped yellows, blazing orange and heated reds.  If we listened close enough, perhaps we could hear the laughter of leaves playing in the wind or riding the breeze as they float or soar through currents of air in a final act of cycle.  The tree, barren as it looks, continues on with life flowing inwardly, invisible to the human eye, yet ready to produce its wonder of foliage upon the advent of Spring. 

We are treated to the changing season of Fall and only need to drive a short distance before we are in the forested hills surrounding the John Day Valley.  The Tamarack tree is prevalent among the evergreens as they burst forth in their lacy beauty of yellow, which distinguishes them from the ordinary.  You can make a scenic drive from John Day to Baker City, about 80 miles in distance, to enjoy the brilliant autumn splash of the tamarack dotting the forest countryside.

Since I have compiled a number of Autumn photos that I took during the past few years, I chose some to put in a PhotoShow entitled "Autumn Glory" for viewing.  Most were taken in Grant County and around the "neighborhood" in the John Day Valley.  The neighborhood consists of Dayville, Mt. Vernon, John Day and Prairie City, all situated on Highway 26, which continues into the woodland towards Baker City.  This country is also known as "High Desert".... which I've never understood since desert means to me, sand dunes and the odd sagebrush.  It is beautiful country here, often referred to as God's Country.  For those of you who have not traveled to Eastern Oregon, you can catch a glimpse of this part of the country and get an idea of the scenery here.  Since the population count is low, there are definitely more trees than people!

You can also view at this link:   http://www.photoshow.com/watch/nN6NT9Yb

 In closing, I wish you all a BLESSED & HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  Remember to discover humor and along with it, do smile often, laugh hard and delight yourself in the little things in life, such as autumn leaves.

Tune in for my next post on December 9 at The Turn-Up Patch.  Until then, here is a quote from Paulo Coelho:  "When we love, we always strive to become better than we are.  When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too."