Mischieveous Autumn Love

"I would like to hold your hand as it holds this green leaf, yellowed, that fell early from it's tree, this autumn. And I would like to imagine that it feels your careful care, for your eyes are warmed by your heart, and I would let you sadly nestle into me as a bird folds into its nest, resigning itself to a storm. For my heart is as large as a city, and it glows with the fire that, with the right mischievous love, shall serve to inspire thousands upon thousands."

~Waylon H. Lewis

Things I Would Like To Do With You

I'm fighting my annual December cold. And I'm stressed out. But on the plus side, I ordered a small fruitcake, and all is right with the world! Hopefully, this weekend I will get out for the last autumn leaf hunt for the year, well officially anyway. I will continue to photograph the leaves as long as I can find them. I will keep looking, and hoping I see them well into spring, but if I don't find them, I will find other treasures of nature. Birds. Flowers. I snowflake. It's all waiting right outside the door! 

 #82 Leaf Of The Day

December 13th 2019

Nevada City, California

Nikon

~Mood: Happy

~Me   :)

#PhotoByRequest "In The Clouds"

"I could feel the bite of the autumn air, 

warning us all of the harsh winter that was on it's way."

~Jennifer Starzec

Determination

This week's edition is all about what's "In The Clouds." Which works out well, because we have been experiencing a lot of rainy days lately, much to my delight. I enjoy rain days, especially this time of year, and a I hope there will a lot more of them as we transition into winter. There's nothing sadder, at least when it comes to seasons, then to not be able to experience the best of what they are about. A hopelessly dry winter, that is nothing but cold, isn't much fun. Snow and rain must exist, and hopefully the past couple weeks of hard rain is a good omen of delicious things to come! California can use it, and so could my soul!

Just a few minutes later the sky looked like this... 

And the beautiful Cedar Waxwings loved it too...

 

#81 Leaf Of The Day

December 12th 2019

Sacramento, California

Nikon

~Mood: Happy

~Me     :)

What Is Autumn?

Duck Pond

Golden Gate Park

San Francisco, California

Nikon  

"What is autumn?

 Here is a very simple definition: Autumn is a queen,

 Queen Of Beauty beauty"

~Mehmet Murat ildan

I photographed that leaf last October, in Golden Gate Park, but decided to wait until now to post it because I knew as we inched along, toward the last few days of Autumn, I'd have some difficulty in getting new photography done. December is always a challenge for me, because of the sudden onslaught of cold weather. Its quite rainy now as well, which is nice, but my body hasn't isn't used to the changes yet. It's okay, I will get there, in the mean time I still have plenty of leaves left to photograph. Fortunately, they aren't underwater! It was a completely different situation the day I took that photo above. It was hot, and didn't have a single cloud in its azure blue sky. The whole day was as perfect an autumn day as it gets! It tasted like Apple juice and pumpkin pie. It had too many smiles in it to count! It was Family Day, so it was about love and happiness! It makes me feel warm thinking about the fun Alan and I had! It's going to be a crazy year coming up, but I know that what will get me through is looking forward to next October, and beautiful autumn!

 #79 Leaf Of The Day

December 10th 2019

Nevada City, California

Nikon

~Mood: Happy
~Me  :) 

The Birds Of Autumn 2019

"How can you understand something is really beautiful?

 Very simple: When that thing comes out of your life,

 you start desperately waiting for it to come back! 

And autumn's beauty is such a beauty."

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

I love doing some bird hunting while on vacation, and one thing about the vacation that went right this year, was my adventure spotting birds.  In fact, I spotted more birds this year, than in past years! I was particularly lucky to spot a Great Blue Heron, out here in the valley, in Tracy, California. That was definitely a high point, and one more thing that made the vacation a little more redeemable. It wasn't a complete disaster, thanks to so beautiful, if not always cooperative, birds.

 Wild Turkey

September 21st 2019

Skyway park

Livermore, California

Nikon

Black Finch

October 23rd 2019

San Francisco, California

Nikon

 

Robin

Tilden Park

Berkeley, California

October 8th 2019

Nikon

 

Great Blue Heron

Tracy, California

October 23rd 2019

Nikon

Song Sparrow

San Francisco, California

October 23rd 2019

Nikon

Absolutely beautiful. Every one of them! I am going to continue to seek them out through the rest of autumn and then into November. I am hoping to add at least either more birds.Wish me luck!

 #51 Leaf Of The Day

November 12th 2019

Photographed October 20th 2019

Stockton, California

LG Stylo 5

~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  :)

 

 

Ghosts, Witches And A Yellow Rubber Duck

"As a spirit having a human experience, you can choose to not merely exist but to be fully conscience and aware of living in a limited world. 

When you take a conscience part in life and its multitudes of choices, you won't let life happen to you... you will make life happen for you."

~James Van Praagh

Ghosts Among Us:

 Uncovering The Truth About The Other Side 

It's Halloween, and I never get so grown up, as to give up on Halloween as my favorite holiday. If I haven't changed my mind yet, I probably won't be doing that at all. No, Halloween is still the most glorious, magical, fun night of the year. Yes, Christmas is lovely, and its all about family, but Halloween is the one holiday where you can be exactly who you want to be. One year I was a green M&M and on a different year I was a yellow rubber duck. Most years now, I am an American Horror Story witch. I like that costume, because I get to wear my Victorian Gothic jewelry and carry my black lace parasol, which I really enjoy doing, but being a rubber duck, or a yummy piece of candy isn't bad either! Still, I think I am more witch these days, than anything else. 

So, just remember that, or I'll put a spell on you!

Bwahahahahahahahahahah!

Hey, look at this, an autumn leaf in costume, as a hummingbird!

#39 Leaf Of The Day

October 31st 2019

Ione, California

Nikon

~Mood: Happy

~Me   :)