Autumn Reflections...

 

“Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end.”

 
~Remy de Gourmont 

 

When I saw this cart, I couldn't help but feel sorry for it. It has an injured wheel/paw, and clearly no one is helping it feel better. Yes, even grocery carts have the ability to make me over-think life. I just felt bad. I dunno, maybe it was because earlier in the day I did some reading about Trump destroying some Art Deco art, while demolishing the Bonwit Teller building to build Trump Tower. It was an offensive move then, and as far as I am concerned, it's outrageous even now! Art Deco just happens to be my favorite style of anything, from Art to table linens, to architecture. I have lots of it around my home, so I found it especially disgusting that he is also tearing out some Art Deco design in the White House. The Lincoln bathroom is decorated in Art Deco decor. It was designed by Harry Truman, during the time of his own renovations of the White House. Trump's taste is pretty much best described as Nouveau Tacky. So, how does all of this apply to a damaged shopping cart? Well, I see design. I see faces. My mind and my eyes tend to see in emotions. Personally, I thank God for it, because it keeps me in touch with my empathic side, otherwise, I think I might have given up altogether by now. Some days I just walk around numb! 

 

Poor little cart. Do they really not see the art of you? 

 

 

The Smile On The Block Of Something

 

“I never realized how much you meant to me until someone spoke your name and an irrepressible, goofy grin stretched my lips.”

 
― Richelle E. Goodrich,

 

  Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a Few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

 

As you know, I see smiles in inanimate things. It's called, Pareidolia, It's common, but not everybody experiences it at the same rate. I see faces all the time. In trees, in work equipment, in painted surfaces, and even road delineators. I love it! It makes my creative side excel at trying to find out why the object feels the particular emotion I see, it also makes me more aware of how people, even those I don't know, are feeling. And when there is no one around me at all, it makes me feel less alone somehow. I love the gifts the human mind offers. There is a lot to think about!

 

 

By the way... what the heck is that block of whatever, smiling at me?

 

 

B/W 2024 #2

 

“More than anything she wanted the world to be uncomplicated, for right and wrong to be as easily divided as the black and white sections of an Oreo. But the world was not a cookie.” 

~Roshani Chokshi,

  Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

 

The "8 Miles" sign is bright orange, with black edging and print. The "California 99" sign is green and white, the electrical box is grey, and the trees are autumn brown with the tiny leaves that remain. Quite fetching as a black and white photo I think, because it removes the assault on the eyes from the bright colors, and instead brings out the pertinent details of the scene, and to my delight is a single stand out quirk of the photo that might have been overlooked, unless you're like me, and see faces where no faces exist. But I can't help it. It was just there. An electrical box that seems to be emoting a little side eye. Perfectly understandable if you are familiar with this exist off Hwy 5, in Lodi.

 

 

Common Sense In The Time Of Covid

"Every day I wake up in a parallel universe."

~Steven Magee

I see faces in things. The other day I saw the face on this cute little cart at the grocery store. I also saw the opportunity to make a statement about covering your face, during the Covid-19 pandemic. It's the easiest thing to do, to help in the fight, and yet folks won't do it. I am not going to go into it, history will write it, I am just going to keep wearing my masks and hoping for the best. I have been home since March, with no end in sight, but at least I know that I have done the best I can, to not be a selfish spreader of the worst pandemic in over 100 years. Yes, history will tell that tale, and it breaks my heart to think of how sad it might be!

Carly
August 26th 2020
Nikon

A Face In The Crowd: Preston Castle

"Normal is an illusion. What's normal for the spider

 is chaos for the fly." 

~Morticia Adams

That beautiful Romanesque building is Preston Castle, in the small city of Ione, California. It is rumored to be haunted, and I believe the stories of cries, strange sounds and moans are real, and from the ghosts who live there now. It was once a boys reformatory, where young boys were sent, from all around the state, to serve sentences for various crimes, or sometimes when they had simply been made wards of the court. 

Terrible abuses took place at this prison, the unthinkable really, and it is said now that the spirits of these children haunt the halls and rooms of Preston Castle, as does a nurse who was murdered there. Alan and I paid a visit to the place about a week ago, and let me tell you, while we didn't go in, just standing on the grounds and looking up at the main building gave me the shivers! It is quite eerie and imposing.

