Even the Argos football game will be spoken of through the filter of Rob Ford, since he was there at the game and drew an enthusiastic reaction from many members of the crowd.
Over the voices on the TV, I hear the wind outside whooshing and sighing loudly. It blows in passionate gusts, forcing the tall coniferous trees to lean and sway in silhouette, like a cinema-noir puppet show against the grey curtain of sky.
Our maple was stripped of its last leaves over the past 12 hours, most of which conveniently blew across the lawn and out of our lives. Which is good because I filled over 8 bags from the back yard alone and if I see another leaf I'll ... hmmm ... not sure what I'll do. Not sure what I'm more sick of. Raking leaves or Rob Ford.
When I took the photos above, I knew I'd write a post and share the images, because they are a gift you might enjoy as much as I do. The delicate flowers you see there are irises that are growing in a tiny patch of garden that graces my walk to and from school.
According to almanac.com, "Most irises flower in early summer. Some, mostly bearded hybrids, are remontant, flowering again later in the summer". I really do associate irises with late springtime, so when I see them coming into bloom on a chilly, windswept morning in the second half of November, I count myself very lucky.
As I took the photos, a lady in her 60s approached and crouched down to see what I was doing. "They're irises," I told her, "It's so nice to see them coming up this late in the year." She smiled broadly, nodded rapidly, and said a few things to me in Chinese as she walked away.
Year after year, I struggle, fruitlessly, to find happiness in nature after about November 1st. As the fall colours fade to grey-brown and the sky turns white ... beauty is often difficult to find. Sure, the snow will be pretty when it arrives, but I like things that grow. I love green. I love colour. I love variety. I love change. I love a pleasant surprise. And I love to share the happiness they bring.
