My Favorite Time of Year

Posted by laurieetta on November 6, 2020 in Being Human | Leave a comment

As much as I love the warmth of summer, I also appreciate the nip in the air that comes with autumn. The cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago made me worry we had missed the season of fall, but it returned, and we have been enjoying some beautiful weather lately.

This painting, Autumn on the River, comes alive with intense yellows and reds and reminds me of why I like this season so much. Talk about eye candy. Along with enjoying the beauty of the leaves, I start feeling the urge to make soup and I begin welcoming a fire in the fireplace. A snuggly blanket and a cat on my lap feel like home. Outside, yellow and red leaves dance across the lawn and driveway. I have said, “Thank you,” and “Good-bye,” to the potted flowers that brought me joy all summer. Their time has come to a close and a new season has arrived.

Someone said, “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” The swirling leaves and faded flowers may teach us an important lesson. Just as trees do not stubbornly hang on to their dead leaves, we are invited to let go of any unnecessary weight in our lives.

Being Human connection: What are we holding on to? What decayed leaves of the past need disappear down the driveway in order to make way for the new? May each fallen leaf remind us that to everything there is a season and sometimes the season serves as a reminder that letting go can be beautiful.

Featured art: Jasper Francis Cropsey, Autumn on the River, 1877.

About the artist. Cropsey (1823-1900) was an American artist of the Hudson River School movement. I talked about this movement last May when I highlighted a painting by Durand called The Beeches. Cropsey is often called “The Painter of Autumn” because of his colorful autumnal landscape paintings.

I love this photo was taken by my talented future daughter-in-law. Check out more of her work at http://www.palindromephoto.com/.