Sometime, maybe next year, Alan and I should sign up for one of their October ghost tours. I didn't prepare for it in time this year to get a reservation in, but I have always wanted to go on a ghost hunt, so you can bet I will be trying for next year! I believe in ghosts, and I have had more than one experience with the paranormal. Actually, I hate that word "paranormal" it has such a negative association. 

Paranormal simply means we haven't discovered why certain things, that don't seem to belong in the natural world, somehow do. Science just needs a little while longer to figure it out, but with so many other things to work on, like cancer, and climate change, other diseases, and all the other things that benefit the living, the research continues, but the supernatural and paranormal, understandably, need to take a back seat. I suppose the dead can wait!

 But boy would I like to be there when a definite connection is made between the living and spirits or ghosts. Irrefutable proof of the existence of ghosts, would make me feel a lot better about some of the experiences I have had, since childhood, that you wouldn't believe me about, if I described them to you in exact detail! But its okay... I know they happened. And one day... I can say, yep, I knew it was true! I did see a ghost that day!

 The castle is kinda spooky, and I always feel a little sad when I look at it, thinking about how those children were abused and hurt, but the grounds around the building are beautiful, and quite pleasant. This tree lines the road leading away from the castle, towards the exit of the property. Beautiful trees, and lots of birds. If one didn't realize the past this places has, it might just seem like a beautiful place to hold a party, maybe even a wedding! But was we came to the end of the driveway, Alan glanced out the window and noticed this...

The long rock wall that lines the property, is a gorgeous mix of different rocks, but on the last group, was one particular rock that seems, well, to show a ghostly face! I know... it's just a rock, and I know that seeing faces, where there are none, is a phenomenon called Paredolia. I even have a whole album of "faces" that I have photographed over the years, called "A Face In The Crowd!" Everyone sees them from time to time, but the other day, when we saw this one, I got a chill down my spine! It was downright spooky to have chills, in 85 degree heat!

Tell me, have you ever seen a ghost? Or thought you had?

 #22 Leaf Of The Day

October 22nd 2017

Cull Canyon, California

 

"Maybe before you die, it's your ghost you see."

~Lauren Oliver 

Mood: Curious

~Me :)

A Perspective... Revisited

"The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be."

~Douglas Adams

The Salmon Of Doubt: Hitchhiking The Galaxy One Last Time

I first posted the photo above, in early September, 2014. This garbage can is in my favorite park in the East Bay, and I pass it often while out photographing flowers and autumn leaves. Well, at least I did at the time, I have since moved, but I still visit there when I can. Cull Canyon Park, in Castro Valley, always inspires me, and its one of the nicest parks in the East Bay to just stop for a moment and have lunch or catch one's breath. 

Anyway, while photographing some pre-season autumn leaves, I looked at the lid of the can, and for whatever reason I saw a crow in the paint erosion. Alan saw a bear. And I do see a bear, but the crow is my first thought. I guess it's one of those perspective things! But, like I said, I originally posted the photo a couple years ago, and since then I haven't thought about it much. Why would I? Right? Then one day last month, while I was doing the exact same action as the first time I noticed it, I saw two more creatures I hadn't noticed before. This time, at the base of the can. A cat and a mouse. Do you see them? Or is it just me?

 

 

Now I know I tend to see shapes, and sometimes faces in things, I especially like to find that kind of stuff in nature! I have built a whole series around it. But I don't often stop and consider shapes quite like this. It has to have occurred through erosion, because who would take the time to create animal shapes on a random trash can? Not too many people I suppose, and yet I can't see anything but those three creatures. 

A crow bending over eating.

A cat with a big thick tail.

And a little mouse just to the right side of the cat.

How about you? What do you see?

 What's Your Perspective?

"Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided if people would simply take the time to ask, 'What else could this mean?'" 

~Shannon L. Adler

 Leaf Of The Day

December 2nd 2016

 

 

A Face In The Crowd: Peace... And Smiles... On Earth

"Peace Begins With A Smile"

~Mother Teresa

If my memory serves me, this is the only post of "A Face In The Crowd" which contained an autumn face. The last post in this series was done over the summer, while we were in the hotel. Thankfully, this post has a happy, if maybe a little flirtatious, smile, rather than the one from last summer. The summer post was a bit sad, and so was I when I spotted it in a discarded pizza box. Sometimes I wonder if I see faces with the same emotion I am feeling at the time. When I was feeling artistic, I spotted one that reminded me of "The Scream" by Edvard Munch, so I suppose it could be my sub-conscience directing me to things in the universe that fit my mood. It's funny, when you think about it, a lot of things play off our general mood. Pets certainly do. Joey always seems to know when I need just a little extra cuddle time with him. He keeps my moods from being too dark. Spending just a little extra time with him, I always tend to see things in a more positive mood!

