Treacherous Summer... Having The Last Hateful Word Courtesy Of Man

#14 Leaf Of The Day

October 14th, 2017

Stockton, California

"There is always the threat of tomorrow's treachery,

 or next year's treachery, 

or the treachery implicit in all the tomrrows beyond that!" 

~Tim O'Brien

In The Lake In The Woods

The North Bay fire began very late in the night, last Sunday night. People have very little time, if any to run for their lives. There have been stories of heroism, and stories of families united but stories so tragic they can't be erased from the heart, nor should they. As of this post President has said very little, mostly empty words that basically amount to... isn't that too bad! This post isn't about him, well not really, it's about the fact that we had yet another hot dry summer in California, that not even the deep winter rains of last winter could help cure the lingering effect of years of California drought! 

Between the horrendous damage of Hurricane Hugo, Maria, and Jose, the wildfires burning not just in the North Bay, but throughout the state. A devastating earthquake recently in Mexico, and other assorted atrocities since Trump took office, it's not hard to believe the end might be a day or two away. I know... I know... a lot of generations have predicted the same, but things are getting worse. People are getting worse. And by that I mean we had a chance to reverse the affects of climate change. Hell I heard when I was a child, that there was a hole in the ozone, and if action wasn't taken, the earth was going to suffer.

The earth is fucking pissed! It was at least 45 years ago when I first heard that warning, and while steps were taken initially to do that right thing, such as the creation of the EPA, evil men and women, mostly GOP and big business, have made it their priority to dismantle as many protections as possible! Why? To protect their bottom lines, and line their pockets, not giving a care in the world about the future because they want to have their money while on this earth, and we all know, you can't take it with you! FUCK FUTURE GENERATIONS, and even THIS ONE!

So, why did I title this post the way I did? Because I hate the heat of summer, because I know that besides being uncomfortable as HELL, it tends to set the stage for the devastation that the North Bay and the Los Angeles area, among other parts of California are facing. The seasons come around for balance. Summer has a place, and a purpose, but we are at a point where we better be fixing the evil that we have done, or face losing all life on this planet. 

California knows that, we have some of the smartest environmental laws in the country, but until the entire nation is onboard, we will just keep seeing tragedies. And they will get worse. And men and women who hold office will say pray because God intervenes, but those are empty words that make it sound good. As a Christian I know God left us in charge of the planet, and he also gave us free will.

FREE WILL!

MAKE OF THAT WHAT YOU WILL! 

On a separate note, yesterday was our 27th, Anniversary! I didn't post because, well, for a couple reasons that I will share later, so I will simply post an extra leaf today. We are officially on vacation for the next four weeks, and I will try to post every day, but I may not be able to, so PLEASE STAND BY...

 AND STAY TUNED!

 #13 Leaf Of The Day

October 13th 2017

Stockton, California

 Mood: Quiet

~Me

Beauty Unrivaled! A Love Story Of Napa and Sonoma Counties

"Things don't ever stay the same.

 Natural beginnings come to natural or unnatural ends."

~Kristin Cashore

Fire

My heart is completely broken, as I write this post. The devastating wildfires currently burning in the North Bay area are taking homes, and businesses with a deep demonic passion! When all is said and done, it will be the biggest, costliest fire in California history! It has ruined lives and ruined dreams. It has destroyed some of the most beautiful counties in California, the towns that produce the delicious Napa Valley wines and so much more. I can't say enough about the natural beauty I have witnessed in those vineyards, of each leaf of autumn, and each grape ripening on the vine! Also the fun of the bits of whimsy, around Santa Rosa, in particular, when I photographed the Snoopy "Joe Cool" Summer in 2007.

 Every single theme you can think of went into those sculptures, and Alan and I took a day and chased them around Santa Rosa, enjoying the day, and giggling as we found each one on the map. That's Santa Rosa. That's Napa, County, and we have had amazing fun in Sonoma County as well. It's a little something for everyone up there. Winery's. Dairies. Vineyards. Art. The whole area is in my heart, and my heart is completely broken right now. The one good piece of information I can hold onto right now is that as of the time of this post the Charles M. Schulz Museum is untouched. A little good news, that I am so relieved about in the midst of this terrible tragedy!

I send the people of the North Bay my LOVE and Friendship!

#12 Leaf Of The Day

September 28th, 2017

Stockton, Ca 

Snoopy "Joe Cool"

 

Mood: Sad

~Me 

 

Art About Town... Stockton Children's Museum Toy Soldiers

"There is nothing truly more artistic to love people."

