Last Days of November

November is a season when temps drop very fast and warmth gives way to cold and snow. The last days were very characteristic for coming winter time. 
Some days ago I took my camera and drove to my summer cottage.The sun was very low, although it was noon. The sun rays were seen between trunks of birches. It seemed that autumn would continue more and more:

There were lots of dry grasses, stems of flowers, raspberry, solidago. I liked dark red leaves, they got their color after first frost. The fluffy dry flowers of solidago lost their yellow color and shone in autumnal low sun, red rose hips brightened bushes.

Yesterday night and day dark snowy clouds had flown and thin layer of snow covered all around. When I arrived to my garden golden autumn had given way to white winter.

Here is the poem 'November'

November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.

Poem by  Elizabeth Coatsworth

I do love the cup of hot tea when 'kettle sings', nothing else to do but wait for next spring.
What are these days in your place? 
Happy belated Thanksgiving Day!

On the Lake

These are recollections of summer in November when the rain and wind is outside.  
My trip to the lake Vesijärvi (Finland) was in June. It wasn't hot, days were rainy and windy and I thought that sailing by a steamer should be postponed. But having seen such a wonderful steamboat with a wheel at the stern, I boldly climbed the gangway. Two sailors (they were the owners) warmly greeted passengers. I asked if waves were strong on the lake and a sailor assured me that the wind was not strong and the waves were not big.

The steamer frisky sailed from the pier and it was rocking a bit. But the lake shores were so beautiful, there were small cottages, sandy beaches, the city of Lahti ... And I forgot about my fears and enjoyed the views from the open deck.

Of course the weather prepared a surprise: a big black cloud had flown and rain started. I had to go down to the covered deck. A party was held there and people in a bar didn't pay attention to weather and nature. Only when heavy rain had finished the other photographers joined me.

We sailed ahead, the sun appeared, suddenly large and bright rainbow has hung over a lake and an island and passengers started taking pictures. So did I. It's said that if you're able to see both ends of rainbow then your dream come true. Do you believe it? Have you tried to photograph a rainbow?

Wordless Wednesday: It Was an October Day

The road to my summer cottage