Monday, December 3, 2012

Safe Harbors In The Bleakest Of Weather

THE WARMEST place in Canada as winter approaches is generally southwest BC. It is also a time when rain seems to pour down endlessly from the skies. When there is a break in the dampness an icy chill can set in. Hands wrapped in mittens now hold umbrellas. Frost nips at the edges of coastal life.

Boats are tucked into safe harbors. Only a few adventurers will go out when the waters get choppy.

Parks empty as visitors drop off one by one like leaves from the branches of trees. Avid walkers step more briskly past vacant benches.

Strutting birds will huddle with other birds no longer warmed just by their own feathers. Everything sheds ... everything falls into a messy muddle. The thorny, frail and brittle land in a heap of dust at our feet.

To me autumn is the most striking and profound of seasons. The yearly cleansing of clutter opens windows and makes horizons visible again.

And although things will likely get worse before they get better, have we not all heard summer ring with bright expectations like a faint bell around the corner of every winter?

Perhaps snow will fall as it has more frequently these past winters. But it will not be crisp or white for long. Soon it will mix with showers. Snowmen will droop. Toboggans will get stuck in brown muddy puddles. But the imagination will flourish ... particularly for people who are nourished by the rain.

Creativity is a year-round harbor that was taken indoors this weekend at the Ocean Park Hall in South Surrey.

The Semiahmoo Potters were showing their wares as they do each December. Earthy colors were on display. The work was nature inspired.

There were many ornaments from which to choose. I came away with a single word that speaks to me and I hope to you, too, even in the bleakest of weather.

To explore sights from around the globe, link to Our World at the sidebar.

Visit Postcards From Penelope Puddle to view more BC scenes.

Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

20 comments:

  1. Yes, the JOY ornament speaks to me too. I think we all could also use some sunshine soon.

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  2. I hadn't thought of Autumn as a kind of spring cleaning, but it is (in fact, perhaps it should be called "autumn cleaning"). The idea of cleaning out everything is quite appealing. I love the pottery!

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  3. And I also love the beautiful frosted yellow leaf.

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  4. Nice to see the sights around there, did you say hi to Geoff for me? LOL.

    I miss him from Koco's.

    Jen

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  5. I never thought of fall as a cleansing. Good way to think of it that way. Love the frosty yellow leaf. Noticed you and Jen both have the word Joy in your posts.

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  6. Beautiful shots from your part of the world. I love frost and the strutting heron is a beauty.

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  7. Wonderful shots of real cool place.

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  8. Thanks for the comments everyone. Yes … Jen and I both had the word joy on our minds, Stephanie. Jen might be surprised to know that Koco’s is no longer there. The entire Garden Center has been leveled and a building project is sure to ensue.

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  9. I do love colorful autumn and your photos are terrific! We had a very sunny early Fall for the northwest and the colors have lasted longer than usual!! Hope you have a great week!

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  10. time to hunker down and dream of spring.

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  11. Love the pottery and the idea of Autumn cleaning.

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  12. What a lovely place to visit. the view from bench is pretty. I would have chosen the word JOY too, lovely ornament. Thanks for sharing your world. Have a great evening!

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  13. A delightful post Penelope - thank you so much for sharing your world with us today.

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  14. I love the frosty leaves they have a beauty all of their own.

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  15. Your observations often shed a bit of light on something I was seeing dimly, Penelope. The lightbulb in this post shone on the fact that people, boats and leaves drop off at about the same time as the leaves. Loved your photographs and especially the sentiment waiting to brighten the end of your post. Just perfect!

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  16. I wish you much snow and glitter!

    Love the frosted leaf.

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  17. Beautiful photographs and nice write up

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  18. I enjoyed visiting your part of the world. It is a gorgeous place that we visit yearly.

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  19. To me autumn is the time of cleaning. People do so-called spring cleaning at year-end to celebrate the New Year afresh, but I’m hesitant to do that when it is too cold and prefer doing on a warm sunny day. Frosted leaves are beautifully glinting. Even fallen leaves show us what is beauty till the last moment of crumbling apart. Wish you sunny weather.

    Yoko

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YOUR THOUGHTS add colour to the content and are always much appreciated.