We went looking for the moon late this afternoon.
The nearly full moon has risen huge and close and silver the last two evenings,
but we had been without the camera, and so didn’t have photos.
We went in search of it this evening,
camera in hand.
But now the clouds are rolling in,
and the moon must have risen behind them.
We watched the sun set,
then drove a little further and watched it set yet again.
Every moment the sky changed, painted by the sun’s brush of light
on a canvas of cloud, marsh, forest, and water.
The world’s palette, a gently flowing medley of every color,
first touched by golden setting sunlight,
then wrapped in blueing misty darkness.
Moon behind cloud, daylight behind dark,
river flowing ever onward
from here to there in obedient silence.
But the birds were still tonight.
The deer stood quietly by the roadside, unafraid, grazing.
A rare moment of peace and rest in a day full to the brim,
A winter sky painted by the sun,
as it disappeared into the long December night.
All photos by Woodland Gnome 2013
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Forest Garden 
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Good evening Elizabeth,
I love your pictures, sunsets as well as the heron and deer!
Are you al ready for Christmas? Are you cooking? Started my list for the grocery so I don’t forget anything, headed their tomorrow.
Hi Michael- Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you like the photos. The heron photo is my favorite. I got 3, and that is the best of 3 good ones 😉 Such a beautiful evening last night. So far a total of 5 Christmas cakes, 3 of them already in the mail to the west coast. 4 loaves of Stollen bread baked today, and more sandwich bread rising at the moment. Our day started at Trader Joes buying almond meal to make the Stollen filling 😉 My dad is ill and in hospital. I’m headed tomorrow to see him. No posts as I’m busy getting as much done as possible before Ileaving in the AM. Hope you accomplish your list and make wonderful Christmas food for your family. Best wishes, E
Oh Wow, you have been busy baking! Sorry to hear about your dad, I hope he will be ok.
I hope you and you family have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Reblogged this on To Be Continued… Christine and commented:
Beautiful images…words…thoughts…enjoy!
This is such a peaceful post, and a great way to start my day (even if sunsets are not the usual way to start a day). Thank you. 🙂
Sunrise, sunset, on the water they are all so much more beautiful 😉 Thank you, Robin. I hope your day is a wonderful one. Did you bring in any evergreens to decorate your new home? Is your counter/sink issue fixed now? Best wishes, WG
I decided not to bring any in this year, WG. The house is in such a state of chaos that I didn’t think it would help much. Still working on the counter/sink issue. Hopefully soon. 🙂
Wishing you well 😉