It Was August Two Weeks Gone

 

"The grass in the back field was almost waist high, and now there was goldenrod, that late summer gossip which comes to tattle on autumn every year. But there was no autumn in the air today; the sun was still all August, although calendar August was almost two weeks gone."

~Stephen King

Pet Cemetery

Of all the authors who have ever lived, I think Stephen King might understand autumn more completely than any than any other I can think of. The way it tastes, the way it has a way of stealing your last breath with it's beauty, and the way it can scare you. I photographed those beautiful ducks on September 11th, with the air so full of smoke that had drifted from the many wildfires, I could barely breathe, but there were those gorgeous creatures, minding their own business, without any real cares. I had a nice time with them. I knew things would improve, and they have, considerably, but this weekend is supposed to see higher temperatures, and winds, as it does in autumn, which is bringing renewed worries of more fires erupting.

 Fire season doesn't end now until December, ten years ago it was late October. The Earth is pissed, and frankly, so am I. I am sick of Republicans pretending Climate Change isn't real, but what can I do when a good part of the voting block would rather clutch their pearls over the irrational fear of losing their guns, then care the Earth is dying. All I, as one person, can do, is keep separating my plastic and aluminum, cut plastic can separators, and throw away as little trash as possible whenever possible, but I'll keep praying for the birds, butterflies, and the vegetation in California. In another decade, should we last that long, it's possible to see fire season not have a begin or end date, it will just be a constant threat. Autumn won't just be scary, for the chills of Halloween and the fun of being scared for the fun of it, it will be scary because it won't actually exist anymore.

~Carly

September 26th 2020

Stockton, California

West Lane Bowl (Mid-Century Beauty)

"An autumn garden has a sadness when the sun is not shining."

~Francis Brett Young

Cold Harbour

 In this case, the autumn garden is all the businesses shuttered, waiting for the Covid-19 to finally move on. Unfortunately, it seems like it will be a long time before San Joaquin County is out of the woods. There are so many places all over Stockton, with sad little notes proclaiming they will be back, and there will be better days, but I am not so sure. Trump is doing nothing to help this ugly time pass, in fact, he's reveling in it. Holding big rallies. Not encouraging any social distancing. It's sad. And the regular flu season is now just a heartbeat away. I feel for the businesses suffering.

 

Sorry, I meant to focus on the fact that this building is another example of magnificent mid-century style and architecture. I haven't been able to find much information about it, but apparently it predates 1963. I will try to do some more research to find out what it's story is. In the mean time, there is that amazing color combo of orange and turquoise again. A combination I noticed was also featured in the fabulous new Ryan Murphy series, Ratched. It's also set in Mid-20th Century, in a fictional psychiatric hospital, somewhere near Monterey. Maybe it will be explained within the series, you never know about these things, and it not, it gives me a nice excuse to visit the Monterey Peninsula in my quest.

Leaf Of The Day

~Carly

September 25th 2020

Stockton, California

Art About Town: Oakdale "Yesterday Is Tomorrow"

 

"The leaves are changing; I feel poetry in the air."

~Laura Jaworski

In August I told you about our trip to Oakdale, but I saved a little back for future posts. Well, the future is pretty much now. So, here is a look at a little bit of art that can be found in the Central Valley. It sits in front of the Cowboy Museum and it is titled "Yesterday Is Tomorrow." It was installed in 1992, by artist, Betty Saletta, and is in bronze. I was rather disappointed that the cowboy didn't have a name, but that tends to be a running theme out here. There is a ton of references to the Old West, but it doesn't seem to be specific to any certain events. Its kinda like it's just a generic history of the Gold Rush. I don't know, maybe I just need to explore more out here perhaps. And I can do that, because vacation begins October 9th, and I am really looking forward to some autumn adventures. This photo was taken in the last month of summer, while the wildfire was coloring everything a strange orange/red hue. I wonder what Oakdale looks like under a crystal clear autumn sky. If the leaf below is a preview, I have a lot to look forward to! Stay tuned, because I have more to share!

The Leaf Of The Day

~Carly

September 24th 2020

Stockton, California

One Autumn Leaf Four Emotions

"I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it." 

~Lee Maynard 

 I came across the most beautiful leaf yesterday. So pretty, in fact, that I ended up doing several versions of it. It was a really windy day, and there was this beautiful leaf standing up to it, curbside, in a puddle praying to not get hit I am sure. So many colors, which to me are like emotions when I look at leaves, because if a leaf is as pretty as this one is, all kinds of emotional memories can pass through my heart. Autumn is so beautiful. I see lots of Fall decorations using earth tones, but the leaves tell a much different story, and this one has the story of a whole year written in the book that will be this year's autumn, and we are only on page two!

And Now Today's Leaf Of The Day

~Carly

September 23rd 2020

Stockton, California

 

Welcome To Autumn 2020 And The Leaf Of The Day

"But when fall comes, kicking summer out on it's 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. 

It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and the things he has done since last he saw you."

~Stephen King

Salem's Lot

Finally... we cross over. It's autumn. I feel safer, and yet I have never been more frightened. Worldly events make it seem and feel like if I go to sleep, I won't wake up. Killed at the hands of a madman. I kinda like a world with autumns. Where I can have my cats, my familiars, my photography and home. My love. My morning sun. This is the autumn I need to heal me. But maybe it's too much pressure to put on this one season. Still, if all goes well, I will get a six month nap, and I never sleep better, than I do in autumn, so there's that. But hey, we are here now, so I am going to enjoy the autumn light for as long as fate allows it.

~Carly
September 22nd 2020
Stockton, California

On The Last Full Day Of Summer 2020

"Summer-induced stupidity. That was the diagnosis..."

 

~Aimee Friedman

Sea Changes

It's the last full day of summer. The wild berries are dying on the vine. Most mornings require a light blanket, and the sun is shining that beautiful autumn gold, as the summer sun seems to already be sleeping. Nothing remains of the days filled with too much light, the smells of neighborhood barbecues, and backyard birthday parties that filled the world with the sounds of youthful joy. But autumn rises, so loud and with so much authority, I could almost feel it shove summer out of the way and say...

 "Goodnight Summer.

You did the best you could in the world of Covid-19.

 Now be still, let go."

 

Autumn Ready To Take It's Place

~Carly

September 21st 2020

Stockton California