November Nature Walk

All my good intentions for doing chores disappeared this morning, when I looked outside and saw sunshine for the first time in a long while. I had not walked through my neighborhood since I lost my little companion, Maggy. It did not seem right to be walking without my doggy, but the sunshine and beautiful autumn scenery put my mind at rest.

My street looks very beautiful against the clear blue November skies.I have always liked this big tree that seems to lean across the street to lend its shade.

Isn't this a great nature shot? The leaves are gone from this honey locust tree, leaving the long seed pods and branches silhouetted against the sky.

I walked all the way through the new Heritage neighborhood across Rogers Road. The developer, Andy Ammons, has done a first class job on all the landscape and architecture of this large development.
In this photo, you can see the dock and shelter on Forgotten Pond, and the red roof of another shelter near the children's playground.
The ubiquitous Canada geese were enjoying the sunshine.


On the way back I stopped by the Freeman family cemetery. The iron gate was open, so I went in to pay my respects. The headstones obviously are not original. Some loving descendant of the family must have identified as many of the grave sites as he could and put identical granite markers on them. For some reason, Blogger insists on turning the photos sideways today. The oldest date on one of the markers is Mary, wife of Allen Freeman, born in 1805, who lived to the surprising age of 85. There is a wonderful history of the Freeman family online at the Wake Weekly, our local newspaper.


Many of the gravestones marked the graves of infants and children.

I was heading home after taking these photos, when my camera was acting sluggish. I decided to switch out the battery. There I was, camera in hand, when I heard a clattering on the street next to me. Less than ten yards away was a female deer tearing across the street. She jumped over the iron fence into the gated cemetery. Close on her heels was a magnificent ten-point buck! It was a sight I will never forget. The bucks are in rut now that it is mating season, and they are making some bad decisions for their safety right now. I hung around for awhile in case she ran him back in my direction, but they disappeared in the woods.

When I got home I decided to walk across my back yard and check on the grave where I buried Maggy. My previous dog, Sassy, is buried between two large hydrangea bushes, and I put Maggy near to her. I planted a double-file viburnum called "Summer Snowflake" next to her grave, thinking that it would provide beautiful blooms next summer. To my surprise and delight, this is what I found.

RIP, old friend.