An October afternoon at the pond

This is a short note on watching the pond at 15196 Larchwood in October. Every season brings its own version of the water, and autumn might be the best of the four for pure light.

Low light, long reflections

In October the sun never gets very high, and that's the point. It skims the pond from a low angle all afternoon, and the surface picks up every color the sky is wearing at once. The trees across the water go rust and copper, the reflections seem to double them, and the whole yard turns the color of good tea. You don't have to look for it. It's simply there, all afternoon.

The whole house gets the view

The expansive windows in this ranch are put to their best use this time of year. The same light that draws you out onto the patio follows you inside, spilling across the great room and the kitchen in the late afternoon. An hour at the island with the water in the corner of your eye stops feeling like an hour and starts feeling like a small luxury.

An October afternoon by the pond asks nothing of you. It just sits there being golden. Which, honestly, is the whole idea behind this home.