Playing In Autumn Leaves

When I look at a pumpkin muffin, I see the brilliant orange glow of a sugar maple in it's full autumnal glory. I see the crisp blue sky of October, so clear and restorative and reassuring. I see hayrides and I feel Halloween just around the corner, kids dressed up in homemade costumes, bobbing for apples and awaiting trick or treat. I think of children dressed as Pilgrims in a pre-school parade, or a Thanksgiving feast, the bounty of harvest foods burdening a table with its goodness. I picture pumpkins at a farmer's market, piled happy and high, awaiting a new home where children will carve them into scary faces or mother will bake them into a pie or stew."

~Jenny Gardiner

Slim To None

Just Leaves. I just want to play in a million leaves.

#48 Leaf Of The Day

November 9th 2019

Photographed October 25th 2019

Cull Canyon Park

Nikon

~Mood: Happy
~Me :)

Morris Chapel

"'Truly, Autumn is my season," the scarlet breast chortled. "Spring and Summer and Winter all begin with such late letters! But Autumn and Fall, I have loved best, because they are best to love.'"

~Catherynne M. Valentine

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland

 In A Ship Of Her Own Making 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I visited the ground of the University of the Pacific this past weekend, and was treated to some amazingly beautiful architecture. All the buildings are unique in their own way, but this beautiful chapel is definitely at the top of my list! There were no buildings I didn't enjoy, and to be honest I would be hard pressed to chose just one, but this one comes close to being a favorite. It has an amazing vibe in person, my photos don't do it justice at all! Morris Chapel, I think I will dropping by to photography you a lot more often!

#47 Leaf Of The Day

November 8th 2019

Cull Canyon

LG Stylo 5

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)

#PhotoByRequest: Black And White Moods

"Such days of autumnal decline hold a strange mystery

 which adds to the gravity of all our moods."

~Charles Nodler

Smarra and Trilby

For this time around of #PhotoByRequest Karen chose the subject of "Black and White Moods." I love this one, because vacation was anything but a non stop joy-fest, in fact, I couldn't be happier it's over! A lot went wrong. The burglar that tried to break in just three days before it was to begin! The burglar came back two more times after it began. PG&E prevented us from attending our annual free movie screening in Orinda, and the following week when it finally showed, I was experiencing a full blown Fibromyalgia fit. Three times we tried to visit our favorite federal parks, and found that they had closed that day, due to EXTREME FIRE DANGER, including Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tamalpias! Next came our anniversary dinner. I picked lunch at Sizzler.

 That was a really bad idea, due to the fact that they were 45 minutes late with bringing us something to drink, and then finally our meal. I was trying to save some money, and I got what I paid for. Next came the near fatal car accident on highway 99, that we were kinda/sorta in. I say that because the car slammed into the car in the lane beside us doing 65, and how it didn't fishtail into us is a miracle! Alan and I didn't realize until the next day, that our car was damaged, not badly, just a few scratches, but considering what could have happened, we were very lucky!

In that it was autumn, the time of year that we always take, for the absolute beauty of it, we began to depend on the leaves changing to make up for a lot of the disappointments, but it's heartbreaking this year, because it's almost as if autumn itself is depressed! The trees have not put on their bright colors. Most are dull and some are just dead! I found some beauty here and there, but I am having to really hunt for it. It's sad. But one day, while we were still on vacation, we drove through a, Jack In The Box, to grab a couple sodas, and I spotted this photo of Jack Box in the window. His photo made me laugh, because it seemed to nail exactly how I was feeling. I identified with him, and felt less alone, even if the kinship was with a fictional character.

We are both happy vacation is over, and we are grateful to be back on a schedule that makes sense. We have been happy, and less fussy with each other. That is a good thing. Maybe we will do some little jaunts while it's still autumn, and continue to search for the colors. I don't want to give up on all the incredible beauty. I need it. I love it. We both enjoy the annual cascade of falling leaves, so there is some joy still out there, but I have never been so happy to share a black and white feeling in photographs so much. It was a sad time, but that photo left me hopeful and unwilling to give up, just because I was tired! So, the search for autumn continues, and I am ready for what I might discover along the way!

Here are more Black and White Moods...

Quiet/Reflective

Being disabled leaves me with a strange kind of gratefulness. I am grateful that there is a little help, so I can pursue things that make my life so much better. 

Grateful

#46 Leaf Of The Day

November 7th 2019

Nevada City, California

Nikon

~Mood: Happy
~Me  :)

Autumn In Nevada City

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came...

The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples

And leaves of every name.The sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band." 

~George Cooper 

October's Party

This year, Alan and I discovered the beautiful towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City, California. They are both autumn paradises to be sure, and I was grateful to have discovered them, not only for their beauty, but also for the new destination of little antique shops and cafes. I hope to see more of both towns, but Nevada City in particular. It had a nice vibe. You know how quaint little towns can be, small but welcoming with a "glad to meet you" friendliness that isn't off putting. That is the way Nevada City seemed to me. Hopefully we can head back there in a couple weeks, and this time really get to know the place through it's coffee shops and boutiques. With a little luck, there might still be an autumn leaf or two to photograph. That would be nice. That would make my heart happy. But on this day it was all about the color of the leaves, tomorrow I will find happiness in the architecture.

October 25th, 2019 was so beautiful.

