Yesterday evening light poured over the bright trees. Branches swirled as the west wind wheeled around to come from the north. The sky kept changing. All of this drama, going on right above my head—I stood out on the deck and gave myself a crick in the neck just looking at it, like a country mouse seeing skyscrapers for the first time.
Today the dogs and I made our way along the lane through the woods, the wind in our faces. We rounded a curve and a doe stepped onto the path right in front of us. We stopped. She stood still, her back to us. Then she turned, as if, well, something seemed to be not quite right. She looked right at us but didn’t seem to register “dogs” or “human.” She looked off the way she’d come, as if trying to make a decision. She looked back at us. Looked away. Then her white flag went up and she was off, leaping up the deer trail over the drumlins as the dogs, their trance broken, pulled and whined to be unleashed. It’s exhilarating to realize how much is going on in the world that I cannot possibly understand.
All this and I am making progress on my to-do list. Or at least I’m striking as many things off the top as I’m adding to the bottom, which is a kind of progress, isn’t it?
Torch Lake Views 
Kathy
October 22, 2010
The drama in the natural world is amazing. Fire breathing trees! Wind whipping overhead. Dogs and deer in trance. The world holds its breath. What will happen next? (Better than a movie, isn’t it?)
Gerry
October 22, 2010
Indeed it is, although there are a couple of movies . . .
giiid
October 22, 2010
A good reading..what can I say…I push your blogs invisible “like” button.
Gerry
October 22, 2010
Rascal! But thank you.
P.j. grath
October 22, 2010
I keep thinking the trees are “flaming” with color and then think how badly trees and fire, in the literal sense, go together. But how beautiful they are, and the sun after sunset last night was unbelievable.
Yes, you are making progress on your to-do list if, even as you’re crossing items off the top, it’s growing at the bottom. What would it mean if you had nothing to do?
Gerry
October 22, 2010
It would mean that I could take my brain out to play! Nothing all that interesting goes on my to-do list. It is mainly a stern reminder to tend to things I’d prefer would just go away.
Scott Thomas Photography
October 22, 2010
Beautiful, Gerry. I am afraid I am missing all the fall splendor this year but am enjoying how others are. Wildlife encounters are always exhilarating even if done in the quiet of a forest.
If you are stepping through the To Do List it is progress. I don’t think I have ever seen the end of mine either.
Gerry
October 22, 2010
Thank you Scott. I wish you a moment of splendor when least expected–a stubborn leaf that finally turns, a bit of sumac, a dry brown leaf set ablaze in a sidelong bar of light. It’s always there somewhere, and your eyes are just the ones to see it!
Cindy Lou
October 22, 2010
The third photo with the beautimous pastel sky is my favorite today! We had stiff winds yesterday, too – I even had to wear my ear cuffs and gloves! Brrr…..been a bit spoiled this fall so far.
There’s something immensely satisfying about crossing stuff off a list – even if other stuff is being added! Progress is progress whichever way you can get it!
Gerry
October 22, 2010
My favorite, too, but I have a hard time editing.
Sometimes I start a new to-do list with “Make list” just so I can be sure of crossing off at least one thing.
Karma
October 22, 2010
The third shot is gorgeous, Gerry, and beautifully illustrates your “fire-breathing tree” metaphor. Or would that be “dragonification”? 😉
Gerry
October 22, 2010
Might be, might be! I’m glad you liked it. To me it seemed as if two trees were breathing fire at each other. Although I almost called it fire-eating trees. I have this odd memory of a carnival sideshow with someone in spangled tights swallowing flames.
isathreadsoflife
October 23, 2010
Blazing and majestic trees in the evening light ! I know that my neck would have hurt too as I looked up at them forever. Beautiful pictures.
flandrumhill
October 25, 2010
It’s amazing what we see when we pause and lift up our eyes.
Something tells me that a lot of that exhilirating stuff that goes on in the world has to do with either cats or squirrels. At least in my neck of the woods.
Gerry
October 25, 2010
I expect you’re right. Although raccoons and porcupines do their share around here. And skunks. Scratch that – the skunk thing is not exhilarating.
I have a newly repaired dusk-to-dawn motion-triggered yard light. I had forgotten how it startles me every time it goes on when all of us are securely tucked away inside. Sometimes I’m quick enough to spot a possum waddling away, or a defiant raccoon looking up as if to say “You lookin’ at me?” Mostly the triggering critter remains a great mystery. The dogs are oblivious, but Miss Puss and I feel a certain tremor in the atmosphere.