AUTUMNAL MORNING RITUAL

Experiencing a morning like this

gives us a feeling of inner peace

 sustaining us throughout the day.

 The fleeting passage of sunrise

glistens on the dew draped grasses and pebbles along the pathway.

~ grassy dune hillocks wander through the rays of light ~

The boardwalk encourages us to move on

flanked by asters, 

so plentiful this year

 fresh, perky and smothering the wooden trail.

Across the way a heron eyes a morning morsel

while swooping behind us 

and diving into a secure place 

are two herons so silent and aware.

This heron made no hesitation 

heading directly into a tree lined

marshy venue ~

Passing up any chance of finding any food in these grasses.

While all this was going on,

I was playing 

DOODLE SUPERINTENDENT

at our weekend yardsale.

I always help Jim in the autumn with this yearly ritual

by sitting very still 

not to scare off customers.

When they aren't looking I 

DOODLE ATTACK 

them,

everyone of them

Don't want anyone to feel left out!

JUST SIMPLE CONTENTMENT

Once over the rocks we headed for the river,

flanked by MacDonald House 

 looking very much like Wuthering Heights.

We stopped to dig holes

because Stony Beach is made for "HOLE DIGGIN' " !

Running full speed ahead with an eye on the edge

because the tide is gouging away the sides

of the river as it always does when it is going out.

Here is Jim helping nature eat away at the edge.

While he does that I swim and I fetch.

Far off in the distance in that small beach pool,

everything is viewed under the watchful eye of a heron.

There s/he goes silently over the waters

heading for the salt marsh on the other side of the hill.

Contentment really is all I seek out

and contentment is what I always find.

The sun sets much earlier as we step into fall,

so it's time to retire

and 

talk over the day's events

as we head home

just down the road.