The Uncertainty Of Life

"Sometimes a strong wind blows suddenly and you leave your beloved tree without saying even goodbye, like a pale autumn leaf. This uncertainty of life makes every moment in life infinitely precious."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

Just leaves for this post. I am feeling stressed, and rather than struggle to post about a specific topic, or drone on about how tired I am or how much I am feeling over the midterms, I thought I would do a post about the leaves that were past over for becoming The Leaf Of The Day! So, from my September and October files, here are some of my favorite autumn leaves...

Aren't they gorgeous? The patters and fingerprints never cease to amaze me! The colors, and happiness they bring me makes even the worse day better, and none of my photographs of them, ever do them justice! But I will keep trying! 

And Now...

#43 Leaf Of The Day

November 3rd 2018

Photographed October 10th 2018

Sacramento, California

Samsung

 

 

~Mood: Happy

~Me 

 

The Black Parasol

"The farther we've gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the move we've come to need Halloween."

~Paula Curan

October Dreams: A Celebration Of Halloween

 Isn't that a pretty parasol? Alan bought it for me, to go with my witch costume, based on the witches of American Horror Story: Coven, and this years chapter, AHS:Apocalypse. I decided to make this my costume because, while I might be 56, I still embrace the holiday with all my heart! It was my favorite day of the year as a child, contained in my favorite month, October, during my favorite season, autumn. I never get enough of it, and it all comes and goes way too fast! It's hard to believe I am on my way to my 57th Halloween, I just pray I make it! If I do, I am pretty sure I will again, embrace my inner witch!

I love the witches of American Horror Story! They are cool, and they have a purpose I appreciate... they fight evil, and isn't that refreshing? Someone, even a fictional character, fighting today's societal/political evil! The whole show is one of the best metaphors for the times we are living in that I have ever seen. Evil is running rampant on the earth right now, and it's absolutely overwhelming. So would say it always has run free on the earth, but it has never been so blatant about saying who it is, and why it's empowered right now!

It tells the truth just enough, to almost miss it when it is blatantly lying! It's evil. It's powerful. And on most days it feels like we have NO CHANCE of overcoming the soul crushing damage it's doing! But I still believe there is hope, and I am looking forward to our current evil being defeated, and hopefully a big part of that will take place next Tuesday, November 6th, with the 2018 midterm elections. God, I hope the democrats will win back the Congress. I pray we will take the Senate too, but I know better than to get my hopes up for both! And I also know better than to believe absolutely everyone who has a (D) next to their name. I know to listen closely to what they say, and what they do. It's not like democrats don't have their moments, and it's not like no one has ever lied and misrepresented themselves as to who they really were.

I was sad on Halloween night. A mere four children came to our door trick or treating. Four. Last year we had roughly fifty or so little ones visit us! The thing is, a couple years ago, in 2016 we had only a handful come by, so the only thing I know of that is the variable, is the national elections. The midterms this year, are much scarier than they were in 2016! Donald Trump keeps topping himself on his vile rhetoric, and there is a cruel, if not a full cloud of evil hanging over everything! This is another time that I don't want to speak to speak about in full here on Ellipsis, I just want to take things one day at a time, and move on from my sadness. 

The midterm election is next Tuesday. I have no idea what to expect, but history will record it, so I am just trying to not make the mistake of celebrating, or climbing into bed and not coming out, before I know what our fate will be! So, I think I will just share what was right about Halloween 2018, and place the bad stuff in a jar on the shelf marked the same way, Ed and Lorraine Warren marked the case that held the demonic doll, Annabelle.

WARNING... POSITIVELY DO NOT OPEN! 

But, when those who have used pure evil to harm our country, are finally brought to justice, I hope those exact same words will be marked over their jail cells! 

And now onto Punky's big night!

And now, the Leaf Of The Day...

#42 Leaf Of The Day

November 2nd 2018

Photographed October 21st 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Quiet

~Me

 

The Ducks Of Victory Park

"In November, some birds move away and some birds stay. The air is full of good-byes and well wishes. The birds who are leaving look very serious. No silly spring chirping now. They have long journeys and must watch where they are going. The staying birds are serious, too, for cold times like ahead. Hard times. All berries will be treasures."

