Monday, November 07, 2005

A Rather Blustery Day

Over the weekend, we caught the skirting of whatever spawned the terrible storms in Evansville, Indiana and surrounding areas. The wind howled and moaned through our yard and beat against the house, and thick lumpy clouds from white to soot raced across the deep blue sky. The last colors of autumn that clung despirately to the branches are now mostly gone.

I had to run to the grocery store yesterday, and cut through the town we live near in order to get to the closest (although not my favorite) market. As I drove past the schoolyard, I could see the bright yellow maple leaves showering down into loose piles along the side of the road. As I approached, the wind picked up and rousted the leaves into a big cyclone of color and activity. It was almost as if they saw me coming and were getting excited about it. By the time I met with them I was driving through a blizzard of what looked like bright dancing golden butterflies. I could hear the leaves whispering past the windows as I drove through them – “Shhhhhissshhhhh” - and I couldn’t help myself. I giggled.

There’s something about windy fall days. True, they knock the beautiful painted foliage down, but it’s fun to see the leaves carrying on giddily in the air – and to join in the dance if I can.

8 comments:

Martie said...

Clew, get out of that car and DANCE! We enjoyed the same kind of weather, minus any blue sky. It rained periodically but it didn't stop the"usual" granddaughter from running amongst the leaves between the raindrops.

I can picture you running next to her, both of you giddy and giggling!

A Spoon said...

autumn rocks! its the final cheery days before the bleak winter arrives :)

Bougie Black Boy said...

autumn is back and so is clew's writing skills, you tried to hide from us. I love it when you describe things in nature.

Cheryl said...

I miss the seasons! We don't get much of that here. My aunt lives in Evansville- thank God it missed her, but she was pretty wired talking about it.

Michelle said...

A majority of the colorful leaves have abandoned ship here too ~ mostly to our roof and gutters. It was so windy, the house shook a few times and we weren't even in the path of any severe weather.

Over night, our beautiful backyard has gone from a glowing kaliedoscope of fall color to a gnarled web of bare limbs. :(

Rebecca said...

You reminded me of when I was a young girl, and would play in the schoolyard at the end of my street. I loved kicking the leaves, and playing in them...and if it was especially windy - seeing them dance in the breeze. You reminded me of the smell of being in those leaves... Great memory I had tucked away - thanks for bringing it back out for me. :)

Now go drink some wine! ;)

Lori said...

While you were describing this, in my mind I saw Pooh and Piglet, dancing among the leaves at Pooh Corner!

Isn't autumn the greatest?!

Nony said...

That was SO beautiful! There's just something about schoolyards and yellow leaves... can't you almost smell their dusty rustle? Thank you for sharing!
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