Aurora Borealis Whatnow?

 

Daylily from my garden.

 

“Then that's what the Northern Lights are.

 All the lives that we're not living.” 

~Adi Alsaid

  Let's Get Lost

 

 

Not The Aurora Borealis, But What A Gorgeous Moon!

 

Okay, so, the Aurora Borealis decided to take a vacation by visiting the whole world, but somehow it decided to avoid Stockton. It was also missing in Galt and Lodi. I looked for it, and didn't see it at all, well, maybe a little but it certainly wasn't the awesome vibrant event I hoped to see and I am just guessing and hoping that that is what I saw. The place to be, to truly be treated to a show, was the Bay Area, San Francisco in particular. You can see the beautiful gallery by clicking the link below.

 

So, I felt a little sad about it, but not for very long. The Aurora Borealis could come back for a visit. Sigh. I think it's probably more likely we will have an attention getting earthquake or possibly a sighting of a rare bird, before this opportunity comes back around. POUT! The thing about being my age that truly sucks is that feeling of do it now, because they days are going by fast. Ride the scary roller-coaster, take the helicopter tour, go out and search for rare celestial events! Take the whale tour, because...

 

TICK-TOCK!

 

 ABC 7 Bay Area Aurora Borealis 

 

 

November's Moon

 

AUTUMN AIR

The autumn air is clear,
The autumn moon is bright.
Fallen leaves gather and scatter,
The jackdaw perches and starts anew.
We think of each other- when will we meet?
This hour, this night, my feelings are hard.” 

~Li Bai 

 

I love photographing the moon and autumn leaves in the same shot, although sometimes it seems almost impossible, and therefore completely frustrating. Either the moon is out of focus or the leaves are, but that dynamic came be quite pleasing to the eye. I got lucky with this shot, while the moon is a bit fuzzy, it is bright and clear, so the detail comes through. I don't know, I kinda like it. It's the moon, in an a clear twilight November sky. Autumn was smiling down on me, and it made me smile back! I used to try to photograph all the full moons in a year, but sometimes the sky refuses to cooperate. The clouds of January and February were brutal, so it's really hard to plan for it, and it looks like the roughest part of the Atmospheric River will take place in those two months again. 2024 will promises to be as wet or wetter than this year was. That will make for quite a challenge. Maybe I should simply plan to do a photo as close to the full moon as I can, and not worry so much about whether stage it's in. Like with this shot, it's not quite full, but it still made for a beautiful photo.

 

 

There's Always The Moon

 

"You are my fantasy on a cold dark night,

 my muse during the light of day

 and the one wish my soul would make."

 

Grace Willows

 

I wanted to see the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn, but it was not meant to be. I missed it. A silly common cold got in the way. But I did get to see them fairly close together and that was fun. I wish I could have gotten a good photograph, but that wasn't meant to be either. Still, I always have the moon to keep me company. He's always there, like the most dependable friend any mere mortal could have. I love the moon, and I never get tired of taking his picture, so yes, I guess he is a friend at this point. And what could be wring with that? If you look just to the left of the palm tree, you can see two white dots, which are the two planets. So, I kinda photographed the event, right? Oh well, there will be more celestial events, and I will try then too. Never stop trying... right? Never give up! Good things are coming our way! Now, if I could just stop worrying about the lunatic in the White House. Please hurry, Joe!

 

 

~Carly

Stockton, California

December 22nd 2020

 

 

 

 

Full Snow Moon (February 2019)

"Why does February feel like one big Tuesday?"

~Todd Stocker

I haven't posted much here lately, but I have been managing some photography to keep my creative juices flowing. I will be catching up my blog with plenty of posts this week. Words may be few however, because my carpal tunnel is still flaring pretty badly. But, in times like these, I am trying to I remember Steven encouraging me to do photography around the house, and maybe the yard, to get me through between photo jaunts. He gave me some good advice, photographing simple subjects really does help.

So, if you check my Twitter timeline, you will see lots of photos of my lunches and the cats, and I even did a few videos, which was fun too, but it's this kind of photography I enjoy the most. The kind where I check the weather, plan out the clothing I will need, and then go out and get the photo! Fortunately, all I had to do was step off the porch to accomplish it. I love photographing the full moon. I have been doing it since my early days on AOL, and Ive never gotten tired of it. The moon is an old friend, comforting and trustworthy, mysterious and beautiful. That is the best of everything, rolled up into one perfect subject!

From February 18th 2019

~Mood: Okay

~Me

The Full Cold Moon

Full Cold Moon ( w/mist)
December 22nd 2018
Stockton, California
Nikon

"The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human."

