The solstice came with light instead of darkness. For me, it shifted time and perspective in a positive way. As more light slowly continued a sense of momentary peace arrived. I accepted the invitation to slow down, release some stress, and hope that my 2025 one word, renew, would move beyond darkness.
I am still debating which one word to choose for 2026 since 2025 brought many deep bumps on my daily travels. Yet, I managed to move forward and will continue to do so.
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for the meeting place that leads writers to reflect and share thoughts.
All aboard nature's train. Next stop: Winter's Embrace but before hopping on the train take a stroll through the very last edition of Bedecked In Autumn, my fall gallery of artistic expressions.
"Autumn's humming with the wind a soulful lullaby, as heartbroken trees shed their leaves in a tear-stained goodby." - Angie Weiland-Crosby
As the seasons change, fall transitions to winter (in the northern hemisphere) and we get ready for a new year."(Angie Weiland-Crosby) Today, on December 21st, the official end of autumn and the celebration of the Winter Solstice, I bid a final goodby to autumn, a season of radiance and luster.
I invite you to take a gallery walk through the final edition of the Bedecked In Autumn Gallery.
While strolling through the gallery, listen to a beautiful instrumental song, Goodby Autumn, music by Giovanni Marradi.
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Fall offers serene spaces.
Two Writing Teachers-Slicer, Diane Anderson, found her sweet spot at the lake.
Fall Morning at the Lake
Water rippling, stirred by a slight wind
Trees at the edge burnt orange, golden, emerald green
Sky above in shades, light seeping in
A white bird gliding before the clouds, above the water
A peaceful calm spreads from heart to mind
Ready now for the day ahead.
-Diane Anderson, 2021
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Below, artist/poet Michelle Kogan shares her
Evergreen Moon & Snow Greeting Card in watercolor and pen and ink painting,, 2021
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"If ever a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour."
- Victoria Erickson
Children's Corner
Hailee and Cooper, two 5th grade students from Vancouver, Washington, offer their poems for the gallery. Educator poet, Jone Rush MacCulloch, proudly presents her work and the students' poetry.
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Autumn's Transition
"Autumn is the hush before winter." -French proverb
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Credits
Cooper, 5th-grade student
Hailee, 5th-grade student
Michelle Kogan
Jone Rush MacCulloch
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Previous Autumn Galleries
Please visitprevious autumn galleries of artistic expressions that integrate the arts, technology, and poetry. Click on the titles of the underlined galleries.
2021 - Bedecked In Autumn (comprised of three previous sections: Unveiling of the Bedecked in Autumn Gallery, A Slice of Bedecked In Autumn Gallery, In Praise of Autumn)
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Please leave a comment below or on social media so that the joy of this gallery and the work of all those who contributed can be spread throughout the world.
Autumn is passing its baton next Tuesday, December 21st to celebrate the end of its radiant season and the Winter Solstice."This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year's threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath." - Margaret Atwood, Canadian Poet
Listen to the calming Celtic song, Winter Solstice Song, by Lisa Thiel.
May the miracles of the winter solstice inspire you.
Today is Poetry Friday at Jone Rush MacCulloch's blog. Click hereto see the poetic goodness Jone offers as this week's host. Thank you Jone for sharing your amazing double golden shovel poem and news about the New Year Poetry Postcards Event.
If time permits, I will add the last edition of my Bedecked In Autumn Gallery tomorrow. Jone and two of her students are featured in the final gallery edition. Stay tuned.
