December 1st 2018

#71 Leaf Of The Day

December 1st 2018

Photographed November 21st 2018

Stockton, California

Samsung

"It's December, and no one asked it I was ready."

~John Geddes

A Familiar Rain

Just a leaf again today, as I am still fighting this mild cold. I will be back to normal soon. In fact, I am considering a short trip later today, to spend a bit of time with Alan and my camera. I am not sure which direction yet, but I will find something to photograph. That's the great thing about having a camera always by your side, you inevitably see something, you might have missed otherwise!

~Mood: Happy

~Me

 

The Individual Known As One

#70 Leaf of The Day

November 30th 2018

Photographed November 18th 2018

Stockton, California

Samsung

"A tree thinks nothing of a leaf

once it has left home."

~ Anthony T. Hincks

I'm a little under the weather, it's just a head cold, but I am not 100% so I am going to take it easy, and hope the latest round of Trump bullshit leads to either an immediate resignation, or impeachment in time for Christmas. Let's all hope for the resignation, as I don't want to spend the next few weeks before Christmas dodging missiles from Iran, North Korea, Russia, or England. Oh fuck me, this is turning into a full post! Damn you Trump!

~Mood: Sick/Happy

~Me

 

Twilight In The Cemetery

"Twilight, even remembered twilight,

 is better than no light at all."

~China Mieville

Ione Public Cemetery

500 Church Street

Ione, California

October 28th 2018

Back in October, I had planned to begin a new series, Cemeteries. I did one post, which featured the Ione Catholic cemetery, which also contained a lovely little chapel. Well, the day I photographed that cemetery, I also took some photos of a cemetery across the street. I decided to put the rest of my photographs on hold, after the devastating wildfire took place in Paradise, California. It just didn't seem like the right time to begin such a dark subject. After all, I can add to this series at any time during the year, so there was nothing time sensitive about it. I used to be a little frightened of cemeteries, but with maturity, came a different attitude completely.

 I began to think of all the history of those who are resting there. They all lived lives, so they all must have plenty to say about the times they lived in. Ione, for example, has had Their challenges. Their embrace of the times, or conversely, the things they rejected. What was their politics like? What was their social culture like? What was it like during the Gold Rush days, and what was it like to have the jazz musician, Dave Brubeck, be it's most famous son? Is Preston Castle/School of Industry, actually haunted? But I am not so sure I wanted an answer to that question! Not here anyway!

 All questions I will never know just by visiting the grave sites, but at the same time, by looking at the dates on the monuments, there is a point of history that can be researched. Plus, there is a quiet, calming thought about passing through an example of where I will call home one day. If I have my way, I will be cremated and scattered in the San Francisco Bay, or at least off the Marin County coastline, but I got a good vibe from this cemetery, well, except for the spooky Preston Castle, staring down on the cemetery, as if it is watching it, and the sign warning visitors to "beware of rattlesnakes."

 I don't think I have ever seen that kind of sign in a cemetery before, and it makes me wonder if anyone was killed by a rattlesnake, while visiting a loved one? Anyway, if my first choice is not obtainable, at least there is a cemetery, not too far away, that has some amazing autumn trees! All I ask is for a few autumn trees to drop a few leaves over me, and I am good to go! But not right now... lol... sometime a long time from now. Maybe sometime after I photograph Wyatt Earp's grave site, in Colma, California or maybe the Black Dahlia's (Elizabeth Short) resting place in Oakland. Morbid? Or is it simply history? Maybe a little of both? Anyway, I am attempting to show the beauty of cemeteries, and not the sorrow.

And now the autumn Leaf Of The Day...

#69 Leaf Of The Day

November 29th 2018

Photographed October 11th 2018

Tilden Park

Little Farm

Berkeley, California

~Mood: Quiet

~Me

Yellow Leaves And Water Wheels

"My lovely November...

Have you seen my heart, 

somewhere in your castle of yellow leaves?" 

~A Waltz For Zizi

The sky is dark. We have been blessed with rain. Last Thanksgiving weekend absolutely was beautiful. A great mixture of sunny skies, and soft dark clouds. If I had my way, the weather would all always look like that. I love the dark days of winter. Autumn is where my heart lives, but winter is full of happiness too! Look how lovely that old water wheel is! The sky looks a bit gloomy, but with those gorgeous leaves to frame the water wheel, it comes together and is so picturesque, it makes me feel nothing but  grateful for both seasons, and so much beauty of autumn left to see, far into winter!  

 

#68 Leaf Of The Day

November 28th 2018

Photographed October 11th 2018

Nikon

 ~Mood: Content

~Me

 

Roads

"When I am out and it is autumn, 

my thank you's to the universe seem infinite."

~Darnell Lamont Walker

Last week, Alan and I took a ride to beautiful, Placerville, California. It's not all that far north, but the difference in terrain is quite striking! For instance, Placerville usually gets at least a small amount of snow each year, but I don't think it has ever snowed in Stockton. It's pretty mild there, in terms of weather, but sometimes, however, it turns into a true winter wonderland! I hope to be able to do some winter photos in the area this coming winter, because I really need to broaden my horizons when it comes to my photographs! I did a few winter photos just across the road in the town of Camino, right at the end of the winter, earlier this year, and to my happiness, there were even a few autumn leaves, still hanging from the trees! It always fills me with joy to come across a little bit of autumn, especially in deep winter! It makes waiting for my favorite season to come around again, a little more bearable!

The road to Placerville...

And earlier this year...

March 2nd 2018

Camino, California

#67 Leaf Of The Day

November 27th 2918

Stockton, California Samsung

~Mood: Happy

~Me

 

Leaf-Ward We Wander

"Gradually the winds became more frequent and aggressive, forcing the trees to abandon their leaves that passed over me like pixies venturing into the night on wild stallions."

~Kirsty Louise Farley

Shoal: A Thanet Writers Anthology

Last week's rain and cold, reminded me that as the month of November comes to an end, so does the warm days of autumn. We are only a couple weeks from the winter solstice, and it's pretty obvious that this winter will be painful. My Fibromyalgia is telling me to curl up with the kitties, but my imagination is telling me to go and do my photography now, while there is still time! It's a delicate balance.

Yesterday, I did some photographs of leaves, left in the puddles, after last week's rain. I love to see them swimming in rain water, because I always thought they looked like stars. A dark sky with bright beautiful stars, watching over me. Shrug. Some people see a pile of leaves in a puddle, and see a pile of leaves in a puddle, I see a pile of leaves in a puddle, and see I see the Milky Way!

Leaf-ward we wander...

Wind through these trees

Sunlight through breeze

bird songs around

we wander the leaves.

~Leland Lewis

Random Molecular Mirroring

#66 Leaf Of The Day

November 26th 2018

Photographed November 25th 2018

Stockton, California

Samsung 

~Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Walking In Autumn

Autumn! The greatest show of all times!"

~Mehmet Murat ildan

Walking in autumn is such a pleasure. No matter what time of day it is, you can find me, and my cameras, falling more in love with the season, as each leave falls. Considering how many beautiful leaves exist, I would say I am hopelessly in love at this point! Maybe I will make this part of my annual autumn project, walking among the beautiful leaves. If so, I think it allow me to bring a lot more colorful leaves to my project, rather than just the singles I feature for the Leaf Of The Day!

#65 Leaf Of The Day

November 25th 2018

Photographed November 17th 2018

 Stockton, California

Samsung 

~Mood: Happy

~Me