~Cynthia Rylant

In November

It's November 1st, and it's about 1:30 AM, and as I sit here typing this post, I am absolutely freezing! Summer's hold on autumn is definitely gone, which I couldn't be happier about, but my goodness, when the cold weather turns really fast, like it did this week, it makes me grateful for warm sweaters, hot tea, pie, and warm days like the one you see in the photo! The picture is of Victory Park, here in Stockton, and it was what I think will be the last day of truly warm weather. It was the kind of day when you didn't really need a sweater, but there was just enough of a chill in the air to remind you to get your autumn and winter clothes out, and put your short sleeve blouses away! 

Anyway, I went to the park to photograph the beautiful rose garden they have there, and I did do a few photos, but I ended up spending most of my time, photographing the inhabitants of the crystal clear duck pond on the right side of the park. There were more ducks in the park than I remembered being there on my first visit last year! Bigger ones too, and they were making quite a ruckus, they wanted my attention! They must have been used to folks taking their photographs, because a few of them were definitely mugging for the camera! I enjoyed my visit with them very much, and it felt good to photograph some wildlife. I love finding new birds, and while I had seen a few of this variety before, it's always nice getting in some quality time photographing an active subject! 

It was a nice afternoon.

The Mallards

The Moscovy Ducks

So beautiful. And just look at that late afternoon autumn light!

#41 Leaf Of The Day

November 1st, 2018

Photographed October 21st, 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Happy/Quiet
~Me

 

Happy Halloween 2018 And A Face In The Crowd

"Haunt an old house.

Ask for a treat.

Laugh like a witch.

Lick something sweet.

Offer a trick.

Wander a maze.

Echo a boo.

Exclaim the phrase... normal's unnatural on Halloween!"

~Richelle E. Goodrich

Making Wishes

A Face In The Crowd

October 25th 2018

Half Moon Bay, California

 

It's Halloween! My favorite holiday, which occurs on the last day, of my favorite autumn month, October! It's sometimes difficult to know how to feel! On the one hand, the day I wait all year for is here, but on the other hand, it only lasts 24 short hours. In recent years, I haven't enjoyed my Halloween as much as I used to. My peace of mind has been shattered. I feel like this year won't bring as many ghouls and goblins as in other years, because of the political climate, and that makes me very sad. I am going to try to put on a happy face, and put on my AHS: Coven witch costume, and face the day optimistic. I am going to try. The pumpkin will be carved. The candy bowl will be filled, and ready to hand out miniature goodies to the little ones, and I will try to only be afraid of old Dracula movies on TV! But I will also pray for a ghost or two from sanity past, to stop by for a little while, and bring me some joy! I just need a little bit... just for Halloween. I will worry about November 1st, once it gets here!

BWA...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

#40 Leaf Of The Day

October 31st 2018

Photographed October 21st 2018

Ione, California 

~Mood: Quiet
~Me 

Ghosts And Twilight

"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too.

 They live and sometimes, they win."

~Stephen King

 On our way up the coast from Half Moon Bay last week, Alan and I decided to stop, briefly, at Land's End, and take in the beautiful sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The park is awesome! You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, the USS San Francisco Memorial, and even the remains of the Sutro Baths, which is just a short walk down a trail, that sits along the cliffs. But last Thursday, we didn't stop to do more than take a few photographs, and then it was onto Marin for dinner! The sunset going on over the horizon, was producing such vibrant autumn color, that it took my breath away! It was absolutely stunning, but something besides that gorgeous sunset caught my eye!

 I noticed that if you looked directly down the cliffs, the rocks below looked almost black and white! And there was the spooky  remains of a small tree. It was a skeleton, really. No leaves, no sign that life had ever existed on it, but there was something about how it's branches were shaped, that was pleasing to my eye! Cold and dark, yet seductive to my photographers eye, so I took a few shots of it on our way out of the park! I didn't notice anything else about the photo, until a couple hours ago, when I began editing other photos from the same file. It seems that in the lower left hand side of the picture are several shapes, that seem to be three people, walking together along the cliff!

