For each new morning with its light... my thanksgiving thank you to you...

 

For each new morning with its light, 

For rest and shelter of the night, 

For health and food, for love and friends, 

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

(1803-1882)

This Thanksgiving Day we won't be traveling over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go, but to a very special friend's home to share Thanksgiving with she and other very special friends.  She invited us to enjoy Thanksgiving in her lovely 100 year old farm house.  How wonderful is that?  These very special friends are part of a close knit group of people who've become much like family to me.  We share our hearts and minds together in our work for canine rescue via English Springer Spaniel Rescue America.  A group that's blessed me, and that's absolutely changed my life.  Needless to say, my tummy and I are much anticipating the warm fellowship and yummy delights of the events of the day.

My words pale in comparison to Emerson's sublime and simple Thanksgiving prayer above, but I do want to say just a little bit on the topic of today.  A thanks to all of you I call family or friend.  All during the week I've thought about what I would say to my family coast to coast...  To my loved ones and special friends coast to coast...  To those I've met this past year and have had the pleasure to grow to know, whether it be in person, or via the net, or in some other way. 

And this it...

I'm thankful for all of you and feel very blessed to have you in my life whether I can see you face-to-face.  Or, whether it's via my laptop or even my Blackberry screen.  Or, simply hearing your voice through our home phone, which admittedly, I'm known to rarely answer.  Each of you have touched my life.  Some in simple ways.  Some in profound ways.  Some in some ways that will indeed stay with me forever.  While some of you have absolutely made my day more than a time or two.  How do you know if you're one of those who've blessed and touched my life?  If I have ever told you "thank you" this year...  If I have ever said "God Bless You" to you...  If I have ever reached out to you for any reason... you are one of my blessings and each of your are on my mind and in my heart this very special day.  And that's as simple as it gets.

I can't say for certain, but I suspect Ralph Waldo Emerson spent some time walking in a forest pondering and reflecting upon his blessings on or close to Thanksgiving Day.  Perhaps with a canine friend to accompany him.  Like I pondered mine while walking through the woods by my home with Roxy recently.  We both enjoyed our time soaking in Autumn's presence all around, reflecting and gazing upon images in two ponds and the area in between them.

 

and my constant and faithful companion...

Roxie.  We are very thankful to have the tiny girl with us this Thanksgiving.  Soon, she'll be ours forever!

God bless you all this Thanksgiving Day!

Going backwards just a day to share a vibrant peak of Autumn golden delicious yellow, from where? Historic Rockingham, NC!

Yes, I mean "peak", as in the vibrant array of reds, oranges and yellows that mark the season we call Fall or Autumn.  All across the land colors burst forth like a splendid tapestry woven together by God and Mother Nature!  Like the vibrant burst of yellow so bright above, we could mistake it for sunshine! 

I've truly been blessed this Autumn 2010 by not having an abundance of idle time on my hands, between summer's end and the holiday season, as I have during the past several years.  Well, at least since "E" entered my life.  It's felt good to be making contributions on a couple of different volunteer fronts that are very meaningful to me.  But, even so, appreciating this Autumn has been somewhat of a challenge for me to get into for a few reasons.  I'm one that's most comfortable when it's hot, and love Indian summers, but the temp was in the 90s much longer than the norm, even for here.  That just didn't feel right.  Also, the continuing warm weather and totally clear Carolina blue skies have kept my autumn pink sky sunrise surprise treats at bay.  Then, the deciduous tree colors mingled around here and there with the tall Pine tree forests in Sandhills of NC area just haven't been overly vibrant.  That is with the exception of specimen trees scattered round about.  And, there's just been way too much yucky ever so blah brown.

Plus, the foliage has been turning at a slow.. SLOW... S-L-O-W.... pace.  Or, either it poofed off some of my old favorites so expediently, it was as if it was an overnight wind driven undressing event had occurred.  When I say old favorites, I mean trees that are considered truly old to ancient and have been a part of Richmond County's landscape for as long as anyone can remember.  When they drop their leaves, it's always a sign that chilly weather is here, and winter is most assuredly around the corner.  To say I miss my old tree friends' leaves is an understatement.  But, while autumn is transitioning out, and winter is becoming unavoidable, it is a very cool sight to see the trees left with colorful foliage peeking through their bare barked limbed partners.

This entry, however, is show off just how beautiful the Gingko trees whose root systems go deep into the ground beside the United Methodist Church in Historic Rockingham are at this *very* moment.  Talk about a beautiful sight!  If you're local, or a for real local, you should take a few minutes to ride by to see the lovely Gingkos in their splendor.  Or, better yet, park your car and take a few quality moments out of your busy day to admire them up close and personal.  To me, they're quite breathtaking, and each autumn I look so forward to seeing both of them in their glory.  They're not as full as in the past due to some obvious pruning, but nevertheless, they are still gorgeous.

Each autumn I watch these trees and wait for the rich yellow color peak.  The leaves are very close in yellow hue to a ripe Golden Delicious apple, or yellow crooked neck squash that finds their way to so many tables here in the South.  Then, after the much anticipated vibrancy, I watch for the leaves to begin to fall in hopes that they will dance to the ground like snowflakes, as they did so amazingly two autumns ago.  In fact, I ask my hubby to drive us by there, just so I can take a daily peek to see if their snowflake dance recital is in progress.  The falling leaves literally captivated me during the autumn of 2008, and carried me away one misty morning.

I'm not going to include captions because I don't want to take away from the beauty of the trees that my photos sorely do not do justice.  The third from the bottom includes a little peek of through the ancient Cedar of Lebanon tree, that still stands proudly, much like a sentry of yesteryear, in front of the old Historic Leak House.  It was planted in 1850 by John Wall Leak and his wife, Ann Cole Leak.  In 1982 it was listed in the N.C. Register of Big Trees by the N.C. Division of Forest Resources. 

I've been taking some shots of the changing foliage for a couple of weeks now.  Some of which will appear here, while others will become a part of my new blogging endeavor, All Aboard Hamlet.  (I'll be writing an entry very soon.  My last was an open letter to a wonderful aunt of mine.  Just before I posted it, she was changing internet providers.  Since she's recovering from a stroke, I wanted to give her ample time to easily discover it, and read it before moving on.  Soon, I'll be sharing some pictures and thoughts illustrating my take on "transitions" over there.)  So, please stay tuned, both here and there.

Oh!  And for those of you who may woods Holly lovers, the berries are plentiful this year.  Yay!  Last year, sadly, nary a berry could be found on any of my secret trees.   Needless to say, I'm overjoyed about it!  :)

Onto the stunning Gingkos...