Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Bracing for the rain that isn't coming

It's another brash blue day here in North Carolina, and it's finally autumn. The trails through Bent Creek and Richmond Hill are soft and slippery with wet leaves as the trees slowly shake themselves bare. 

Mornings are often heavy with clouds and I settle into them, expecting each day for the fog to remain, closing in on the town, blurring the view of the backyard. I keep thinking that one day soon the rain will begin, and the darkness, and it will stay for the rest of the year and for months after. 

But by early afternoon, the mist has burned off, the sun is high, and even though the leaves are dreary and decaying on the ground, each day is bright and blue and warm enough. 

My photos look so different now. The color palate of my entire life has changed- it's become deciduous, sunlight pouring through spring green forests, the white spray of rapids against a light blue sky.  I spent over a decade enveloped in the rich tones of the Pacific coast- dark green and heavy pearl, espresso, mist, a dozen different grays of the sea in the afternoon. Now that October is falling away, I'm bracing for those colors. But they won't come. 

Everything is different now. Look where I used to be. 

Look where I am now.


11 comments:

Kirsten Gardner said...

Lina this is gorgeous! Love how different the palette of a place can be. I think someday I too will need to trade the misty ocean winters of the PNW for startling sunlight. Be well. xoxo

Emily said...

I love this. Way to show the contrast. I moved a little over two years ago (the other direction, though!), and I felt similarly to how you're describing... just constant incredulity that this.is.where.i.live.now.

marisa_tx said...

Just wait until those North Carolina trees start doing there autumn thing!! So much color in that beautiful place!

~Marisa

Unknown said...

Love. And what a change in color! But both are beautiful!!

marisa_tx said...

Just wait until those mountain trees start doing their autumn thing! So much color in that beautiful place!

Sarah said...

I love your new palate!!

ddawg said...

Great observation - so many of us take so many pictures of our everyday lives now. A color analysis across major life events would be fascinating.

As always, Melina, keenly astute.

Lia said...

Wow what a cool post and what neat collages. So of course the PNW is gorgeous but, I do have to say that the brightness of your new home looks a little bit freeing and lighter. I grew up in Portland and I just remember the gray that never went away, day after day, month after month. When we moved to Florida the fog was lifted...

Love your writing. Keep it up!

Jessica said...

I lived in Seattle for four years and am back to my native southeast living in South Carolina for the past 5 years. My life has never been better or brighter! Cheers to you for moving to the sunshine!!

carolyn said...

Living in Oregon and having and lived in the PNW my entire life I am embracing this beautiful October weather, sunshine color, warmth and leaves. The morning fog bring that feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach is this Autumn bliss over?? Six months of wet gray?? Wondering if I can stand it, wondering how. Loving your blog, photos and happiness!

Jaclyn said...

i love seeing all the color in your posts. i'm obsessed with the pnw but your nc posts are just beautiful. asheville is pretty amazing.