#45 Leaf Of The Day

November 6th 2019

Nevada City, California

Nikon

~Mood: Quiet

~Me 

Art About Town: Stockton UOTP (Tribute To Student Life)

"Tribute To Student Life"

By Helen Betz

University Of The Pacific

Stockton, California

November 3rd 2019

 

"It's not that you were memorable,

but you had the quality of eternal details

like faded graffiti, abandoned newspapers, or a few smudged notes,

almost an offbeat line,scribbled as if by mistake 

amid the frenzy of Bliss Street."

~Zeina Hashem Beck

To Live In Autumn

Faye Spanos Concert Hall

Last Sunday, Alan and I took a walk on the campus of the University Of The Pacific. It is a really beautiful college, with old brick buildings, dating back to the mid 1800's. As I have mentioned in previous posts, the exterior of the, Faye Spanos Concert Hall, was used in the film, "Indian Jones, And The Raiders Of The Lost Ark." A fact of which makes me very happy and downright proud of Stockton! I think it's the coolest damn thought that Indiana Jones could have once taught school here, but I also know that the real name of the college he taught at was Medford college. Sigh. Still the concert building is one of the lovlies buildings on campus, and it deserved to be in the movie. But I digress. This post is about some really great public art that I came across, while checking out the lovely grounds of the university.

I photographed the sculpture from a couple different perspectives, then I sat down on a nearby bench to rest for a while, and just enjoy the beautiful, warm autumn sun. I thought about all the history of the college, and some of it's famous alumni. Janet Leigh. Jamie Lee Curtis. Dave Brubeck. Former mayor of San Francisco George Moscone. Chris Issak. Alex Spanos and Darren McGavin, and that's just to name a few. Politics, entertainment, Business... so many different amazing folks walked this campus, and I feel completely at home here now, in my new town, as I discover all the new facts about those who came to Stockton before me. It took me a little over four years to make an effort, but discovering new art has helped me have some peace of mind, and feel at home. I'm finally home, and I have art to thank for it.

University Of The Pacific

Stockton, California

November 3rd 2019

Nikon

#44 Leaf Of The Day

November 5th 2019

Photographed November 3rd 2019

University Of The Pacific

Stockton California

Nikon

I will be posting additional photos of the university this week. It had too many lovely brick buildings, to put them all in one post! Stockton has such a wonderful mix of architecture, and I think I might do a comprehensive look at the different historical buildings and their styles. So, don't forget to check back!

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)

"YOU ARE LOVED" Messages In Autumn

"What is the name of your dream? A lovely wooden cottage in the middle of a forest? Or walking in an endless autumn path? What is the name of your dream? Don't give a name, always give a list! Fill yourself with dreams because dream is the path to reality."

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

It's all about time. Today marks the first day back at work for Alan, and it also just happens to be the first Monday after the clocks are changed back an hour. Which is nice and all, but I think it will take us more than one hour to make up for how exhausting this vacation has been! It was not the most relaxing one we ever had, but in a lot of ways it could have been a lot worse. I will be posting this week about all the misadventures, but to start out the week on the right note, I am kicking this week off with a simple post about the beautiful leaves I came across on vacation. You see, no matter how awful things got, or what a waste of time every thing seemed, there was always the beautiful autumn light, the leaves, my fur-babies and my amazing Alan to make it all okay.

This year was number 29 for us! 29 years of ridiculous happiness! He and I have found something to laugh about, every single day we've been together. Even on our worst days, we make it work. How did I get so lucky? Or am I simply sleepwalking the best dream ever? Forget it... I don't want to know, I am happy to just continue counting my dreams, and watching them come true. Sitting at the bridge a couple weeks ago I got a really beautiful message from the universe, just when I needed it most! Look really closely at the picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you are seeing that message, and you are really glad you saw it, because you needed to feel loved, then it means it was sent to you as well, and I am very happy to pass it along to you!

"YOU ARE LOVED"

San Francisco is where love lives it's best life.

Now, on to the leaves.

"Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead,

 has never watched them dancing on a windy day." 

~Shira Tamir

Stockton, California

November 2nd, 2019

Golden Gate Park

San Francisco, California

October 23rd 2019

 Grass Valley, California

October 20th 2019

 Berkeley, California

October 8th 2019

Nevada City, California

October 20th 2019

 Sacramento, California

November 1st 2019

 Stockton, California

November 3rd 2019

Cull Canyon

September 28th 2019

Nevada City, California

October 25th 2019

 Apple Hill

Camino, California

October 16th 2019

#43 Leaf Of The Day

November 4th 2019

Photographed October 25th 2019

Nevada City, California

Nikon

~Mood: Grateful

~Me  :)

 

 

A Bouquet Of Autumn Leaves

"Leaves grow old gracefully, being such joy in their last lingering days. How vibrant and bright is their final flurry of life."

~Karen Gibbs

I always said, if we ever renew our vows, I would carry a bouquet of autumn leaves, as opposed to the pink and white roses I carried on our wedding day. Don't get me wrong, the roses were amazing, and they were the color I always dreamed of carrying, but I have grown to love the colors of autumn so much, that I think I could do better now. I thought about that, as I photographed these leaves the other day. They had just fallen from the tree I was under, and at first glance they looked like a wedding bouquet to me. All the gorgeous colors of autumn, in one natural bouquet. The only thing I might add to them, would be to some crystals, and some pearled beads. Other than that, they seem, ready to me! 

#42 Leaf Of The Day

November 3rd, 2019

Sacramento, California

Nikon 

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)