Autumn Leaves Of The Day #19 And #20

 

"Fallen leaves of gold,

they quietly wither,

Only a touch of comfort remains in the branches."

~Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann

The leaf you see above is a repeat. Well, I should say, it's not a repeat from this year, it's a repeat from a previous year, which is being used as a placeholder, for a leaf that I will replace it with soon. You see, there aren't many leaves to be found that aren't the same as I have already posted, or hopelessly withered on the ground, torn to pieces. It has been a dry, hot year, so unfortunately it might be a lot further into autumn, before I find any real color. I am not worried. I know I will find some in Sacramento, and some in the East Bay, it's just a matter of time until I get there. Until then, today's leaf is new, but Saturday's wasn't. I don't know, perhaps it's time to hang up this project, we'll see. 

Today's Autumn Leaf...

I know there's more to come.

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #9

 

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go."

~Unknown

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #16

 

"Love the trees until their leaves fall off,

 then encourage them to try again next year."

 

~Chad Sugg

 

 

 

To The Bat Bridge, Robin

 

 

"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."

 

~Batman 

1960's TV Show

 

So, the Mexican Free-tailed bat is finally back! I think of them as a summertime adventure, but technically they are definitely a springtime visitor as well. We came across them, for the first time, late last summer. It was all quite by accident, which is the best way to experience any adventure for the first time, and it was delightful but unfortunately they were only a few weeks from returning on their migratory path. I only got to see them a handful of times. It was disappointing, but I resolved to be ready for their return. So, I spent my free time this past year, learning about them and prepping for their return. Things like what to look for, listen for, and oh, hey, what's that smell? If don't hear anything in particular, but you know for sure that bats are located in a certain area, the smell of ammonia is a big clue that they are nearby. Most folks probably wouldn't like the smell, but to be honest, I love it! It's certainly distinctive. It's a little like bat pee mixed with bat sweat. That sounds terrible, I know, but to me all it means is, Honey, I'm home.

 

98% of my experience with the bats is amazing. I get to learn about lighting with my camera. I get to learn facts about bats that I never knew before, for instance did you know they are amazing pollinators? They are as beneficial as the honeybees are. The sunsets I get to see are truly awesome, and the people you meet who share that passion with you have always been really fun to talk to. No politics. No suspicious heaviness in the air, just a couple people enjoying a part of nature that is, by erroneous popular belief, misunderstood. All in all it's very rewarding, except for the fact that I am ultra allergic to one of my bat friends favorite meals, mosquitos. I am sitting here right now with my feet swollen twice their normal size, large welts, and deep painful red "burn" rash from the bites. I left home without spraying my clothes with deet, or putting my boots on. What a mistake. Had I learned nothing from the summer of 2023?

 

I am going to let my feet heal, then I am going back to the bridge, probably sometime later this week, or early next week. I love my bats, and no one is going to keep me from studying them. They clean up the mosquitos and other pests, and pollinate beautiful night flowering plants, HELL, I wish I could own a bat of my very own! Or a colony of bats, yes, I would definitely own a whole colony of them if I could!

 

 

 

Guns And Roses

 

"Hot Cocoa"rose from my garden.

Autumn 2012

 

“Your photography is a record of your living,

 for anyone who really sees.”

~Paul Strand

 

 

 

It's true, sometimes I take a photograph of a landscape or a beautiful bird, but it's more about how I feel while I use my camera. I always have an emotional connection to my subjects. Some of the photos that I have done, that I have received the most positive feedback on, have been when I have been in the depths of depression, and sometimes it's about fear. Please don't think that has been the emotions behind all of my photography, I am a happy and content person most of the time. I am getting older, and that means a symphony of physical pain, and limitations, but I do my best to accept it and move on. However, sometimes life just throws you in the middle of the, frankly, SHIT, and doesn't give you a choice on how you take it. My niece died in a traffic accident that was not her fault. To make it worse, it was a hit and run. Fuck! A short time later my nephew committed suicide.

 

 FUUUUUUUUCK!

 

Glock

 

And if that wasn't enough to fuck me up, yesterday I thought I was going to die. We were out doing errands for a while, and when we returned home a car was parked in the middle of the alleyway where we park our Mini Cooper. We couldn't get around him without driving over the grass and around to sewage equipment. Suddenly a man got out of his car with a gun, and fired about 4 shots toward his girlfriend's apartment. She was yelling back at him in anger, for shooting his gun towards the apartment where her young children were! Oh Shit! Was he going to shoot us for being witnesses? Were we going to be the latest statistic of rampant gun violence? Was the young woman he was shooting toward be a victim of domestic violence? I was terrified! I decided that if he was going to shoot me, I hoped he would shoot to kill, because I didn't want to be in pain and still be alive. That would be a hell of a FUCK YOU from fate, wouldn't it? Just get it over with! You think about a lot of things when you think your death is imminent. 

