The First Moon Of Autumn

"For the time being

 Words scatter

 Are they fallen leaves?"

~Ruth  Ozeki

 A Tale For The Time Being 

We took a drive to Old Sacramento last evening, to see if the leaves have started changing yet. It was a pleasant drive, almost no traffic going in our direction, and Alan and I always enjoy a car ride together. It was fun, but just as I thought, not much color just yet. It's pretty early, but in a month or so, that will all be different! The trip wasn't all for nothing, even with what seemed like hopelessly green trees, I managed a few nice specimens of early color, deep brown and some long dead, but subtly attractive grey nicely shaped leaves.

"The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk to."

~Carl Sandburg

The leaves of early autumn are important too, sometimes it's not about the outrageous color, sometimes it's about the slightest hint of beauty peeking through, that makes the biggest impression. Like with the moon. I love photographing the moon when it is full and bright, but this little whisper of light makes my heart jump sometimes. Someday I want to get a telescope, and get up close and personal with that comforting light in the sky. Shrug.

                                    One day... Some day.

 Leaf Of The Day

September 23rd 2017

Old Sacramento, California

 Mood: Happy

~Me

The First Leaf Of The Day, For Autumn 2017

"Days decrease, and autumn grows, autumn in everything."

~Robert Browning 

The air has a gentle coolness. I have stocked up on cinnamon, cloves, and batteries! Batteries? Yep batteries! Alan and I will hopping around Northern California, chasing autumn, and rocking out to great music! I know, as I write this, I will be able to feel it, as the autumn equinox begins at 4:02 P.M. EDT. 

But first...

Here is a pretty flower I spotted last weekend in my favorite park in the San Francisco East Bay. It's soft pink color makes both summer and autumn look lovely. I wish I knew the name of it, because it's something I wouldn't mind planting in my garden next year. It must be a summer flower, because it was clear this plant was on it's last blast of color. 

It's so pretty!

And now, here is the very first Leaf Of The Day for autumn 2017.

Leaf Of The Day

September 22nd, 2017

Cull Canyon, Castro Valley, California

 Mood: Happy

~Me :) 

The Last Of Summer And The Pre-Autumn Leaves

Pigeon Point

September 16th, 2017

"Summer is leaving silently. 

Much like a traveler approaching the end of an amazing journey."

~Darnell Lamont Walker 

Today is the last full day of summer! Time to change the header on the blog, pack up all, or most, of my soft short sleeve blouses, and bring out the autumn decorations and cozy, warm earth-toned sweaters! I have so many plans for the next three months! Lots of car rides, in search of autumn leaves and public art. Baking. A little more decorating and renovations, and I have even put a couple books on my wish list, for curling up with next to the pool with! In California you can enjoy the pool well into October... sometimes! But if it's not to be, and the chill comes early, I guess I will curl up with Joey under my new chenille throw. Summer is falling asleep, but autumn and I are just waking up! 

Pre-Autumn Leaf #6

Cull Canyon, Castro Valley

September 16th 2017

 Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

 

The Midpoint Of September... PreAutumn Leaf #4

Pre-Autumn Leaf #4

September 15th, 2017 Manteca, California 

"Live in moments that consume your heart and mind,

 but be distracted by the music from the

 leaves, birds, wind, rain, sun and people."

~Val Uchendu 

Only a couple more days of summer remain... and I am intentionally ignoring it, because, frankly, autumn has already grabbed the light in the sky, the sunsets, the coolness of the air, the sweetness of every piece of music I listen to, and my creativity. As autumn begins, I always think about one of my favorite quotes by Stephen King, about the transition between summer and fall.

"But when fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass, as it always does one day, sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend

 that you have missed."

~Stephen King

Salem's Lot 

That, is a quote so perfect, I don't think I would ever be able to find a better one, or even come up with the words myself that fit the sense of well being each autumn brings me. The morning sun. The evening sunsets, the ripe harvest vegetables and the smell of damp, earthy, falling leaves, all in concert, deep down in my soul, causing me walk around with a dumbstruck, distracted look on my face, like I have just found love at first sight... for the 55th time! I don't know why autumn has that effect on me, but it always has, and it probably always will. It just does! 

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

A Late Summer Twilight By The Pacific Ocean

"The pacific is my home ocean; I knew it first, grew up on it;s shore, collected marine animals along the coast.

 I know its moods, it's color, its nature."

~John Steinbeck

Travels With Charley: In Search Of America 

Saturday was a lot of fun! I wasn't sure at first I would be going because the my orange monster cat Dylan gave one of his early morning meowing concerts... LOUDLY! He is the most beautiful cat I have ever seen, orange like a coastal sunset, but he is also bossy, quirky and one of the great pet loves of my life. A curse, and a blessing all rolled up into nine pounds of fur!

Anyway, we left Stockton at about 1:00 PM, and made a couple stops in the East Bay, before heading to Half Moon Bay, and then to Pigeon Point Lighthouse and coastal overlook, which is about 30 minutes north of Santa Cruz. I did some shots of the lighthouse, but the lighting wasn't great so I am planning to revisit next month while we are on vacation.

It was a good day. I was in pain, so I didn't do as much with the camera as I would have liked, but Alan and I did a lot of talking, and a lot of laughing, and listened to a LOT of 80's music! We pretty much sang all day! God, we are old ones now, and eyeing retirement in a few years, and I am sure when that day comes, there will be a lot more photography, and music, and dancing around in my granny panties at the ocean. Well, probably not that last one!

The best part of Saturday was the complete lack of political obsessing by me. I didn't check my phone to see if there were missiles on their way from North Korea. No fretting about the last or even the next stupid thing he might be planning or doing, nope, the day was all about the music, the creativity, and the pure fragrant smells of being by the Pacific Ocean!

Where do the days and the years go?

Wasn't the 1980's like 15 minutes ago?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)