Christmastime In Autumn

 

"Christmas, children, is not a date. It's a state of mind."

~Mary Ellen Chase

Castro Valley Boulevard, Castro Valley

December 9th, 2025

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Autumn Leaf Of The Day #64

 

"For as long as she could remember, she had thought that autumn air went well with books, that the two both somehow belonged with blankets, comfortable armchairs, and big cups of coffee or tea."

~Katarina Bivald

The Readers Of Broken Wheel Recommend

Autumn Maple

 

“When everything looks like a magical oil painting,

 you know you are in Autumn!” 

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

 

Everything is beginning to show more color. I am not usually a fan of gold, but this tree in Cull Canyon park simply took my breath away! My family had a Big Leaf Maple in our yard when I was a child, unfortunately it became diseased and it had to be cut down when I was about 4 yrs old. Oh boy, was I angry! I never forgot that tree. I think of it in autumn, and all the times I spent having autumn tea parties with my friends under that tree. The naps I took with various pets, and leaves I collected. It was my best friend. After it was gone, my parents planted an apple tree, and it was great. We had a pear tree in our backyard too, so the fruits were wonderful, but my memories always go back to that lovely, golden, Big Leaf Maple. This one, in the park, isn't my friend from childhood, but it's a good tree, and it makes me feel good inside whenever I see it, but especially in autumn.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #56

 

“What is autumn? Here is a very simple definition:

 Autumn is a Queen, Queen of Beauty!” 

~Mehmet Murat ildan 

 

 

Home Sweet Home

 

Home Sweet Home

By John Howard Payne

‘Mid pleasures and Palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble there’s no place like home!
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,
Which seek through the world, is ne’er met with elsewhere.
Home! Home, sweet sweet Home!
There’s no place like Home! There’s no place like Home!

An Exile from Home, Splendour dazzles in vain!
Oh! Give me my lowly thatch’d Cottage again!
The Birds singing gaily that came at my call,
Give me them with the peace of mind dearer than all!
Home! Home, sweet sweet Home!
There’s no place like Home! There’s no place like Home!

To thee, I’ll return overburdened with care,
The heart’s dearest solace will smile on me there.
No more from that cottage again will I roam,
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.
Home! Home, sweet sweet Home!
There’s no place like Home! There’s no place like Home!

I photographed that little fella, he was only about the size of a chocolate chip, in a park in the Bay Area, and now I am a little worried for him, as the first big storm of the season will rain down later this week. It is predicted to drop as much as 3 inches of rain before it's finished, and dump a good bit of snow in the Sierras. Now, I take it all with a grain of salt, because many times storms weaken before coming onshore. Rain loves to hug the coast, but even if that happens, this little guy, is a baby spider among millions, just seems so darn fragile. Sigh. I dunno. I guess he will be okay, perhaps going underground, or into a crevice in the tree he is in. In any case, he will get himself to safety I am sure, but I can't help but think of him, he was so pretty, and seemed so happy building his web. I really enjoyed meeting him! Boy, have I changed! Now I just wish I had the courage to look up what kind of spider he is!

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #42

 

“I am just a leaf. Just a leaf falling from the tree

 so that a new bud may grow.” 

~ Gemma Malley

  The Legacy

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #28

 

“Tell me, O' Lovely Autumn,
how to wilt and change; come, show me
how to smile, while I say goodbye."

(Haiku)”
~Monika Ajay Kaul 

 

Zombie Sticks + Autumn Leaf Of The Day #20

 

Leaves descending to the ground,
Orange, magenta, green & brown
The cool crisp breezes in the air,
Autumn season must be here” 

~ Charmaine J Forde 

 

I don't know... even dead thistle from the summer makes me smile in autumn. I am not happy about their death, they are bright purple when in full bloom, and nasty to step through as well, but even in death they have the loveliest shape, and are downright photogenic against other weeds finding the end of their season. The child in me sees thin spiky monsters, or maybe plant zombies Summer spills over into autumn in so many ways, and I am grateful for every last bit of it.

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #

 

 

 

Autumn Fenced In...

"Autumn stomps around outside the house like

 an annoying little sister, tapping on all the shutters, 

kicking up the piles of leaves you rake,

 pretending to howl like a wolf.

 But I'm glad she's here, so we can cuss at summer together, pretending we don't even remember her name."

~Karen Finneyfrock

The Sweet Revenge Of Celia Door

Some folks don't agree with me at all about autumn! The leaves that are glorious, messy and loud with color and joy for me, mean a dirty, time consuming, mess for others. Rather than being a giantic party of colors, the leave rather represent a sad notion that soon the world will be covered in snow, and the trees that are so vibrant right now, will turn to mere skeletons. Stick figure ghosts of their former selves. The world will become cold, lonely, and perhaps the thing of a Stephen King novel. But I am happy to see the dark days come, and bring with it shadows that I can build nightmares on! Maybe that's why I love horror movies so much, it reminds me of autumn, even in April!

Autumn Fenced In...

I love doing fence line photography, 

and I hope to do more this season!

Leaf Of The Day

October 24th 2016

Mood: Happy

 

~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 154~ Big Leaf Maple

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

~Abraham Lincoln

Let the leaf peeping begin! Here we have Big Leaf Maple. Apple Hill is gorgeous with them!  :)

Time honored, beautiful, solemn and wise.
Noble, sacred and ancient
Trees reach the highest heavens and penetrate the deepest secrets of the earth.
Trees are the largest living beings on this planet.
Trees are in communion with the spiritual and the material.
Trees guard the forests and the sanctified places that must not be spoiled.
Trees watch over us and provide us with what we need to live on this planet.
Trees provide a focal point for meditation, enlightenment, guidance and inspiration.
Trees have a soul and a spirit.

~Tree Magick by Lavenderwater

Coming soon...

The Duck amphibious water/land tour.
The coastal bay cruise.
The botanical garden in Glen Ellen.
The airplane bay tour.
And more!

Stay Tuned!

~Me :)

Today's Link...

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/10/apadf6-152.html