Tags
Central Virginia, color of nature, death of a friend, how nature comforts, life, loss, love, nature, November
Life and death are one thread;
the same line viewed from different sides.
~ Lao Tzu
One of my closest friends departed life this week. I still fail to grasp this fact. Facing each health challenge bravely, determined to love life unconditionally, and supported by her closest friends, she met her end on her own terms — with dignity and love. Sidelined by a freak viral bronchitis, I was not able to be at her bedside as she passed. This makes our afternoon country outing, two weeks before, even more memorable. Too soon gone!
as we find our paths in life, love intervenes, and so does inevitable loss.
as I drove rural lanes yesterday, taking the slow way home, nature seemed to reach out and embrace me with breathtaking color and brilliant sky
as I rounded a curve, this maple popped to say, as my leaves depart, they wish to make your day joyful!
hues this vibrant in November are unusual indeed
then round a few more curves, I nearly drove of the road, as I gasped. In fact I turned around a few times and risked being rear-ended to get this shot
back on a wider path of road, more maples popped from between the sycamores and tulip poplars, draped with dazzling color
a pair of old persimmon trees, full of fruit, will be perfect following the first hard frost, if one braves the traffic. I imagine birds will have the best feast.
taking liberties with this shot’s edits I created a painterly vista
nearly home, this time, an ox-blood hue catches my eye
these trees were planted by nature, not man, making the display ever more poignant
back home, the resident dogwood appeared to be on fire this day
Oakleaf hydrangeas never fail to deliver saturated color during November
my landscape comforted me with much appreciated light, reflections, and memorable color. This was to be the last day before hard frost, finishing the magical displays and creating rake work in days ahead.
Life is unequalled.
Love is unparalleled.
Loss is the toll we pay to experience it all.
May your day be filled with life, your Thanksgiving filled with love, and may loss be away on holiday.
Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights and Images Reserved
home, garden, life 
Your photos & prose are beautiful lasting tributes to your friend. The photo of the curve in the road with the beautiful tree in the center & a fork to the left is for me especially touching and affecting on this day. Your style makes all your posts interesting & unique.
Good luck to you, Joe
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Thank you Joe. I greatly appreciate your exploration around my many blog posts.
Have you seen the Arkansas posts from P Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm? I was invited in 2013 and again in 2015.
Diane
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Hi Diane , I read the reference post last week. You must feel honored to receive invitations to visit him. His show is on PBS @2:00 in the afternoon and I see it occasionally. In the last few weeks I read all of your posts listed on this page but did not comment because I do not want to take up too much of your time. I am going to have a garden party to celebrate my son’s wedding & will try to make the orange/coconut treat for my granddaughters.
We have something slightly in common. You were an interior designer in D.C. & the conversion of the Wash. Design Center building was one of my projects.
The post about Lyle was moving. My grand daughter Cara has five rescue cats & a very sick German Shepherd she has rescued.
Your posts are informative, & entertaining. I will read all I can find before the summer is out.
Take care & good luck, Joe
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So sorry about the loss of your friend…what a lovely tribute to your friendship.
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Many thanks Karen
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I have read through your blog, which this may be the first one I have really read, and was touched by your eye for beautiful things found all around you and your love for your fellow human beings. Keep up the good work.
Barry Layman
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Thank you Barry for appreciating my work. Diane
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Diane, your post was very timely. I too lost a friend a few weeks ago while I was in Europe. It is hard to process, especially when you yourself are away or are sick. You have my condolences. I very much like your colorful photos. It must have been a great year for fall color. I missed much of it while I was away. Not too much fall color there since it was a lot warmer than here.
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I love this post. Your images are lovely and a wonderful way to honor the loss of your friend. How comforting the beauty of nature’s cycles. Thank you.
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So glad you share my thoughts and images. Be well.
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Diane, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. She sounded like a wonderful woman. Your lovely fall foliage photos and country drive are a lovely tribute to her memory. It’s harder to lose our friends as we get older, but we are also more acutely aware of how lucky we were to have their friendship. Thinking of you …
Jeanne
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Thank you Jeanne.
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Very Nice tribute.
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It is so difficult to give up those we love and care for. My thoughts are with you…
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Many thanks Chris. Stay well.
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A lovely and moving post.
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deepest sympathies! ❤
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Thank you Cindy. Your rose photos are exquisite!
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nice 🙂
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a beautiful continuation of a loved one
in compassionate words and images 🙂
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