 

Who will take care of my cats?

 Will it hurt?

 Or will I just be gone?

Did I put on clean underwear?

Guns don't sound the same as they do on TV and in movies!

 

The my brain turned to...

White car, sedan 4 doors, Honda 

4 shots... I think

Young black man

mid 30's

White clothing

We drove around him as best we could, parked, and went into our condo. I called the police. I gave them all the information I could. I was embarrassed by how much I had forgot between the car and when I went inside. I guess I am not the best witness, but FUUUUUUUUUK he had a gun! It looked like a Glock22 semi-automatic but I don't know anything about guns, it's a guess based on the limited research I have done in the last 24 hours. Isn't it strange that something so scary is so exotic. I think I am going to do more research on the instrument of death to both make me feel less frightened next time and better educated. I need to do better next time, and believe me, I know there will be a next time.  I should have began this paragraph with telling you that I am okay, but a little fucked up this weekend. I was diagnosed with PTSD a few months ago, just after my family died. I have lots of incidents in my past that have caught up to me in my old age. I am getting treatment, but it's a long road, and who knows, I may not ever recover. But I am trying. 

 

Now, what's up with the roses? Well, the errand I was on yesterday was to buy some new roses for my garden. I found a lovely "Peace" rose and to my, absolute delight, I found a "Hot Cocoa" rose! I LOVE that rose! I had one when I lived in the Bay Area, and it was an absolute delight! It was the favorite of all my roses, and I had to leave it behind when I moved. Once we settled in Stockton, I looked and looked at every garden center I could, with absolutely no luck at all, so I gave up. But yesterday, there it was! What a happy turn of events! I will have that beautiful rose growing in my garden once again. Something to help me heal, and then that gun incident had to happen, because everybody has a gun. Will my mind attach that incident to my roses? Will I think of it every time I see a new rose grow on the stem? That remains to be seen, but right now it's hard to think about. The human brain manifests fear strangely... and sometimes it's just lets the negativity go, and it gets filed away. And, of course, that's for the best.

So, it was a guns and roses kind of day. Like the name of the band. Funny thing, I can't remember a single song by them, but I did a little looking around on YouTube and found this song, which I kinda like. I wasn't into Heavy Metal rock, so I passed it all by, but now I think I will have to listen to more of their stuff. Discovering new things, making new memories helps erase the stuff you don't want to think about. Like suicide. Like murder. It should be more music, less murder. More roses, less guns. More healing, less scars. Even if life has other plans. I am trying, I really am.

 

 Anyway, this is a nice song, and I hope you enjoy it.

"November"

By Guns And Roses

I witnessed gun violence yesterday.

 Next time I will try to capture the turn of fate with my camera.

 I guess it was my new experience for March. On to April.

The Birds Of The Enchanted Forest

 

“Everything you can imagine is real.” 

~Pablo Picasso 

 

While birding in Louis Park/Pixie Woods, I spotted this wonderful sight! A gorgeous Great Egret perched amongst the art work at the volcano. Pixie Woods is a small amusement park, as called the Enchanted Woods, within Louis Park. It is a cute little place, but it is now mostly open in the summer months, however during the rest of the year it tends to fall into disarray. One thing that's nice about having a hobby like birding, is that I can use the park year round, but autumn is my favorite time to be there. It's a terrific resource, I have found some fascinating birds such as the magpies, mergansers, wood ducks and as you can see, the Great Egret. As of late, a pair of White-tailed kite are nesting there, its one of the most interesting finds, at least for Pixie Woods. I have been lucky to add the Red-breasted Sapsucker to my birding life list. The day I spotted it, was the first time I had ever seen a sapsucker of any kind. That was another really good day, and to think the park is just next door!

 

 Just a few birds from Louis Park/Pixie Woods

 

White-tailed Kite

 

On The Last Day Of November

 

 

“I could feel the bite of the autumn air,

 warning us all of the harsh winter that was on its way.”

