That Autumn Blog

From For Ellipsis

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."

-Carol Bishop Hipps

We are beginning to see the first real signs of autumn here in the East Bay, but if you really want to see the autumn in all it's glorious splendor, you have to drive all the wayyyyy up into the hills. Plumas County is the place to go! With a little bit of luck, and some fingers and paws crossed, Alan and I will make the 5 1/2 hour drive up there sometime between October 15th and the 31st! That, according to the Plumas County Visitor's website, is the optimum time for viewing. But there are some things working against us going. Like the fact that the first major snow of the season is fore casted for early next week, and then there is the money we don't have courtesy of the governor's FORCED FURLOUGHS, and then there is my worry about leaving Dylan and Hendrix for 12 hours.

I know, I know... they aren't real children, they are cats, but you see, I am still their mommy, and they both still have a lot of kitten to them. Anything could happen from, ordering large quantities of catnip mice on the Internet, to the total destruction of our cottage from the exuberant flopping about that they are so fond of. YIKES! Then there is Dylan's favorite game... LETS-STAND-AT-THE-FRONT-DOOR-AND-WHINE-LIKE-HE'S-BEING-HELD-AGAINST-HIS-Will! LOL!

I really want to go, so I know all it will really take is the promise of Starbuck's for the road, and I will be good to go!

From For Ellipsis

By the way, the picture above is not of Plumas, it is of Susan's Spot, which sits in the Cisco Grove Park, on the California side of the Sierra. It's lovely there, and it's one of my favorite places on earth, but I long for the new sights and sounds of Plumas. Wish me luck... ok?

Check out Plumas County Visitor's Bureau Page. You wills see what I want to go there so badly!

:) And oh yeah... one last thing... what do you think of the new autumn look for my blog? Like it? Hate it? Sing out! Tell me what you think!

-Carly

Feline, Furball & Feathers Friday: Dylan v The Ball Of Yarn

From For Ellipsis

"The cat, is above all things, a dramatist."

-Margaret Benson

For this round of FF&F Friday, I bring you DYLAN THE BRAVE! Is there anything better when you are sick, then you have your pets not only volunteer to stay in bed with you, but bring you tissues, cold medicine, heating pads, warm fuzzy socks and hot Chicken soup? Ooops... that was Alan! LOL. But Dylan and Hendrix were darn cuddly and entertaining and that made being sick with the flu a little easier to take.

:)

From For Ellipsis

Be sure to hop on over to Theresa's blog for all the Feline, Furball and Feathers Friday fun. Friday is still the day for pets!



-Carly

Do You Know What Would Be Really Weird?

"Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude."

-William James

Know what would be really weird? What if Levi Johnston married Kate Gosselin?

Hey, I'm just saying...

Wink

-Carly

If I Ever Go Missing, You Can Find Me At The Zoo

From For Ellipsis

"Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts a lawsuit over their wills."

-Voltaire, letter to Count Schomber, 31 August 1769

Last week, Alan and I received free tickets to the Oakland Zoo, so we decided to get out of the house and have a little fun. It was a day before I felt any twangs of the flu,thank goodness, if we would have waited one more day to use them I couldn't have gone! Timing is everything I suppose. Anyway, sick or not, I could spend the whole day at the new Fruit Bat exhibit just talking to them. What wonderful, fascinating creatures they are. Beautiful animals.

Actually, all the animals were gorgeous, but I don't know which I enjoyed more, the bats or the chimpanzees. The bats reminded me of Dylan and Hendrix. Especially this one, who has a favorite stuffed animal, a rainbow colored bear. He actually cuddled with it, as he slept upside down. There is something kind of wonderful about that! The chimps were just darn cute, and pleasant to be around. It's a tough choice. If I go by the number of pictures taken, I suppose the bats win. LOL.

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

From For Ellipsis

The Oakland Zoo has some terrific videos, click here to see their video page. Go have a look!

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #58: Bridges And Walkways

"The only bad thing about burning your BRIDGES behind you is that the world is round."

-Unknown






**Folks, before we begin I want to let you know about a few things. Sometimes I get busy and can't visit your individual entries during the week. This past week was an extremely busy one for Alan and me, and therefore, I spent very little time on the Internet. Yesterday, was a Round Robin Challenge, and I try to do all my commenting for that project on the day of the challenge. I am on a very old, very slow computer as my usual one died a week ago, and on top of all of it, I have the flu, complete with runny nose, coughing and general malaise. PLEASE DON'T FEEL IGNORED IF I CAN'T GET BY TO COMMENT ON YOUR ENTRY DURING THE WEEK, I WILL COMMENT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE LATEST. I am sorry but responsibilities in my REAL LIFE have to come first. I have never intentionally ignored anyone. OK? Now, on with the challenge...

EMPS #58: Bridges and Walkways. NOW CLOSED!
Let's go for a walk... shall we? Ok photographers, you know what to do, go out and find me some BRIDGES and WALKWAYS. Autumn, for most of us, is in full swing, so show me something like that, or feel free to dip into your archives and wow me with something you haven't displayed before. Lets cross the BRIDGE together... shall we?

Extra Credit: Show me a picture of YOU on that BRIDGE or WALKWAY!

**PLEASE READ**
This photo shoot closes next Sunday evening at 9:00 PM ET. So, you have until that time to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website and come back here with the direct link back to it. Please remember, it must be a link which goes back to an entry which is specific to this Monday Photo Shoot assignment. No HYPERLINKS ACCEPTED! Also, please include a link back here so other folks can play along with us.

Linking List for EMPS #57: Weeds o9/28/09

NOW CLOSED!

1. Suzanne

2. Jama

3. Liz

4. Greg

5. Karen

6. Mike


Thanks for playing everyone. See you next week with an all new photography assignment!

-Carly