~Tahereh Mafi
Shatter Me 

This is an unusual full moon. It was very nearly a solstice moon, missing the beginning of this year's winter solstice by a little over 24 hours, and Christmas by just two days! That's kinda magical! I love the night sky. Eclipses, comets, which by the way, I am still chasing, stars, meteors, you name it, I will be found, if the night is clear, searching for it in the night sky! I hope to get a telescope one day, that I can attach the camera to. I'd just love to photograph Saturn, just once!

 Full Cold Moon 

( Clear Edit )

December 22nd 2018

Stockton, California

Nikon 

 

But You Can't Plead With Autumn

"But you can't plead with autumn. No. The midnight wind stalked through the woods, hooted to frightened you, swept everything away for the approaching winter, whirled the leaves."

~Yevgeny Zamyatin

We

The season of autumn, in California, has officially turned chilly. Thanksgiving is less that a week away, and all I really want to do is drink a hot cup of cocoa, and nap with my cats. I love autumn, but it's getting painful now. The arthritis in my hands is interfering with what I would like to be doing, which is, of course, being out with my camera daily. I haven't been out in a few days, but I did make it out to my porch early last night, even if it was painful. I have been trying to keep an eye on how the smoke from the fire up north, is affecting the appearance of the moon. The air in the Central Valley is still listed as unhealthy, and I have been having trouble breathing, but apparently the air in the Bay Area is even worse. Because of the smoke, and my physical pain, I am not sure how much more natural autumn I will be able to experience this year, but I will find it when and where I can. You know me, if there is an autumn leaf still on a tree, I will find it. In the mean time, snuggles with the cats is a pretty nice part of autumn too!

 #56 Leaf Of The Day

November 16th 2018

Photographed October 29th 2018

Stockton, California

Samsung

~Mood: Quiet

~Me

 

On Gilded Vanes And Roofs Of Villages

"It is the Harvest Moon! On gilded vanes and roofs of villages, on woodland crests and their aerial neighborhoods of nests deserted, on the curtained window-panes of rooms where children sleep, on country lanes and harvest fields, it's mystic splendor rests."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I was hoping the full moon for October, would happen later in the month. Better yet, on Halloween! But no, it was on the 5th this year, and it's didn't disappoint! The good part about it coming early in the month was that it was warm enough outside to photograph without having the bundle up in a heavy sweater. In fact, the night could not have been more perfect! It was so clear that I caught a bird in my shot, and while I have no way of knowing what kind of bird it was, I would kinda like to think it was a bat! Yes... it was a bat! Right?  :)

Here is one more shot of the full Harvest Moon...

The Harvest Moon is different than other full moons of the year, and Farmer's Almanac has a pretty interesting article about it. I am hoping to be able to do each full moon over the next year, as we don't get quite as much fog in Stockton as we did up in the Berkeley Hills. We will have to see, but I will give it my best try! Someday I hope to get a really good, high powered telescope and photograph other celestial bodies. Shrug. If only I would have had a camera like this one when Comet Hale-Bopp went by in the 1990's. Hopefully there will be another comet in my lifetime, but Hale-Bopp was so fascinating that I imagine nothing could compare!

#6 Leaf Of The Day

October 6th, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Happy

~Me :)  

Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon Up In The Sky

"The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It's always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it's a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human. Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections."

~Tahereh Mafi, Shatter Me

Today's Full Moon is called the Harvest Moon because it is the full moon which occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox. I guess, like me, the moon just couldn't quite wait until September 22nd, which is of course the first day of autumn. I kinda like believing that... it makes me feel a little less alone in my anxiousness for autumn~ But at the same time, it's hard to not think of this moon as the last moon of summer! So, what do you think? Does summer get robbed of it's one last shining moment?

:) Isn't it funny how the man in the moon can make you feel like you are the only one he sees?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Sometimes The Moon...

The Full Moon And Clouds January 25th, 2013


"See how nature... trees, flowers, grass grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... we need silence to be able to touch souls."

~Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Sometimes the moon cooperates with me, sometimes it doesn't. LOL. I have been quite happy with the photos I have taken, since I switched to digital about 10 years ago, but sometimes I have to work a lot harder than other times. My old beloved Minolta, which was broken on December 31st of 2008, was the camera I used to do most of the moon shots with, but it met with a tragic end, having been wrestled to the ground by Dylan and Hendrix when they were but mere kittens! Never underestimated the damage potential of a pair of kittens! LOL. As heartbroken as I was, all was immediately forgiven. I can't stay mad at my two little fellas for very long.

