One of the lovely things about Australia is the abundance of light. The sun shines long and hard here. While its rays are often overwhelming in the dead of summer and feeble in the heart of winter, during spring and autumn at certain times of the day. they cast the most wonderful warm glow over the countryside.
Instead of a rapid descent from light to dark at the end of the day, that wonderful ‘golden hour’ has started to arrive…
There’s something magical about that last hour of sunlight. It’s often still and calm and I always think the world looks like it’s been ever so slightly gilded. It’s one of my favourite times to go wandering – the birds are beginning to roost for the evening and countryside seems to drink up the cool shadows of the setting sun.
Adam and I are lucky enough to have open space and tiny bit of farmland near us and I love watching the bush quietening down after the day, or resident cows in the paddock up the road from us tucking into their final mouthfuls of grass.
We recently had dinner with some friends at a property just outside of town. Our arrival coincided with golden hour and the way the low-slung sun cast its rays, at the end of their tree lined driveway reminded me of that mythical pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The pastel sky that accompanied was also pretty darn lovely.
When I’m out during golden hour I feel like my senses are slightly heightened as well. It’s as if my awareness of the incredible light around me makes me pick up on all the other things around me. The scent of eucalyptus in the gum trees, the sound of critters scurrying through grass and the taste of someone’s dinner cooking in a nearby kitchen.
Although I relish the coziness of hunkering down for the evening during the cooler weather, I’m also equally now enjoying those extra minutes of daylight. It feels like bonus time to enjoy in between the end of the working day and the start of night time rituals: a time to walk, to read, to pour oneself a drink and just sit and stare.
What’s your favourite time of the day?
Have a wonderful week. x
Wattle and Ash 
Interesting to read that your senses are heightened in the golden hour. I’ll have to pay closer attention to how I feel, but I think it just mellows me out. I become one with nature and I hear/ see nothing.
It probably is my favorite time of day.
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It’s funny isn’t Goldie how certain times of the day can affect you? Hope you’re having a good day!
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I am a morning person, I believe I picked up this trait from my father who was a baker. I am always awake at first light and enjoy the prospects of a new day. It always holds the promise of a new adventure, an opportunity to set your goals for the day. In the crossover seasons, I love the crisp, cool mornings even more so if you can catch a warm spot to enjoy a quiet coffee to plan out the day when the world around you is quiet. In the summer months, it is a chance to enjoy the cool before bracing yourself against the summer heat. Even winter holds the magic of misty/foggy mornings with the sun tempting us with a rare show of sunlight.
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I’m a morning person too Larry… but I must admit years of 4:45am work alarms have made me appreciate waking up when my body is ready not when the clock tells me! Here’s to golden hours both at the start and end of the day!
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