 
~Jennifer Starzec,

  Determination

 

It was ridiculously cold at the Clifton Court Forebay yesterday, but that didn't stop this very pretty Ring-billed gull from swimming and splashing about in the water! He was half playing, half trying to beat the other gulls to the tasty school of morsels passing just under them. I watched him capture, and eat, more than one tiny fish, and I was very impressed with its ability to fly to great heights in the sky, only to fall in a deep dive, to fetch his dinner. Birds fascinate me. I didn't see any new birds yesterday, and my hands were aching from the cold, so I didn't stay long, but they were all lovely, and entertaining, and made the pain well worth the visit. I can't wait to see what other birds fly in, as December progresses. 

 

Here is bird #161 for the year.

 

Red-winged Bicolored Blackbird

 

 

Say's Phoebe

 

“Autumn that year painted the countryside in vivid shades of scarlet, saffron and russet, and the days were clear and crisp under harvest skies.”

 
~Sharon Kay Penman,

  Time and Chance

 

  

The Say's phoebe is one of the most beautiful of the perching birds. I saw my first one, for the first time, just two years ago! Can you believe it? Why does it seem like I have never seen birds before I moved to the Central Valley? Oh my, and here is yet another bird that puts me in touch with Autumn, no matter what time of year it is! The Black phoebe is also a favorite. I fell in love with them after we moved into the house in 2015. They would dance about the back yard, darting along the top of the pool, chasing scrub jays from their yard! I was mesmerized. It is one of the most comforting things to do when I am heartsick. I am happy just to sit and watch birds enjoy life. There is a big lesson in that. I had missed so much in life, and birds make me feel like striving to see more. They make me feel alive, especially in their days of uncertainty. We are in the autumn of 2023, and despite all the sad, strange and infuriating news, I am enjoying October. And there is a lot more good stuff to come!

 

Black Phoebe

 

Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese And White Pelicans

 

"Birds were created to record everything.

 They were not designed to be beautiful jewels in the sky,

 but to serve as the eyes of heaven."

 

~Daphne du Maurier

The Birds And Other Short Stories

 

My love affair with discovering new birds continues. My latest set of photos, from my two favorite bird watching spots, Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, in Lodi, and the Cosumnes River Reserve, in Galt, have each provided me some exciting moments lately, in the pursuit of my newest hobby. Sandhill Cranes, which I never get tired of photographing, seem to be thinning out in numbers, but there is always a new opportunity to photograph a new bird I haven't seen before, as the cranes make their way south on their migratory path. My latest joy is in photographing the Snow Goose. A large flock of them finally stopped at the river in Galt. I had spotted them for the first time on January 10th, when Alan and I decided to explore birding possibilities in Rio Vista. I saw a large gathering on the side of the highway, but there was nowhere to stop and do a photo. The photos I did manage, out of a moving car no less, where okay, but they were definitely not up to my usual posting standards. You can imagine my delight when I found them in Galt, less than ten days later.

 

January 16th was a very good day for finding birds at the Cosumnes River Reserve. There were some of my favorites, like the Cinnamon Teal, and the Sanhill Crane, but the number of Snow Geese made it nearly impossible to not get some good photos. I got to see them up close and I was able to give the camera one hell of a workout doing some action photos as they landed. But as amazing as that opportunity was, I was ecstatic to see some, American White Pelicans, sunning themselves on a sandbar, in the middle of the  Snow Geese that were swimming in the river. It was an amazing find. I had no idea that pelicans came that far inland. I was under the impression that if I wanted to see one, it would require a trip to Bodega Bay, or perhaps Point Reyes. After doing a little research, it turns out they visit the delta every year, so I can now look forward to photographing them in the future. 

 

My mood is getting better. My depression is lifting. And dare I say it? I am happy! We are basically at the end of January, and I have counted 18 different birds species so far. I need to do some more editing and I need to do some yard photography, but I will be ending this month with a decent count of birds. I can't wait to see what birds I will discover in February. I need to check out some new places, and do some research into cities that have festivals in honor of birds, like Lodi does, around the Sandhill Crane, and the Snow Goose in Chico. I am pretty sure that, due to Covid-19, most festivals will be cancelled this year, just as they were in 2020, but visiting the web pages for festivals in prior years is a big help in planning for next year. The Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyby, is giving me something to look forward to in January of 2022!

 

Snow Geese

January 16th 2021

Cosumnes River Reserve

Galt, California

 

American White Pelican

Cosumnes River Reserve

January 16th 2021

Galt, California

 

~Carly

 

Perp Walk The Fucking Horse Already!

 

"Reality is the leading cause of stress

 amongst those in touch with it."

