Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A magical Saturday

I love Saturdays… have I mentioned that before? Oh yes, I've said it a million times before and I'll probably say it a million more. But what can I do? Saturdays, like autumn, bestow opulence and magic upon the earth, and I love every minute of every hour of every Saturday…. and this last Saturday of October was especially magical…. It truly was!

We woke up in Portland. Breakfast at Noah's Bagels, with a lightly roasted Chelsea coffee, flavored with vanilla and hazelnut… the rainy night had been replaced by a misty morning and outside our window the world is wet and grayish-blue, carefree and romantic and I’m here, with the man I love...

Witches were everywhere too, one of them stopped by to say hi… It was the morning of Halloween, and green eye cats flew by with their witches on their ragged broom...

After breakfast we headed out to the rose garden, but first we went for our customary morning stroll through lovely and tranquil little streets with enchanted path down to mossy slopes and gorgeous historic homes in the Victorian and Craftsman styles… sweet powerful feelings bring me to this house every time we're in Portland. Do you think maybe I could had lived here before? I mean, in another time far from my own time maybe? 

I had never been to the rose garden in the autumn. There is something magical lingering in the air. It’s the end of October --the month of enchantment and delightful endeavors--, the garden sleeps under a magical spell, it doesn’t feel the same, it doesn’t smell the same, no petals in bright reds to enchant, no lovely pinks or morning sun yellows to captivate the eye… only faded beauty and roses of yesterday in some fragrant treasure chest hidden in my memory.

No, today things are different, only the unthinkable become noticeable; the eternal remains… the garden is blanketed in a quiet repose, not a soul to be seen, charmed ripples of water at my feet… a light mist falling down from the sky, like playful fingers on my hair, and at the end of a path, slick with leaves and cold with damp (can you see it?), a fairy’s house stands midst the sleepy heads of Heaven on Earth now past their prime, and tiny goblins and leprechaun are dancing where the April in Paris used to sing like little birds back in May…

Between the woozy sun and light mist, grasses and soaring trees are whispering tiny things…. Only I can hear it –I thought– but suddenly, there she was, like an apparition! And I knew all too well she could hear it too!

Who was she? Where had she come from? Alone and mysterious, amidst the faded glories in the quiet garden, unique yet unprepossessing, I immediately fell under her spell. A walk together with my man, without an umbrella, stomping in the puddles beneath drooping leaves was already enchantment--overflowing enchantment! But I’m subdued by her spell, and unable to follow any other path but the one that leads to her, as in a trance, I hurry to meet her... Even more mysterious things happened then.... but that's another story to tell... "Some day shall we two try to find this strange enchanted place? Go hand in hand through flower-lit woods where living trees embrace--and suddenly, as in a dream, behold a fairy's face!" (Author Unknown.)

Rainy misty days are so romantic… my hair is damped, our fingers entwined, and far away in the greenest hill I discovered --we’re not alone-- another couple divinely indivisible!

What a delightful feeling the garden bestows, rivulets of enchantment falling down from the sky in tiny musky fairy dust… heavy and delicate together. Then the Shakespeare Garden opens to us, and there they were: 

The sleepy hydrangeas whispering and waving, colorless among the ferns and fairy leaves as big as elephant ears. Trees... greens, dark and subtle…

The world is an enchanted place, nature fragile and fading, the leaves bleached of color and ready to flutter off at the first strong wind... everywhere I look, a magical universe is waiting to be discovered.
Then, more magic: A secret fairy path covered with fallen autumn leaves....

It leads to a place of wonders... I follow the leave covered trail, sweetness pours from everywhere, flutes and mist fill the air… Leaves the color of golden-yellow, crisp and curled, brown, gold and tan with the suns kiss, a precious web, or butterfly wing…
A woman-no, a woman-child frolics with invisible sprites and soars among autumn leaves... What could be more alluring than the thought of walking amidst falling leaves on the already leaf-covered ground?

Oh yes, today is not the beauty of the roses what delights… is the charm that comes with autumn and the conjuring mystery and thrill that comes with the falling leaves and the color of the autumnal land…
Oh, most beautiful day and season!



19 comments:

  1. Indeed......VERY magical. Now is that frost on the red roses or dew?

    My post for Wednesday is now published. Click Here to join me. I'd love for you to stop by today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved the pictures with the red roses.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That sweet one is so beautiful I have no words, thankyou, Char

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely photo journal of things you love in Portland. Thanks for sharing the sights with us. Have a wonderful Outdoor Wednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, truly magical...I'm hoping to go to a similar place this Friday =)
    Love Portland.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Cielo!
    How magical is this walk? I loved everything. The green grasses mixed with the Fall leaves. So exciting.

    I love the little lady you photographed. Her hands, her hat, her profile, so beautiful and mysterious.

    This was a gorgeous post sweetie. Just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

    Stop by soon. I love to have you visit. Country hugs, Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cielo, those are just some gorgeous photos! The roses, the very first one with the steps, and the lady with that wonderful hat! I so enjoyed looking and reading, and I hope that the two of you had a wonderful time.
    Take Care!
    Ulrike

    ReplyDelete
  8. A wonderful ourdoor post, dear one.
    You look beautiful in those shots!!
    xo bj

    ReplyDelete
  9. The pics are magickal. I love the fall, so many wonderful colors are around us.

    Willow

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a beautiful picture of the lady. You captured her presence in the moment. Thank you for sharing a lovely fall day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a wonderful journey. Thank You!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You have the heart of an artist, the soul of a poet and one of the most beautiful magical breathtaking blogs I've ever had the good fortune to find. Thank you for providing such sanctuary for those of us who need a moment to exhale!
    Have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
  13. your posts are magical....I always love them....and your pictures are awesome...

    ReplyDelete
  14. What fun...playing in the leaves! What sweet time you had, Cielo... and there were roses too! :o) ((HUGS))

    ReplyDelete
  15. What beautiful pictures!
    I just love the way you describe everything. So beautifully. :)

    ((Hugs))
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  16. ..VERY magical. Now is that frost on the red roses or dew? Work from home India

    ReplyDelete
  17. LOVE the photo near the end with all the colored leaves. We just don't have that show of color here in Texas. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Please leave a note; I love to read your comments.