Autumn In Everything

"He couldn't stop smelling the air in great, deep, loud, sniffs. 

It was so delicious. It smelled of water, and mud,

 and maple trees, and autumn."

~Elizabeth Enright

The Four-Story Mistake

One photograph. Two perspectives. My autumn moods run the gambit between loud with color and vibrancy in all things, and silent and cozy, as if the whole world was under a warm wool blanket with me, enjoying a cup of tea and a good book! There is no real middle ground. That's autumn in my life. An almost decadent time of comfort and inner peace. Maybe that's why my creativity spikes this time each year. I can finally relax and breath after the scorching summer doldrums. Everything begins to look beautiful again in autumn. I mean just look at Doris. She was so perfect, that I just knew she was going to stun, regardless of whether I was photographing her in color or black and white. And look at her, it seems I was right! Autumn in everything.

#64 Leaf Of The Day

November 25th 2019

Sacramento, California

Nikon

~Mood: Quiet/Happy

~Me  :) 

 

The Consequence Of Your Illusions

"The consequence of your illusions is your reality."

~Steven Redhead

Life Is Simply A Game

I didn't realize, when I photographed this red crayon, that it cast a bit of an illusion. It seems to be floating! It isn't of course, but it's sort of fun, so I thought I would post it here as a metaphor for the national election we all just experienced!

Donald Trump, and his campaign, has just as much as admitted that they didn't think he would win on election night... then he did! Now what? Well, if you have been paying attention, it seems the transition is, well, unorganized at best, in total chaos more than likely!

I don't know for sure how I would feel if I were a Trump supporter, and I found out that he had such little faith in his own campaign that not only did he think he would lose, but that he hadn't even considered how his transition would work. It seems like something that would be at least sketched out after the nomination was clinched. At least in some basic way. But they didn't! So...

Surprise!

 You are now the leader of the free world!

 Shit just got real! 

What promises did you make to your supporters, that you now need to keep? Are you going to lock up Hillary Clinton? Are you going to go after ISIS on your first day in office and completely stamp them out? Are you going to completely repeal the Affordable Care Act? Donald Trump said he would do a lot of things, but it doesn't seem likely he will do any of them. Actually, I take that back somewhat. He will futz around with the tax code, mostly to his benefit, but as for infrastructure... forget about it! Job creation cannot be guaranteed, and neither can building that wall.

I wonder what it will feel like, to be a Trump supporter, a year from now? Will they be happy with what the new president manages to accomplish? Will they have a strong sense of buyers remorse? Who knows? Right now they are still on the childlike or childish high of watching the red crayon float just above the table! It's all an illusion, and deep down they knows that's true, but sometimes folks just want to be lied to, and in that I feel bad for them! I really do! Nothing hurts worse that finding out you have been played for a fool, and deep down you knew it, but you just couldn't bring yourself turn away from the lie.

The fact that one day Trump supporters realize that they have been sold an illusion, a lie, is small comfort. It's no comfort all really. When the truth becomes painfully aware to all, it will already be too late. Trump is completely unqualified for the presidency, and therefore he will make big mistakes. Mistakes with consequences. Deadly ones I fear. And it will be too late for "I'm sorry" and "I told you so." It will be too late. Too late. 

 

Just focus on the floating red crayon, and get lost in the illusion.

Leaf Of The Day

November 17th 2016

Mood: Quiet

~Me

 

 

Autumn Leaves Must Fall

Beautiful, messy, fragrant, delicious autumn. I can't get enough of it!



"I am rich today with autumn's gold
All that my covetous hands can hold;
Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod,
A goldfinch on a milkweed pod,
Huge golden pumpkins in a field
With heaps of corn from bounteous yield
Golden apples heavy on the trees
Rivaling those of Hesperides,
Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread
Over all like butter on warm bread;
And the harvest moon will the night unfold
The streams running full of molten gold.
Oh who could find a dearth of bliss
With autumn glory such as this!"

-Gladys Harp

As you begin your week...

If you are feeling stressed out this week, take a couple moments to stop and watch the leaves turn and fall silently to the earth. You will be surprised by how calming it can be. Let your mind wander, not on all you have to do, or all you haven't gotten done, but instead think about those you love, maybe even those you miss, and for once, let yourself feel all those feelings you would usually put aside. Let yourself feel, for as long as you need to. Breathe in, and breathe out the stress until you feel yourself relax. You deserve it. :) It works... trust me.

-Carly