A Sunset, In 5 Acts

 

“The first stab of love is like a sunset,

 a blaze of color -- oranges, pearly pinks, vibrant purples...” 

~Anna Godbersen,

  The Luxe

 

This is all one sunset, just taken over 30 minutes or so, and from different angles throughout the Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt, California. A beautiful winter sunset in the valley, there is nothing quite like it!

 

Under The Enchantment Of Newly Fallen Leaves

 

“Autumn is Nature's last party of the year. And dressing for the occasion, forests don their brightest attire, while the creatures follow suit with plush coats of fur. As the birds savor their final flights in the waning embers of light, Nature's children scamper about in search of manna for their winter pantries, pausing long enough to frolic in the heaps of newly fallen leaves."

~Debra Welsh
["Autumn Suppers," Orange Coast Magazine, Oct. 1983]”

 

 

Sometimes you just happen upon beauty, and when that happens, I try to not let the chance pass me by. A strange, tiny little house that I have never noticed before was suddenly just there! I have been down the road it sits on, many times, but all through my travels I never saw it! Go figure, perhaps I need to slow my life down a bit. That gorgeous blanket of copper colored leaves reflected the sun to the point that they were glowing, so I stopped, and when I grabbed my camera I realized, the real star was the little wooden building. I don't know what it is, but it was a pleasure to photograph it. I think I will check on it again in the spring and see if blossoms make it seem even half as enchanting! Speaking of "enchantment" I came across many sights today that made me smile, and instantly relax. Truly, it was several moments of absolute Zen, in several of my favorite places in the valley. You can't ask for more than that!

Northern Pintail Sleeping

Sandhill Crane

Gadwall

The Art Of Turning Over New Leaves

 

“There is October in every November and there is November in every December! All seasons melted in each other’s life!”

 
~Mehmet Murat ildan

 

In late spring, we begin to see pheasant, quail and turkeys, all over the valley but they are at their loveliest when I see them running through the vineyards and orchards.Their feathers remind me of the rows autumn leaves they're are moving in and out of. I don't even know how many times we have just stopped and watched them! This particular group stays near the vineyards off Franklin blvd, in Galt. It sits about 500 feet from the bridge where I went to observe the Mexican Free-tailed bat, late last summer. The two more than likely have nothing to do with each other, but it's a fun coincidence that there is so much life right there. It's also the area where I spotted a large group of swallows last spring, and the Bullocks orioles in early summer. There is something for everyone right there, and just a few hundred yards up the road from there is the visitors center at the Cosumnes River. And if that isn't enough beauty my new friend, Boris the Spider, built a really nice mansion for himself, just about 3 miles northeast of this spot, although I am afraid he has moved on.

 

As I said a few posts back, I haven't seen him in weeks, all that's left is a few heavy silver strands of spider silk. The cold was probably getting to him, same as it's getting to me. Or maybe a bird swooped him up and had a snack of him. I don't want to ponder the situation too much. I am happy to believe he is merely at his winter home, lazing by the pool, and I will see him again next April, when the earth turns once again to the warmth of spring and summer. Yes, Autumn has sent him off to simply live in the moment among different leaves. Autumn is teaching me to live in the moment as well. I guess I'm turning over a new leaf, and as turning over new leaves go... living in the moment feels a lot healthier than setting rigid expectations and goals for myself. I mean who thought a year ago that not only would I make a spider friend, but would be waiting for summer to come back around so we could visit one another again? Thank you, Autumn!

 

BATS! It's The End Of Summer!

 

“The basis of all human fears, he thought.

 A closed door, slightly ajar.” 

~Stephen King,

 Salem's Lot

 

I always thought I would be afraid, if I ever encountered a bat, but as it turns out, nope, I wasn't scared at all, and I found that out, just the other night. You see, hubby and I were driving home, along Franklin blvd, on the bridge that goes over the Mokelumne River, when suddenly thousands of the Mexican Free-tailed bats, flew really low over the road! It was an astounding sight, and equally astounding was the fact that there were folks on both sides of the road taking photos, and videos, and enjoying the experience completely!

 

Well, we circled back, and hubby decided to check what was happening. I stayed in the car. There was NO WAY I was going to get out of my lovely and very safe, Mini Cooper, just to stand in the midst of a million or so vampires. Nope. Not on this earth.Well, Alan was gone for about 30 minutes, so I was kinda sure he would be wearing a cape and fangs when he finally got in the car, but again, nope! All he was wearing when he got in the car, other than his clothes, of course, was a really big giddy smile. He went on to explain that standing on the bridge, as the bats flew off into the Twilight, in search of their meals,  was a really cool experience and he believed we should comeback the next night, so I could give it a try!  

 

I wasn't completely sure that was something I wanted to try, but after some thought, and a little reading on the Internet, I found out the specific species of bat that called that bridge home, was not something I had to worry about! It's called the, Mexican Free-tailed bat. It migrates from deep in South America, and it only spends a little time in this area, mostly the summer months, then it will continue on it's way north as Autumn comes. We might be able to see them at the Yolo Bypass early in October, but for the most part they will be on their way possibly this week, so we found out about them just in time.

 

I did something new. I got to be brave one more time. That is a good thing. Alan, and a medium sized bat, helped me gain a little more bravery in life, funny that! I am still conquering fear at 61 years old! It's not over for me! I can still move past the things that hurt me, and hold me back, which is a good lesson, because this has been one cruel summer. I lost my niece. She died. I also lost my nephew. He died too, but it was by his own hand. He committed suicide. I wish I knew why. I wish I understood my niece's car accident.

 

In addition, I wish I understood the death of my favorite actor, Treat Williams. He died on June 12th. According to the police report, he never had a chance. I think when all is said and done, and I know everything about their deaths, I will have grown a little more, because it all still hurts me, scares me, and in fact, devastates my whole being.

 

So, in the meantime, life goes on. There will be victories, and probably more pain along the way to closure, but there will also be great joys too! Like finding out that bats are sort of cool, and not at all interested in hurting me, as they go about their life. I love all the nature in the Central Valley, and as much as I hate to admit it, this place is starting to feel like the best home I had ever lived in! So I am a little sad that my new friends will soon be on it's way, just when I got to know them.

Oh my.