Monday, November 30, 2015

The Landscape of November

Before we say good-bye to November, I feel obliged to document this unique season that we sometimes get in late fall before winter.  It's the season of bare, leafless trees, of dull browns and greys, cold temperatures and often wet conditions.  Some years we don't get this at all if the snow comes quickly and covers it in white.  This year it's only snowed once in the month, and we're getting an extended 'November Season'.  It's not what you'd call 'pretty', but I like it because the landscape is laid bare so to speak.

Let's start off with the better days - we do get sunny days and blue skies occasionally in November.  This is one of my favourite views across farm fields, here the corn recently harvested.  You couldn't see the farm until they did that.

One more sunny day view before we switch to more typical November weather.  Across miles of the landscape, the trees are all just bare, though some hayfields retain a touch of green.

This is the bad weather.  I just can't warm up to days of rain when the temperature is close to freezing.  It's not much good for anything except staying indoors.  And the hazy mist in the distance totally cuts off the view of Georgian Bay.

I've got great fall pictures of this line of trees in brilliant reds and orange.  But this is its November look, on another wet day.

At least it was dry this day.  One advantage is that with the leaves gone you can see a long way through the trees.

Simple gates have been closed, and the cattle gathered into the barn or nearby for winter.  Here the 'gate' is just a bit of fencing that is stretched across the opening.

A few fields are ploughed, where farmers are renewing hayfields, or rotating their crops, though most cropland is now just chisel-ploughed.  I've always thought this farmstead looked particularly well cared for, but I need a sunny day photo to show it off.


In a few places I saw field with a fair dusting of snow today.  It's likely that this results just from very localized snow squalls rather than remaining from our last snowfall over a week ago.

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Walking Time: 1 hour.  I finished the cardiac rehab program nearly a month ago, and it's amazing how fast your dedication to getting the time in wanes!  In the past I've counted steps, and counted distance.  I've used treadmills and bikes.  This summer I was riding my 'real' bike around the roads (that's what I enjoy most).  In the more distant past I worked out regularly, and skated for fun.  The cardiac rehab program measures time spent in effort serious enough to raise your heart rate.

The loop road in our little subdivision can be walked in easy 15 minute increments.  So now my plan is to walk the dog for part of my time every day, and go for a longer walk on a trail someplace two or three times a week.  My goal is to get in an hour a day, on average, over the week.  So I'm going to post my times here, just to remind myself.  I'm inspired by a certain blogger I read who gets up in the dark and walks 5 or 6 miles every day!  I can't do that, but I think I can achieve my modest target.  And you can keep me honest.

Linking to:

19 comments:

  1. One more thong about November...the light is getting far less. Keep at the activity. It really pays off. You don't want to even think about the alternative.

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  2. Yeah, November is usually cold, gray and rainy here in Oregon. Keep up the walking! Just tell yourself you'll feel better once you finish. I always feel better after getting some exercise.

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  3. That third photo? omg...love that scene! I love fall...and winter, too!

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  4. A great series of images to show off your area. I particularly love the blue sky days and also the farm near the end. I bet it looks gorgeous on a sunny day! We have just said goodbye to Spring, which was much more like Summer; extremely hot and humid!
    I'm inspired by your trying to keep up exercise. I have just completed a 3 week inpatient chronic pain program and I am already slipping back into less exercise. I need to keep motivated... it's hard to do so with such hot and humid weather!
    I'm new to your blog and glad I found it! :)

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  5. Keep up the exercise; it shouldn't be difficult in such scenery though some of your weather looks less than inspiring. Roll on spring and summer!

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  6. beautiful bare trees, my favourite thing about winter

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  7. Yes it the the time of year that is drab and colourless. All it takes is someone like you to get out and have a second look. It is surprising how many things you can see of interest to photograph.
    PS: Dogs make great walking companions.

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  8. November, it always seems to me, is the saddest month of all. Fall hasn't quite let go, yet winter waits in the wings. And as a person who monitors the seasons by the birds all of the migrants have departed and the northern species have still to arrive. Bring on December is what I say!

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  9. Lovely photos ! I still find beauty in the land even when it looks all bare . Oh great job on the walking and biking . I love both as well . Miggs and I love our walks daily we walk an hour a day up and down the hills of our valley , I rode my bike a bit this past summer but will be riding it more next summer I used to be a long distance cyclist in my younger days with the local cycling club . The weather is warm and to be rainy here today right now it is 10C warm for the first of December the week is to be warm here to and then sunny ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

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  10. I'll cheer you on about those walks. It's nice to have a place that gives you a walk in fifteen-minute increments. That's how long it takes me to walk to the bus in the morning. It's about three-quarters of a mile and just right to warm myself up. Love your pretty November pictures, even the rainy ones. I know rain pretty well myself. :-)

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  11. Kudos for the one hour a day walking.. I am trying to get in more wlaking too. Lovely collection of image,s beautiful skies and landscapes. Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  12. Keep up the exercise and walking, best thing for you.
    The fall landscape there reminds me of the desert landscapes just missing the cactus.

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  13. Actually, I find your shots of gray November landscapes quite beautiful. You can see the rolling contours of the land and the sculptural aspects of the trees. But yes, cold, wet, gray days are for staying indoors by the fire and giving thanks for warmth and shelter.

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  14. Bare trees have a beauty of their own. We haven't had any snow, but the morning frost hasn't been melting in shady spots, looking a bit like light snow. - Margy

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  15. I kind of like it when the leaves are off the trees so I can see what they've hidden all summer. Sometimes there are changes in the landscape or buildings and I see new things. Good for you to keep a walking schedule. Accountability sure helps!

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  16. The gray days of November -- ugh! Keep moving -- I had cardiac bypass surgery 19 years ago and ever since I've walked between two and six miles a day (usually three or four) and try to vary the places among a number of old roads and trails, but occasionally around town.

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  17. I'm not a fan of those gray November days either... I'd just rather see the snow by now.

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  18. great views...the leafless trees are awesome for capturing bird pictures, it's so much easier!!! i like winter, i enjoy hibernating and being home, working on inside projects and i really enjoy the slower pace!!!!

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  19. Lovely stark pictures of the November landscape. Good on for you and the walking.

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