There was no one there, when I took the photo, only some shore birds roosting on Seal Rock, which is a impressive rock formation that sits just off shore. It can be seen from the parking lot on Point Lobos avenue, but is a good distance from the shoreline. The shapes captured in the photo, seem to be walking along the cliff directly in front of me, but no one was there! I saw no one! And even stranger, if you look closely, not only does it seem to be three people walking together, it also seems that they are transparent! Is it a bit of mist, that I happened to capture at just the right moment? Perhaps! Could it be three ghosts out for a walk in the twilight? Less likely, but who knows? Perhaps it is! I guess I'll never know for sure, and I kinda love that! I get to write my own ending!

So, are they ghosts? Or Wispy splashes of water on the cliffs?

You decide! 

 #40 Leaf Of The Day

October 30th, 2018

Photographed October 24th 2018

Ione, California

~Mood: Quiet
~Me

Autumn, Alan, October, Pumpkins, Sunflowers, Roses, And Pizza

"This is October for me: Withdrawing into my own world, blocking out everything except the beauty of the season, my reflections and my relationship with God, I find that this is enough to sustain me through the long, cold, winter... and beyond... ."

~Peggy Toney Horton

Somewhere In Heave My Mother Is Smiling

Half Moon Bay, California, is beautiful every single day of every year, but it is especially beautiful in October of any year! The town's claim to fame is being the, "World's Pumpkin Capitol!" Which I have to admit there may be one or two other towns in the world who also claim that title, or at least "Pumpkin Capitol Of The World." It doesn't matter to me, I love the town so much, that I simply call it Heaven on the San Mateo peninsula! 

But I have to admit, I love coming down the steep hill, of Highway 92, turning a slight corner, and suddenly seeing, on my left, pumpkin patches as far as the eye can see! There are also a few patches that have roses, and sunflowers! My favorite stop in Pastorino's Pumpkin Patch!

Beautiful pumpkins, a petting zoo, sunflowers, a gift shop, and a bake shop, definitely puts a person in, not only an autumn euphoria, but in the mood for the upcoming holidays of, Halloween, and Thanksgiving! It's an enchanting autumn world, and Alan and I have been enjoying our Half Moon Bay visits, since we first visited Pastorino's, while we were on our honeymoon! I still remember the date, October 23rd, 1990!  

We had such a good time that day, that we named the day, Family Day, so that if we started a family, and wanted to spend our anniversary alone, which is October 13th, we could give the kids a special day for all of us, just ten days later! We chose that, because 49ner's quarterback, Joe Montana, and his family, were visiting Pastorino's that day in 1990 also! It was the first time, that year, they had a chance, to take a day off to be together for choosing their pumpkin! They seemed to be having so much fun together, that it sparked the idea for Alan and I to create the tradition!

As it turned out we never had children. We just didn't, but it didn't stop us from celebrating that special day anyway! We still have a ball, visiting Pastorino's! After we choose our pumpkin, we always head up the coast highway, to San Francisco, and enjoy the best of the city, and after that, it's onto Marin County, for dinner at Gaspare's Italian restaurant! A pizza, and two orders of their heavenly Cannoli! Life is good! Love is good! Autumn makes it all magical! 

We had to celebrate our Family Day, a bit later than usual this year, because I was a little under the weather on October 23rd, but it was okay, October 25th was a glorious day! Warm. Beautiful. And best of all, it was a completely happy, fun filled day! No stress. No politics. Just Alan and I! I only wish our kitties could have come with us. They are our children, and I just know it would have been fun having them choose the official pumpkins of Halloween 2018! Believe me, as silly as that sounds, my Dylan has very definite ideas about pumpkins! Each year we bring several home, and he always chooses one he likes to chew on the most! LOL! 

Alan and I have the life we wanted!

And our life is good!

#39 Leaf Of The Day

October 29th 2018

Photographed October 25th, 2018

Cull Canyon

 

~Mood: Happy

~Me