:)

A Face In The Crowd: Sad

A Face In The Crowd: Artistic

A Face In The Crowd: Silly

Seeing faces in inanimate objects is called pareidolia, and according to New York Magazine, people who tend to see faces are neurotic, and those who don't see faces... aren't! To me, that's a little too easy. I mean it's pretty common to see patterns, right? But then again, I can admit, I am somewhat neurotic. I always have been. You couldn't grow up in the family I did and not turn out at least a little neurotic. I would say that I am about 45% neurotic. 47% at the most. Give or take. How about you? Do you see faces in inanimate things? Of course answering that question would be like telling the whole world that you are neurotic. 

 Not there is anything wrong with that.

Leaf Of The Day

December 11th 2015

Mood: Curious

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: San Francisco Tree Remarking On The Chill In The Air

"In his face, there came to be a brooding peace that is seen most often

 in the faces of the very sorrowful or the very wise.

 But still he wandered through the streets of the town, always silent and alone."

~Carson McCullers

The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

I kind of remember taking this photo. It was on one of the many days Alan and I spent in San Francisco last October. I think it was late in the day, on the same day, we went to Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum. We had so many wonderful days together, it seems like they have all ran together. It's a pretty cool face... isn't it? It was a windy autumn day, and to me, it looked like the tree was making a statement regarding the chill in the air. At least it seemed that way to me. Maybe it was just a tree.

Mood: Happiness

~Me :)

Faces

"Nothing is a portrait is a matter of indifference. 

Gesture, grimace, clothing, decor even... all must combine to realize a character."

~Charles Baudelaire

I came across this selfie I took back in 2009. My hair is really short in this photo, and I haven't cut it since, so right now it's really long. It's just about time to cut it again! They say women shouldn't wear long hair after the age of 50, but I don't know, Jane Seymour looks amazing with long hair, as does Elizabeth Hurley. Well, actually, Elizabeth Hurley doesn't turn 50 until June, but it wouldn't matter how she wore her hair, she would look fabulous! I like long hair, but I might go ahead and cut it anyway, just so it won't take so long to dry it. Hmmm... will I cut it? I am not sure.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: San Ramon... A Whole Foods Smile

"Where health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied."

~Herophilus

A Whole Foods Smile :)

In an effort to eat better, and keep my body moving in a healthy direction, I decided to stop in at a Whole Foods market for lunch the other day, and while I was looking through the wonderful organic fruits and vegetables. As I searched, I happened to see these lovely pieces of Jackfruit staring back at me! I have never eaten Jackfruit before, so I didn't purchase any while I was there, but after a simple Google search of them I found out that they are really good for you, and probably taste pretty good as well. Somewhat like Tasty Fruit gum as described at NPR. So, maybe I will put them on my Christmas list for Alan. You see, each Christmas we make special gift bags for each other, filled with organic tastiness, and we try to include at least one thing that the other has never tried before. It's our little way of encouraging us to try new things. The problem is, we are now at an age where we are running out of new things to try! LOL. Middle age is fun! No really, it is!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: Mr. Scary

"Evil was coming. I wondered whose face it would be wearing."

~Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas

While walking around Fisherman's Wharf yesterday, I spotted this face in the sidewalk, in front of Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. Yes, we had an amazing time there, and yes I have tons of pictures to share, but that will come later. For now, contemplate Mr. Scary... does he look like anyone you know? He seems somewhat familiar to me, but I just can't quite figure out who he looks like! 

All I know is this face gives me the chills!

Thoughts?

The Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Spooky

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: Mr. Pumpkin's Outlook

"The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter."

~Marcus Tullius Cicero

I am super tired tonight, but so far the vacation is going awesome! I wish things had been going as well for this pumpkin I spotted on my way out of a pumpkin patch the other day. He has a happy little face, despite his circumstance, and I bet he would have made a fine Jack-O-Lanturn come October 31st! But he seems okay with his fate, and he made me smile, and that's a pretty good feeling.

The Leaf Of The Day...

So Far, So Good

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: Have A Coke And A Smile :)

"The truest smiles are those which spread across our faces when no one's watching us."

