Friday, October 25, 2013

Dawn's Early Light III


 
  
Soft clouds turn
gray to pink
as they gather
dawn's early light.
 
Aging cattails
frame the lake,
its water still warm
from late summer heat.
 
Ethereal vapors
rise like spirits,
drifting slowly
within silver fog.
 
Preparing to unveil
the now bold colors
as autumn deepens
into this bold season.
 
Time unfolds,
morning opens;
offering a fresh start,
another gift from God.
 
©  2013  Richard Havenga
 
 
 
 
 
You may also like: Dawn's Early Light  and  Dawn's Early Light II 

 
 
 
Click on photos to enlarge.
 
Photo Location:
 
McCarthy Lake,  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Father Nature's Neighborhood


I am blessed to live out here in the country. I want to share some of the views I found on a recent drive through my neighborhood:


Egypt Valley State Game Area




Wood Ducks



Pickerel Lake Park





Silver Maple



Wittenbach Farm
 
 
Drying Corn
 
 
Belted Kingfisher
 
 
Townsend Park




Blok Orchards



Pickerel Lake Park




Did you enjoy your visit?

Isn't Autumn awesome?

Which photographs are your favorites?

Thank you for coming to "Father Nature's" Neighborhood.


Click on photos to enlarge.





Monday, October 21, 2013

Aspen Fire


Walking along this shaded trail,
around the bend, on the ridge,
scattered among deep green spruce.

This sudden appearance.
This bright surprise.
I am stunned.

Breathless.
Captured by the light
of extravagant creation.


The Spirit summons.
Penetrates my soul.
Ignites a joyful song.
I feel recreated.

Aflame with passion.
Thankful for my vision.
Grateful for His presence.

I attend this aspen fire.
Let it grow.
Out of control,

with
triumphant
words of praise.
© 2013  Richard Havenga
Click on photo to enlarge.
Photo Location:
Grand Mesa,  (Grand Mesa)  Colorado  (Colorado






Saturday, October 19, 2013

October Morning






wind carries spent leaves
raindrops collect during the night
morning has broken
 
 
 
 
 
 

Click on photos to enlarge 
 
Photo Location:
 
Townsend Park,  (Townsend)  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)


White Oak - Quercus alba

Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum






Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Why We Live Here - 2


Here are two more reasons why we love to live in our rural area, by McCarthy Lake:



North Shore

 





South Shore

 
 
We are truly blessed. 

 
 
 You may also like to view : "Why We Live Here" - Oct. 26, 2012
 
 
Photo Location:
 
 
Grattan Township,  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Only Silence Remains






Early light
flares in the fog.
The wide river
keeps gliding by.

Patient. Persistent.

Waiting for words
to emerge from
the quiet current,
I reflect
upon the silence.

Wait. Listen.

Like the veil of vapor
suspended above
the bed of moving water,
I gather
thin thoughts.

Temporary. Transitory.

The Spirit has spoken.
The words evaporate.
Only silence remains.

©  2013  Richard Havenga





(Click on photos to enlarge)


Photo Location:
Grand River,  (Grand) Kent County,  Michigan







Thursday, October 10, 2013

Voices of the Stars


After the river
spends the night
whispering, listening
beneath a ceiling
of stars,

I take an early
morning walk
with the river
still flowing
in smooth silence.

The silky skin
of water
now putting on
the soft fabric
of dawn.

Now dressed in daylight.
Hesitant to share
the nightly secrets
heard from the voices
of the stars.






Photo Location:

Flat River,  (Flat River)  Fallasburg Park,  (Fallasburg)  Kent County,  Michigan


Monday, October 7, 2013

The Last Dance





Listen to the leaves landing.
Soft as pages turning.

Each leaf,
after a brief
dance with gravity,
falls with grace
to meet its shadow.

The last dance.
The last page.
 
©  2013  Richard Havenga





Photo Location:

Fallasburg Park,  (Fallasburg)  Lowell, (Lowell)  Michigan (Michigan)


Sugar Maple - Acer saccharinum





Saturday, October 5, 2013

Sassafras Statement





yellow in green woods
first indicator of fall
sassafras statement
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Want to learn much, much more? See: "Sassafras Class"
 
Photo LocationHome Woods

 
  
Sassafras - Sassafras variifolium 
 


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Gifts of Gold





This fresh appearance
of golden arches flowering
signals summer ending,
autumn approaching,
September aging.

 
Gracefully curving
above stiff stalks
of bunched leaves,
tiny towers topped
with yellow flame.


Admired, desired,
gathered in a vessel
labeled "gifts of gold"
the comfort of memories
to keep, to hold.








Canadian Goldenrod - Solidago canadensis
Smooth Goldenrod - Solidago juncea


Photo Locations

Home Woods 

Townsend Park,  (Townsend)  Kent County,  Michigan  (Michigan)