By The Ocean Blue And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #38

 

Half Moon Bay, California

October 25th 2022

 

"A soul that smiles in empathy is a soul that blew away the sadness as the wild wilds blew. A soul that parts it's lips is a soul that smiled away the sadness, as the autumn leaves flew ... ."

 

~Jayita Bhattacharjee

 

The pelicans won the day last week, they were everywhere. They were out here in the valley in bigger numbers than I have ever seen, a fairly large group were tucked around the corner in Tiburon, in Marin County, and there were impressive numbers along the coast of Half Moon Bay, Bodega Bay, and Santa Cruz. I have become fond of watching them play. They seem to be an easier bird to get along with, as opposed to, say, a gull or maybe Scrub Jay. Pelicans are so photogenic, that I planning on photographing particular. There was something about seeing that large group of White Pelican's flying over the condo, earlier in the month, that enchanted me. I enjoy all birds so much, I guess we will have to see! 

 

Santa Cruz, California

October 25th 2022
 

~Me

Advice For The Practical Witch And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #37

 

"Keep calm and carry a wand."

 

 ~A. W. Jantha

Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel

 

 

Isn't she a beauty? Purple is my favorite color to wear when I go flying on my broom. Although sometimes I wonder if it clashes a little too much with Mini Cooper broom, but Cooper and I don't much care what other witches and warlocks think, not at my advanced age. I am finally here... 60. I can cast any spell I want, and that feels good! Although with that advanced age I am a little more like Aunt Clara then Samantha, and I am well past the age of most Supreme witches, but that's okay too, I am here for any consultations necessary, just like the Owens' aunts, Jet and Frances. That's just where life takes you. As Sally Owens says, "Always throw spilt salt over your shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant Lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can." That I can do. Alan and I tell each other how much we love each other every day. We even send lovey texts to each other. When it comes to kitchen magic, I am starting an indoor Herb garden real soon, so who knows what magic might happen! I am considering making some holiday candles, with the essential oils I bought last summer. It's all quite magical if you remember to, "keep calm and carry a big wand."

~Me

One In A Million And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #36

 

"You return, like autumn, and I fall every time."

 

~L.S.

 

We visited Santa Cruz yesterday, and as you might imagine, it was beautiful but it wasn't the only stop we made, we also stopped in Half Moon Bay as well, and in addition to it's beauty, it held quite a surprise! I was hoping to see some Black Oystercatchers, but I didn't see even one, however I did see about a million (not really a million) pelicans. I saw mostly Grey Pelicans, but I am sure there was a few white ones mixed it, however the big surprise was a single Blue Heron sitting right in the middle of one of the larger groups present. It was one in a million moment, or moment a where's waldo? If you look very close you can see him. The pelicans were making a wonderful sound, so were the gulls. I am still doing some research because one of them was making a laughing sound, and then I began to chuckle a bit, and laughter is the best medicine, right?

 

~Me

 

The Mothman Lighthouse And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #35

"Mothman flew away from town, like a giant bat,

 and then disappeared from sight behind a thicket

 of skeletal autumn trees."

 

~Don Roff

Heebie-Jeebies: Volume One

 

October carries fear under it's wing, no doubt, and what is spookier than a hauntingly beautiful lighthouse, just late enough in the day to cast all sorts of ghostly shadows? I love lighthouses, but this one is on my all time favorites list. Pigeon Point Lighthouse. It sits on the cliffs of Pescadero, California, lighting the way for man, and birds, for just long enough to earn adding ghosts to it's history. More to come on this subject, but for now, enjoy gazing into the photo. Oh, you could say, Pigeon Point lighthouse, three times and see if something otherworldly appears! Like a giant moth! Or not. Who would know?

 

Bwahahahahahahahahah! 

 

~Me

My Favorite Tree And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #34

 

"Fall has always been my favorite season. 

The time when everything bursts with it's last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale."

 

~Lauren DeStefano

 

My favorite tree is having a difficult time letting go of summer this year. That's okay, it just means I will get to have some of it's gorgeous leaves a little longer. Cull Canyon is an excellent place to do some birding. When I visited last week, the  app registered everything from the Oak Titmouse, to the Hairy Woodpecker, neither of which we have. The hunt goes on.

~Me

 

Autumn Rose And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #33

 

"The tints of autumn... a mighty flower garden

 blossoming under the spell of the enchanter frost."

 

~John Greenleaf Whittier

 

 

A little beauty, for a coolish autumn day. I grew that rose, well, me and all that the natural world has endured this year. It has really been a metaphor for what I have been through. The Covid left me with deep depression, and an almost complete lack of creativity and the ability to concentrate. It's called Brain Fog, and it apparently affects those over 60 who suffered from the original Omicron variant. It has been a difficult time, but things seem to be getting better. I am beginning to handle stresses better, and I think I have a better outlook for the feature, and as you might have noticed, I am embracing joy again, not fearing it. I don't know how much credit I can take for my rose, they are such hardy plants, but I did know how to care for it. And I know how to care for myself, I just needed to remember what to do.

Hot Cocoa Rose

Berkeley, Ca Autumn 2012 

 

I really miss that garden in the Bay Area. It broke my heart to learn Sandy L. had tore it, and my Japanese Maple tree, out of the garden, out of nothing more then old fashioned spite. But that is her problem. I cared for my roses and that tree, but all she did was make her property worth less money. It's okay. I am not going to spend time thinking about it, because there is nothing I can do about it, but I have the knowledge that I know how to grow a beautiful, strong, spicy rose, and I will always have that happiness inside me. This yellow rose smells like a baked sweet potato with extra clove, cinnamon and honey. Next year, if we find ourselves extending our contract for the condo, I might consider adding another rose or two to the front porch rose garden. Maybe a brand new color I haven't tried before, like Pumpkin Patch or maybe Sterling, but I really loved the Hot Cocoa rose I grew when we lived in the studio. In any case, I want them to look pretty in autumn.

 

~Me

Horned Grebe And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #32

 

"What could be more exciting than an October day?

 It's your birthday, Fourth of July and Christmas all rolled into one."

 

~Peggy Toney Horton

 

More and more of the Sandhill crane are coming in now, but so are many of the other birds. I was on Desmond road when I took this photo, Thursday of last week, and not only did I get to see these magnificent birds closer than ever, but just down the road, in the pond closest to the railroad tracks, were a pair of Horned Grebe. Really? On Desmond road? See, I am always learning new things. And that's a great feeling! There is way too much to learn, but I will do my best!

 

 

~Me