~Minhal Mehdi

Coca~Cola Classic... I am hopelessly addicted. Have been since I was a small child. I know. I know. It's not the healthiest thing in the world, and as I have grown-up I find I actually prefer Diet Coke most of the time, but once in a while, after one of those really bad days, when all you want to do is climb back in bed and pull the covers over you, and pretend the day had never began in the first place, I find a drinking a super cold can of Coca~Cola Classic, right out of the frig, a better cure than Valium! :) I don't indulge often, but I do admit that on any given day, there is a full, unopened can just waiting for me at the back of the refrigerator waiting to make it all better!

 

Have a Coke, and a Smile. See, even the face in the Coke machine is smiling!

Mood: Happy (Slurp)

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: The Lonely Little Pillar In San Ramon

"His face was neither handsome nor anything else... it just was."

~Tarjei Vesaas, The Birds

The Lonely Little Pillar... 
 

I spotted this little face the other day, when I stopped into WingStop, in San Ramon, for a quick lunch. I just glanced down at the second of two pillars in front of the shops, and it kind of struck me as a sad little face, maybe because the store it sits in front of is currently empty. Shrug. Just for curiosity sake, I might have to stop by when the shop is once again occupied, you know, just to see if it does, indeed, make a difference. Shrug. You never know, it might appear different on a happier day. One never knows about these things. 

Wink.

Mood: Silly

~Me :)

A Face In The Crowd: Berkeley... Mr. Meter Cover

"For a moment, be the smile on someone else's face."

~ Dejan Stojanovic, The Sun Watches The Sun

I was beginning to wonder if I was going to spot a "face in the crowd" in 2014! We are already 7 weeks in, and I haven't seen any... well... until last Wednesday! I was walking along Addison street, here in Berkeley, photographing the poetry panels, and other assorted works of art along the street, when I suddenly noticed this meter cover. I think it's an underground water meter, but I am not sure. It's a meter lid of some sort. In any case, it made me smile. Not all of the faces I have found have done that, some make me curious, some made me sad, but this one seemed pleasantly content.

What do you think? 

Is Mr. Meter Cover happy?

Mood: Curious

~Me :)

The Face On The Cup

"I wish you'd help me look into a more interesting problem... namely, my sanity."

~Kurt Vonnegut

I took this picture in, I believe, 2007. I was still going to once a week therapy sessons, and working really hard on eliminating the pain and sorrow that had plaqued me for what felt like forever, but in reality had been since the late 90's. A decade of pain... it can feel like forever, because it was difficult to sit on that couch every week, knowing that for that hour I couldn't ignore that pain.

There was a lot to look at in the therapist's office, but my eyes were usually drawn to his desk. There was a stuffed Sigmund Freud doll. A lot of books about love, and a stack of cups, which never seemed to go down in size. One day I happened to notice that the stack of cups, that usually sat on the side of the desk, was a little off from it's usual position. Rather than sitting on the left side of the desk the stack of cups was now on the right side, fairly close to the couch I was sitting on. The bottom cup seemed to have something written on it, but it was turned so I couldn't quite make it out.

During the session, and in an effort to change the subject we were discussing, I reached over and turned the cups around to get a better look at it. To my surprise, there was a face staring back at me! And the face, not surprisingly, seemed to understand how I was feeling!

I am not sure who drew the little face. Was it the supervising doctor? Was it a patient? I had no way of knowing, but over the next few months I made friends with the little face on the cup. It, in an odd way, made me feel less alone. Clearly the cup face had seen, and probably heard, a lot of stories. Some sadder than mine, some not as sad. The face had wisdom and experience. You can't ask for more than that in a good therapist. Right?

All I know... the face on the cup seemed to understand. :) I miss the face sometimes, but like an old friend I haven't seen for a while, I will never forget the times we spent making friends!

Mood: Happy... and WELL ADJUSTED! LOL.

~Me :)

Looking Back At April... "The Long And Winding Road"

"The road of life is filled with sunshine and clouds, black and white, triumphs and tragedies. As we continue down the road, we decide which things we bring with us, and which we leave in the rear-view mirror."

~Julie-Anne

It's time to take a look back at the people, places and things that caught my eye in April. I had fun! I dunno, I think it just felt amazing to be able to get out of the house, after being sick in March. In any case, I found a lot to be inspired by. :)

Enjoy!



And now how about a little music?

The Beatles "The Long And Winding Road."



"All great roads are paved with uncomfortable memories."

~Amy Neftzger

~Mood: Happy :)

~Me