A Walk by the River

After work today, the sun was shining again, and the brilliant fall colors returned for another visit. I took the opportunity to walk on a campus trail that follows the Spokane River. 

Plants near the SCC Greenhouse. 

A flower near the greenhouse. 

The Spokane River just north of the SCC campus. 

The Greene Street Bridge. 

On the banks of the river, I was greeted by the smell of mint. 

Stones in the river. 

Wild flowers still in bloom. 

Golden leaves reflect the sun. 

Fiery leaves amid the deep blue sky. 

The autumn sun. 

Under the Greene Street Bridge. 

The Greene Street Bridge reflected in the Spokane River. 

The Greene Street Bridge reflected in the Spokane River. 

The Max Snyder Building on the northern edge of campus. 

Hearts

Someone on Facebook posted a picture of fall-colored leaves cut into the shape of hearts. It was kind of a cheesy project, but I made my own leaf-hearts during my lunch break and discovered they were quite beautiful in a sunlit window. Now I'm thinking this would be a fun project, especially if I still had pre-school age children.  

Red Leaves

The weather has finally stopped pretending to be summer. The temperature dropped suddenly to an uncomfortable chill. Likewise, the trees have begun look the part of winter as the leaves fall to the ground. Still, the red leaves hold my attention as one season fades into another. 

Family Pictures at Greenbluff

Greenbluff in the fall is one of my favorite places in the world, especially on a sunny day like today. The beautiful apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes are all amazing to see this time of year. And for the first time in several years, we took a family portrait. 

Whitney...

The couple...

Dakota...

Whitney again...

Dakota inside a log cabin.

Pictures of McKenna are exceptionally rare, 

so this picture made the day even better. 

The autumn sun made all this beauty possible. 

Fall Colors

Fall colors at Spokane Falls Community College. 

The Faces of Gonzaga

This morning I attended a class in "Personal Ethics" at Gonzaga University, and by the end, I felt so weary of attending to every nuance of our philosophical discussion that I decided to take some immediate mental health time. I couldn't even wait long enough to re-connect with nature or to find a quiet place for reflection; I simply walked out the door with no destination whatsoever. In that moment, I needed to be as mindless and timeless as possible. 

Within a few moments, the cool air filled my lungs and I felt myself drawn by the faces of Gonzaga. 

The first face belonged to Our Lady of Walsingham and her infant child. I'm not sure about the official story, but this image caused me to reflect on the special bond between mothers and sons. I was also drawn to the disks behind the head of each image. Presumably, the disks are meant to represent the sacred nature of the personages depicted in this piece. But I also imagined that the disks might show some remnant of pre-Christian cultures, perhaps like the sun-disk of the Egyptians or simply the reverence many primal peoples feel toward the sun. Whatever the case, this piece comforted me in some way, perhaps because I saw a common thread of warmth and light spanning across culture and space.  

Arthur L. Dussault, SJ. 

This was my other favorite statue. I believe it depicts Saint Joseph holding the Christ Child in his arms. I respond to this piece on several levels. First, according to the traditional story, Joseph was a guardian to Jesus, the Son of God. In this way, Joseph embodied a supreme devotion and trust to care so lovingly for a child not his own. This makes me think about the love we sometimes feel for people that is based on a spiritual connection rather than blood. 

Second, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for artistic depictions of Jesus as a child. Something about this image speaks to the idea that an infant could overcome all things. This was a child who would grow up to say that leaders should be servants and that the meek would ultimately inherit the earth.   

I recently photographed the statue of Saint Ignatius, but not with the brilliant red leaves in the background. 

Of course, I cannot forget the beautiful faces of fall-colored leaves. 

Nor can I forget the face of the church with its grand portico that reads in Latin: "House of God and Doorway of Heaven." 

Red

Against the Gray

Walking on my usual hiking trails, I observe the world has turned nearly completely brown. The brilliant autumn colors wither into dull lifeless tones just before winter. But a few surprises remain. The snowberries stand out like shining white dots against the gray, and rose hips hold the last drops of summer in their deep red fruit.

Autumn Walk

I just had to get one more major hike before the snow falls. Yesterday afternoon the dog and I walked down by our usual spot near the Little Spokane River. As always, I found myself enthralled by the beautiful colors, the plants, animals, and all the spirits of nature.



The mountain overlooking the river was shrouded in fog.



I finally managed to get a picture of the Bo dog where he doesn't look pathetic or eternally punished. In fact, this picture actually captures something of his sweet, inquisitive nature.



The Oregeon grape has turned deep red.