Days Of Darkness, Days Of Light

"At no other time, than autumn, does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth, in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honey sweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost."

~Rainer Maria Rilke

Letters On Cezanne

Alan and I have been doing a lot of driving around Northern California this vacation. We do that most years, but there has been more rain this autumn, then in previous years, which had lead to some dark roads earlier in the day, which I love, but can sometimes play havoc with a general mood I want to have on my blog!

 Much like politics, this autumn has had moments of amazing light, and other moments of cold, almost frightening darkness. You turn a corner on a lonely road, and you wonder what you will see around the next curve. Will it be a frightening, dark filled bumpy road? Or will it be a sign of "Gas Food And Lodging?" 

I think it's fitting that American elections are held in the middle of autumn, where one's thoughts of how fragile the immediate future is, and how life becomes shorter with each passing sunset, blend with a warm autumn sun and a cool breeze of the fact that there is also a lot to look forward to. 

Autumn Moods

"There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood...

Touch of manner, hint of mood;

And my heart is like a rhyme,

With the yellow and purple and crimson keeping time."

~Bliss Carman

Leaf Of The Day

October 29th 2016

Mood: Quiet

~Me  

The Colors Of A Single Autumn Day...

"Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers."

~Ray Bradbury

 Dandelion Wine

Leaves, bees, flowers, sunsets, sunrises, everything seems so much more vibrant in autumn! It made me happy to study that tiny little creature, as it hopped from mum to mum. It even paused for a brief moment among some leaves, as if he appreciated them as much as I did, but then it was right back to the flowers! He was an active guy, almost as happy as I was think! I hope all this beautiful color lasts long into winter, as it does in some years, but we are almost at the half point of the this season. Can you believe how fast this autumn has gone by? Hopefully that is a good sign for continued color!

The Colors Of A Single Autumn Day... 

Leaf Of The Day

October 28th 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

Art About Town: San Francisco... La Rose Des Vents, By Jean-Michel Othoniel

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

~Twyla Tharp

We finally got back to Golden Gate Park a couple days ago. Since moving to Stockton, we haven't visited San Francisco with nearly the same frequency we did when we lived in the East Bay, and I have missed it so much that it's like a piece of me is missing! But the other day we made a whole day of it, crossing the San Mateo Bridge and driving up the coast!

We went to specifically see the Dahlia Garden, which sits next to the Conservatory of Flowers, and they didn't disappoint, they were gorgeous, and I will devote a whole post about them soon, but in addition to those lovely flowers, I found that there was a new addition of public art to brighten the park! It was so pleasant to see it there, and it's a gorgeous bright yellow color that can't help but make one smile, especially on a dark, rainy San Francisco day! It is a kinetic sculpture, by artist, Jean-Michel Othoniel. 

The weather may have made everything seem slightly blue, but the mood I felt wasn't blue at all! I loved the smell of the cold damp earth, and the smell of fireplaces and the mixture of different foods being prepared as we made our way around the city! Ahhh... I was home. I was in my San Francisco, and all was well!

 Leaf Of The Day

October 27th, 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A New Memory

"I find it incredibly amazing how at every sunset,

 the sky is a different shade.

 No cloud is ever in the same place. 

Each day is a new masterpiece. A new wonder. A new memory."

~Sanober Kahn

Last night's sunset was beautiful! It spoke softly with blue shades, and it made me want to drift off to sleep next to a warm fire in the fireplace, but that would have meant missing the sunset, and I couldn't do that! I love the bright red and orange, and sometimes pink of an autumn sunset, but when a blue sunset comes along... I just want to take in it's peace and wrap myself around the way it makes me feel!

Leaf Of The Day

October 27th 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Delicous Autumn Harvest!

"Autumn. It's crispness, it's anticipation, it's melancholia, it's cool breezes replacing summer's heat. It's long days in the field, a harvest festival when work's done, a cheering crowd in a football stadium, chrysanthemums punctuating a somber landscape. It's Halloween high jinx, pumpkins grinning toothy smiles, the crack of pecan pressed against pecan.It's the first curls of wood-smoke, fresh blisters from pushing a rake. It's crisp and fresh and mellow and snug, solemn and melancholy. And it's very, very welcome."

~Good Housekeeping Magazine

We took a trip to Half Moon Bay yesterday, and it's wouldn't be the same if we didn't visit the Farmer's Daughter food and veggie stand! It's a family tradition to pick up some Brussels's sprouts, as well as yams and onions and sometimes Heirloom Tomatoes! Yesterday, we stuck to the sprouts, and some fingerling potatoes, and a few bulbs of garlic! But we aren't done for this harvest, so stay tuned to see all the recipes we come up with for this season!

Delicious!

 Leaf Of The Day

October 25th 2016

Mood: Creative

 

~Me :)

 

 

Autumn Fenced In...

"Autumn stomps around outside the house like

 an annoying little sister, tapping on all the shutters, 

kicking up the piles of leaves you rake,

 pretending to howl like a wolf.

 But I'm glad she's here, so we can cuss at summer together, pretending we don't even remember her name."

~Karen Finneyfrock

The Sweet Revenge Of Celia Door

Some folks don't agree with me at all about autumn! The leaves that are glorious, messy and loud with color and joy for me, mean a dirty, time consuming, mess for others. Rather than being a giantic party of colors, the leave rather represent a sad notion that soon the world will be covered in snow, and the trees that are so vibrant right now, will turn to mere skeletons. Stick figure ghosts of their former selves. The world will become cold, lonely, and perhaps the thing of a Stephen King novel. But I am happy to see the dark days come, and bring with it shadows that I can build nightmares on! Maybe that's why I love horror movies so much, it reminds me of autumn, even in April!

Autumn Fenced In...

I love doing fence line photography, 

and I hope to do more this season!

Leaf Of The Day

October 24th 2016

Mood: Happy

 

~Me :)

A Taunting Dance

"It was a beautiful fall day. Gentle wind teases stubborn autumn leaves. Some defy the gentle wind and sway. A taunting dance. Come with me an look at the magnificence of the last dance."

~Fidekus O. Mkparu

Love's Affliction

Today's quote is perfect for this post, because yesterday was an exceptionally beautiful day, for doing my latest series of photos in Carson City, Nevada! The capitol of Nevada is stunning in autumn, and is always a favorite destination of mine, when I go searching for the perfect examples of western states autumn, to post on my blog! Yesterday was a gift! It was absolutely beautiful, and it seems like I will be able visit several more times before the end of the season, as it's getting off to a colorful, yet slow start! All the better for me! That means many, many photo jaunts that will end with me really tired, but deeply, and completely, happy inside! I love playing in big piles of autumn leaves! Who wouldn't? It makes me feel like a kid again! 

And look who decided to join me...  

Leaf Of The Day

October 23rd 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)