~Vincent Van Gogh

I am beginning to really enjoy Stockton, and learn about it's past. What is really exciting about my new hometown, is all the public art around town, and the stories behind some of them! I am not sure if the Toy Soldiers at the Children's Museum of Stockton is considered part of their official public art program, but they have always caught my eye, any time I have been down on the waterfront, and so I thought I would learn about the museum, and it's history.

As it turns out, the museum has a very poignant story, and I will leave a link to it at the bottom of the page. Horrors happen every day, and on an average day in 1989, something truly horrendous took place, on a school yard in Stockton. I can't speak about it. I am very passionate on the subject, and if I begin explaining it, I feel like it will take away the meaning of this post. To me, the point of public art is to heal, to educate, and escape the horrors of the world.

I have photographed art that went out of it's way to both bring the soul peace, and I have photographed art meant to disturb the soul so deeply, that we finally face the truth about our pasts, presents, and futures. Right now, as I am encouraging my own healing, at least I am trying to, and I appreciate this museums work to not ignore that painful past, but to demonstrate to children, with hands on exhibits, the best of life. The art of healing, through art. This whole concept makes me thrilled and proud to be a Stocktonian.

Please take a moment and read about the tragic circumstance that inspired this amazing place for the children of Stockton! And if you are looking for a truly good cause that helps children, please consider donating to this amazing place!

#11 Leaf Of The Day

October 11th 2017

Stockton, California

 

Children's Museum Of Stockton

Cleveland Elementary School Massacre

Mood: Reflective

 

~Me

Breast Cancer Awareness 2017

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

It's almost the middle of October, and I should have done this post on the first of the month, because it so important to do all you can to remind all my friends that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 

I am one of the lucky ones. I have not contracted this vicious disease, despite having a few of the risk factors. For one, I am over 55 and never had children. Also I am Caucasian and studies show that slightly more white women get this type of cancer, and also I was exposed to DES as a child born in 1962, right at the end of the Baby Boomer years. DES exposure, however, took place between 1940 and 1972.

But, while I am relieved that my mammograms continue to come back negative, I think about getting older, and how I have an increased chance of contracting different types of cancers. Life sometimes throws you curve balls you never see coming, I kinda like to fight against that by being diligent about getting that simple test on time, and checking my breasts myself, several times a month! I'm trying to eat better, but find myself slipping into bad habits, since Donald Trump took office!

Shame on me! I should be trying my best, now more than ever to keep my health strong. You never know what's going to happen next, and while I love to put my head in a bag of potato chips, or do what I did  earlier this year, eat four Strawberry Boston cakes in less than a month, I am trying really hard to remember that one day his term in office will end, and a lovely impeachment will begin, and all will be right with the world! Hopefully!

But to my credit... after eating those 4 cakes, somehow I managed to lose 10 pounds! How does that even happen? I don't know but I thank God for it every day!

Now, here is one look at how Stockton

 observes this very important cause!

Lincoln Center is the shopping center closest to where I live, and it did my heart good to see this gentle reminder!

If you haven't had your mammogram yet... GO GET IT NOW!

#10 Leaf Of The Day

October 10th 2017

Stockton, California

 

Mood: Happy/Encouraged

Me :)

 

What Is Beauty?

"Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end."

~Remy de Gourmont

In my past autumn leaf collections, I have chosen only leaves with very little damage to them, to make the collection as beautiful as possible, but this year I have come to appreciate the brown and withered ones just as much as the ones bright with color! I almost passed up this pretty little leaf, because it's obviously missing some of it's natural shape, but it struck a cord with me, and it was so pretty against this background, where I found it, that I just had to feature it! This leaf lived it's life, and served the tree it was on, and just because it was no longer completely intact, was no reason for it not to have it's day! It should be appreciated and enjoyed for the life it lived. I think I identified with it somewhat, so this year I might feature more imperfect leaves, because there are no rules when it comes to natural beauty! At least there shouldn't be, right?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Oh Sweet October

#8 Leaf Of The Day

October 8th 2017

Stockton, California

 

"This tree must be falling for me, as soon as I sat under it, it dropped it's leaves. Oh sweet October."

~Charmaine J. Forde

I love the colors in this leaf. I loved it so much, in fact, that I decided to use it as my main post today, rather than post it along with a different subject. The colors remind me of Christmas, which will be here soon enough, but what is really intriguing to me, is how dark the leaf is, considering we aren't that far into autumn. Usually Dogwoods have a lighter colors this time of the season, but I found one in downtown Stockton, that was covered with the darkest colors I have ever seen on a Dogwood tree. It didn't have the almost neon look trees tend to get, but it did have it's own unique beauty, and I think I will be visiting it often this season, and maybe I will do a full post on it's progress. We'll see! In any case, it definitely lifted my spirits to find it!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)