 

~Jane Wagner

 

 

 Trump Time

 

So, what a year, am I right? Wow, the last 7 months of 2021 have been crazy! Wait... what's that? We are only on day 8? Nah... you joke! What's that? No? You're not kidding? It's only day 8 of 2021? But... when did Trump make that call to Georgia election officials, you know, when he tried to coerce them into finding votes that never existed? That was Sunday? That was last Sunday, and we found out it, gulp, last Monday? Monday of this week? We did? This week? So, that means that it's Friday, January 8th, 2021. Right?

 

Fucking KILL ME. 

 

All kidding aside, I know this shit will be over in time, if nothing else, Trump will HAVE TO LEAVE OFFICE ON JANUARY 20th WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT. But the next 12 days hold the potential for a nothing but bullshit and tragedy. Who the fuck knows what he's capable of? He was kicked off Facebook for inciting violence, and he was in a 12 hour time out on Twitter, for similar reasons, although it seems he was forgiven, because he posted a hostage video last evening, where he faked sanity. Ordinarily I would link to it, but why? We all know they slipped him some anti-psychotics or something, and he will just spazz-out when they wear off, it's a long standing pattern will the Captain Psychotic. But boy, he sure does seem happy. Like he doesn't have a care in the world.

Most of us in the Resistance would kill to possess that kind of smug asshole-ish super ability. The ability to sleep at night with NO CONSCIENCE OR SENSE OF REALITY WHATSOEVER, to worry about! He no doubt tucks himself in at night, hugs his Big Mac, and drifts off to sleep plotting some wildly undemocratic, anti-American shitshow for the next day. It's his "thinking time". No waking with sweat pouring down his face. No night terror screaming, "HOLY SHIT WHO GAVE HIM A FOOTBALL?... while snoring. All we want is to be able to sleep too. Understand? See, I just want to sleep and not worry about the craven abilities and inclinations of a "horse loose in a hospital" or "toddler with a flamethrower."

12 more days until Biden Day.

 

What could happen regarding Captain Trumps?

25th Amendment? Gee, that sounds nifty.

Impeachment? For the second time? Yes please.

Arrest for launching a coup against the United States?

Is it my birthday? You don't have to ask me twice!

 

I mean he has to face some sort of consequences, right?

 

Look what he's done...

 

 

In case your wondering about my original photo at the top of this post, there is a small bird hiding in the tree. It saw me trying to take it's photo, and began teasing me. I am sure of it. It was fun. Birds get used to people with cameras in their hands. It was this past Sunday. I remember its like it was just yesterday. It was Alan, and me. We were at Woodbridge. There were a ton of small birds, of all kinds, flying in and out of trees, making a lot of noise, and playing, and I was happy. It was the beginning of the new year, and I was photographing new birds for my 2021 bird album. That pretty bird is the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's Warbler). It is one of the first 10 birds to make it into my album, the next day I spotted, a few in my neighbors yard. I was really enjoying that challenge. They are fast little birds. But right now, I am scared and tired and I have a headache. I am unhappy. I want someone to make it stop. Fortunately, I trust Nancy Pelosi, so I know it will eventually stop. Someone will perp walk the horse out of the hospital. Right?

 

 

Enough Is Enough. Impeach The Motherfucker Already.

 

 ~Carly

No Parking Fire Lane

"Aprils have never meant that much to me,

 autumns seem that season of beginning, spring."

~Truman Capote

Breakfast At Tiffany's And Three Stories

This past week, I was treated to one of the happiest sights I have seen in a long time, a decent dusting of autumn leaves under one of my favorite Stockton trees! I have been here for 5 autumns now, and in all that time I have not seen autumn kick in as early as this one, but that's okay, I'll take it with a grateful heart. And actually it's not just Stockton, my favorite tree in Cull Canyon is also in full autumn leaf bloom this past weekend too. I am pretty happy, they are going to help my mood as we move closer to the election. I am hoping it's a good omen about how things will go. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I keep thinking about last year, when I couldn't find autumn, no matter how hard I looked for it. I figure Mother Nature owes us one!And it seems yellow is winning the race so far, and I am loving it!

So far I have mostly photographed leaves from a Liquid Amber tree, but I am planning a visit to Ione, California next weekend, where my favorite Judas tree is. I absolutely love their shape. Kinda like a fan, and kinda like a butterfly, in peaches, pinks, greens and yellows. In other words... the colors of autumn!

 Stay Tuned!

~Carly

September 14th 2020

Stockton, California