The year is but a succession of days,
and I see that I could assign some office to each day
which, summed up, would be the history of the year.
Henry Thoreau, August 24, 1852
October 14, 2023
Merchants and banks are
suspending and failing all
the country over . . .
but not the sand-banks
solid and warm and streaked
with blackberry vines.
Jays and chickadees
are oftener heard in the
fall than in summer.
Leaves of red maples
crimson-spotted on yellow
just like some apples.
In the still water
the blue of the sky deepens
in the reflection.
Paddling slowly back
the blue of the sky deepens
in the reflection.
With severe frosts
leaves fall before changing or
change and fall early.
We sit on the rock
on Pine Hill overlooking
Walden's blue water.
Unusually
blue water contrasts with the
brilliant-tinted woods.
 | ||
October 14, 2018
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Fine, clear Indian-summer weather. October 14, 1853
A sudden change in the weather after remarkably warm and pleasant weather. October 14, 1856
We have had some fog the last two or three nights, and this forenoon it was slow to disperse, dog-day-like, but this afternoon it is warmer even than yesterday. October 14, 1857
Another, the tenth of these memorable days. October 14, 1857
These ten days are enough to make the reputation of any climate. A tradition of these days might be handed down to posterity. October 14, 1857
A fine Indian-summer day. October 14, 1859
I am glad to reach the shade of Hubbard’s Grove; the coolness is refreshing. October 14, 1857
Rained in the night, and finger-cold to-day. Your hands instinctively find their way to your pockets. October 14, 1856
Down the railroad before sunrise. A freight-train in the Deep Cut. The sun rising over the woods. October 14, 1851
We sit on the rock on Pine Hill overlooking Walden. October 14, 1859
There is a thick haze almost entirely concealing the mountains. October 14, 1859
Paddling slowly back, we enjoy at length very perfect reflections in the still water. The blue of the sky, and indeed all tints, are deepened in the reflection. October 14, 1858
There is wind enough to raise waves on the pond and make it bluer. October 14, 1859
There is wind enough to raise waves on the pond and make it bluer. October 14, 1859
The tints generally may be about at their height. October 14, 1859
Pine-needles, just fallen, now make a thick carpet. October 14, 1856
There is a very thick haze this afternoon and almost a furnace-like heat. I cannot see far toward the sun through it. October 14, 1857
This, as other ponds now, when it is still, has a fine sparkle from skaters on it. October 14, 1857
Looking now toward the north side of the pond, I perceive that the reflection . . .reflection exhibits such an aspect of the hill, apparently, as you would get if your eye were placed at that part of the surface of the pond where the reflection seems to be. October 14, 1857
In this instance, too, then, Nature avoids repeating herself. October 14, 1857
The reflection is never a true copy or repetition of its substance, but a new composition, and this may be the source of its novelty and attractiveness, and of this nature, too, may be the charm of an echo. October 14, 1857
I doubt if you can ever get Nature to repeat herself exactly. October 14, 1857
There is a very thick haze this afternoon and almost a furnace-like heat. I cannot see far toward the sun through it. October 14, 1857
This, as other ponds now, when it is still, has a fine sparkle from skaters on it. October 14, 1857
Looking now toward the north side of the pond, I perceive that the reflection . . .reflection exhibits such an aspect of the hill, apparently, as you would get if your eye were placed at that part of the surface of the pond where the reflection seems to be. October 14, 1857
In this instance, too, then, Nature avoids repeating herself. October 14, 1857
The reflection is never a true copy or repetition of its substance, but a new composition, and this may be the source of its novelty and attractiveness, and of this nature, too, may be the charm of an echo. October 14, 1857
I doubt if you can ever get Nature to repeat herself exactly. October 14, 1857
On the causeway I pass by maples here and there which are bare and smoke-like, having lost their brilliant clothing; but there it lies, nearly as bright as ever, on one side on the ground, making nearly as regular a figure as lately on the tree. I should rather say that I first observed the trees thus flat on the ground like a permanent colored and substantial shadow, and they alone suggested to look for the trees that had borne them. They preserve these bright colors on the ground but a short time, a day or so, especially if it rains. October 14, 1857
It is indeed a golden autumn. October 14, 1857
Winter may be anticipated. October 14, 1852
Let us see now if we have a cold winter. October 14, 1860
*****
October 14, 2020
We bushwhack up the mountain and over to the Moss Trail. It is a beautiful fall day 60° perhaps by mid afternoon. The witch hazel near the rock on the Moss Trail is bare of leaves and the sun shines on a multitude a little crinkly yellow flowers. Jane finds wintergreen plant and then one with berries. It tastes like wintergreen. We bushwhack back to our land. There is more deadfall near the ridge and we have to cut and remove branches hanging down My total impression is one of color and warmth. October 14, 2020
A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau
"A book, each page written in its own season,
out-of-doors, in its own locality."
~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2019
"A book, each page written in its own season,
out-of-doors, in its own locality."
~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2019
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