Autumn Leaf Of The Day #17

 

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

 
~Karen Gibbs 

 

I found this leaf, sitting on a footbridge, at the Cosumnes River Preserve River walkway. The late afternoon autumn sun made it shine with that special honey gold that you see only once a year. It was the last moment of the leaf's life, and it was going to die gracefully. I hope, when it's my time, I can manage that much tribute to my life lived!

 

The Birds Of Bodega Bay in Autumn

 

Semipalmated Plover

"If I were a bird, I would fly the earth

 seeking successive autumns."

 

~Hal Borland

 

Bodega Bay was, as usual, a feast for the senses! The smell BBQ Oysters at any one of several bay side restaurants. The sun displaying it's honey golden self, and the sound and sight of the migrating birds visiting along the shoreline, and out in the water. 

 

Marbled Godwit

 

Western Sandpiper
 

Least Sandpiper

 

White Pelican
 

Double-crested Cormorant
  

We added new birds to our list for this year, bringing our number 101! I am hoping to see some brand new birds to add to our life lists, when we visit Yosemite soon. How soon? Who knows, maybe today! Or maybe I went yesterday, I forget! I am tipsy with autumn, so I am a bit busy with all the plans I hope to get to in October!

 

 

 

 

Autumn's Shaggy Coat

 

“It was the golden time of year. Every day the leaves grew brighter, the air sharper, the grass more brilliant. The sunsets seemed to expand and melt and stretch for hours, and the brick facades glowed pink, and everything got bluer. How many perfect autumns did a person get?”

 
~Elif Batuman,

  Either/Or

 

MOOOOOO.

 There it was, a big field of these Scottish Highland cows, with the autumn sun illuminating them to a honey golden color, and just watching them chew on grass, and turn their heads toward the sun, made me feel better. Laugh if you will, but it fixed some deep anxiety in me. Just nature, doing it's thing, and autumn being beautiful. Marin County always brings me inner joy, I sure wish I still lived in the Bay Area, and could see it all the time. 

 

 

 

 

The Magical Autumn Sun

 

“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like an leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.”

 
~Peggy Toney Horton 

 

(via the NASA website)

Yesterday, an Annular solar eclipse took place. Fortunately, it's path came right over Northern California, so there was no way I was going to miss the show. I purchased a box of eclipse glasses, so hubby and I would be safe while viewing the stages. I basically found the sun, and then aimed my phones camera, the Samsung A53, in the general direction. Despite the light cloud cover, I managed a decent enough photo or two. I was happy with this one, and it garnered a few likes on Twitter, sorry I forget, X. It's always fun when folks appreciate something you do. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I had weird dreams, so I enjoyed having something fun to focus on. See, I told you the Autumn sun brings magical things.

Autumn Picnics And Todays Autumn Leaf Of The Day #9

 

Still

By Jaakko A. Ahokas

 

In the fall, I believe in poetry again

if nothing else it is

a movement of the mind.

Summers ball together

into sticky lumps,

evenings are glass beads from one mould

for standard-size youth

winter a smooth heaviness, not even cold.

But the mind trembles

here, on the brink 

the mind trembles

there is life, after all,

there is life, still

unbelief left. 

 

A mother, father, and two baby Clark's Grebes frolic in the warm afternoon sun, in early autumn. The father swims a short distance away, and returns a little bit later with the perfect meal for their picnic... a shiny silver colored fish. He hands it off to one of his children, and floats over to his wife to give her a kiss. They are a happy American family, enjoying life in their home, the waters of the Clifton Court Forebay, in Byron, California. There is just something deeply magical about the sunshine in autumn, that no other season enjoys.

 

 

 

Today's Autumn Leaf Of The Day...

~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  :)

The Lady On The Beach In Autumn

"Autumn serenades the breeze into dancing a cha cha cha; the mountains echo in the background. October sky never looked more charming nor the sublime leaves of the trees so graceful."

~Avijeet Das

 #33 Leaf Of The Day

October 25th 2019

Sacramento, Ca

Nikon

~Mood: Quiet

~Me 

The Birds Of Monterey Bay

"When the autumn meets the tranquility,

 there you can see the King of the Sceneries!"

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

As much as I love an autumn landscape, with nothing but red, yellow, orange and brown leaves floating from here to there, it isn't the only thing to appreciate about my favorite season, sometimes it's just the amazing color of the sun, and the way it makes everything around seem so tranquil. As you know from my previous post, Alan and I spent a day this past week, in beautiful Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel. I love it there, I really do, but since moving to the Central Valley, I don't spend nearly enough time along the coast. In fact, this was our first visit back, since we moved here in 2015, so it was an especially nice journey back! While I didn't see as many different sea birds as on previous visits, the ones I did see were quite spectacular, and if I didn't know better, I would think they were posing for the camera!

October 17th, 2018 was a wonderful autumn day!

#30 Leaf Of The Day

October 20th, 2018

Pacific Grove, California

Photographed October 17th 2018

~Mood: Happy

~Me