Oak tree at dusk

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A few days ago I was out hiking late in the afternoon. Heading back to my car as the sun was going down, I passed this bare oak tree. When I looked up, I was struck by the silhouette of its crooked branches against the darkening sky.

bare oak tree in silhouette

Funny how a casual glance up on the way home, can turn into the best sight of the afternoon.

Carpet of leaves

Almost all of the leaves are down from the trees in my yard. That’s always kind of a depressing moment for me. With the leaves down, that means the hours of daylight are getting less and less everyday.

fallen leaves

While I do love autumn, and enjoy the experience of the four seasons here in Wisconsin, the ever encroaching “season of darkness” is my least favorite time of the year.

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Emmylou Harris and her Red Dirt Boys

I’ve been fond of Emmylou Harris‘s music since the early 1980’s. I started out a casual fan, but the intensity of my fandom grew along with the music she was making. When her 1995 masterpiece Wrecking Ball came out, I was a seriously hooked. Through all that time, I never had the opportunity to hear Emmylou Harris perform live. But that finally changed last night, when I attended her outstanding show at Madison’s Overture Center.

Emmylou Harris’ set began somewhat subdued. Early on she played one of my favorites of the night, the hauntingly beautiful “Red Dirt Girl.” That tone continued with a cover of Lucinda Willams’ “Sweet Old World” and the somber waltz “I Miss the Mississippi and You.”

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