At the time I thought my Minolta had been given a death sentence, but where there's a will, there is a way, so with a determined spirit I taped the Minolta back together and soldiered on. It's been over 4 1/2 years and even though I have purchased two new cameras since, I still break out the old Minolta and take if for a spin, providing it feels like being cooperative! My beloved Minolta insists on being able to recognize only one SD card in particular... no other... and at times it refuses to speak to me in anything but Japanese. Yes, Japanese. You see, for some reason it tends to get stuck in the Japanese mode, and I have NO idea why or how it happens. But it's okay, I am good with it, the pictures still continue to come out awesome!

I am hoping I will be able to get some good shots of the Supermoon a little later. As I write this post it is a little after 12:00 AM PT, but at around 4:30 AM or so, the moon should be at it's biggest and brightest in the sky. I am going to check on it from time to time overnight, and hopefully the sky will be clear enough to get a few shots. When I checked a couple hours ago, there were a few clouds beginning to move into the bay from a storm that's one it's way for Sunday night and Monday. It's going to be one of those wonderful gully washers that make it all cozy, but jeepers my luck, does it really have to come in right now? LOL. Ummm... yep!

Sometimes the moon cooperates, and sometimes it doesn't. Life, and photography, is an adventure. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Winter Moon Rising

Waxing Gibbous Moon 83% Of Full

"If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little."

~George Carlin

Not all that long ago, it came up in conversation with Alan that when he was a child, he thought it was odd that he could sometimes see the moon so clearly in the middle of the day. The mere fact that he had, on occasion, seen the moon while on his way home from school, or while playing outside, or at any time before dark, had ruined all werewolf stories for him. It was a closed case! All werewolf stories must be total crap!

For me, I didn't give up on werewolves because I saw the moon in the daytime. I just figured that the person who was inflicted with lycanthropy was especially sensitive to the moon at night, because everything got colder and darker, which in my child mind meant that while the sun was sleeping, there was no heavenly body keeping track of the moons actions. In short, while the suns away, the moon will play!

Now, just a few short years ago I did have quite an epiphany about the Invisible Man. Did you know that the Invisible Man, while always well dressed for the time, had the habit of going... commando? Well, he did! I made that observation one night while watching, Abbot And Costello Meet The Invisible Man, on Turner Classic Movies. In one scene, the invisible man began to disrobe, to prove that he was indeed invisible, and off came the tie, shirt and jacket, followed by his undershirt and then his pants. I was kind of intrigued, because I always wondered if the Invisible Man was a boxers or briefs kind of guy. Well, as it turned out, he was apparently a commando kind of guy!

Hmmm. Odd. I posted an entry in the old AOL Ellipsis blog about the situation, musing that it probably upset the censors to see a grown man take off his underwear, it was 1951 after all, but as it turns out, that had nothing to do with it. It was something much more routine and pertinent to the day. You see, during WWII there had been a shortage in elastic, like what is generally found in the waistband of men's underwear. Even a few years later, things were still being caught up in the availability. So, as it turned out, the Invisible Man was simply doing his part for the war effort!

One never knows where one might find a fine example of patriotism!

Let Freedom Ring!

Now, you have a story to share with your family and friends on Memorial Day!

You are welcome!

:)

Mood: Silly

~Me :)

The Strawberry Full Moon

"A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises. Ghosts were created when the first man awoke in the night."

-J.M. Barrie




I love photographing the moon! I haven't taken many photographs of it this year however, so I decided a little earlier this this evening, to step out into my garden and see what the moon and the stars were up to. June's full moon is nicknamed the "Strawberry Moon." The larger photo above, is as it appeared over my garden gate a little while ago, with a nice bit of fog adding some color to the photo, as it was making it's way across the sky. Isn't the color magnificent? I couldn't get the details of the moon as clear as I wanted, without losing some of the details of the trees and the edge of the gate, so I switched to B/W mode, and set it to F 3.5 with x 4.0 on the zoom.

Yesterday, I read an interesting article about an optical illusion that occurs with the moon this weekend. I would like to try for that shot, and my best chance might be tomorrow evening. The conditions are supposed to be very clear. I am also going to try to capture the alignment of Venus and Saturn. It's weatherman says it will be extremely warm and clear here in the Bay Area by mid-week next week, so it should be perfect conditions for doing some evening photography. :) Stay tuned!


*Be sure to click on the top photo, to see it in a larger version. You will be able to see some stars in the photo, in the upper right corner.

Full Moon Names (Farmer's Almanac)

Full Moon Offers Mind An Illusion

-OndineMonet
"June's Strawberry Moon"
Berkeley, California
June 30th, 2007
1o:04 PM