Shadows

 

“That country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and midnights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain.”

 
~Ray Bradbury 

 

I decided to do two versions. I really liked the way the plant in the color version looked with the shadows across from it, but it was late in the day, and the color was not photographing very well. So two versions it is! Both have a vibe all their own, so I just suppose it depends on mood. At the moment I am leaning toward black and white. I am in a quiet mood. Not depressed, just quiet. I am a bit weary. With the brewing war in the Middle East, a difficult summer has carried it's cruelty into Autumn. I dunno, maybe that was why Autumn gave me the gift of beginning early. The Autumn sun was beginning in the first week of August. We found 2 Snow geese at the Cosumnes River, Desmond road, but they shouldn't have been there for a couple months or so. Just stuff like that. Shrug. But here we are. A cruel middle east, and me missing my niece and nephew so much I can barely breathe. God I feel old. I guess that's why the shadows appealed to me so much. In both color and black & white. Both versions definitely say Autumn to me.

I am okay. Just weary.

Autumn Sundog

"Only what slips through one's fingers, only what is never expressed in words, has no thoughts, exists completely.

 That is the price of proximity: you don't see it.

 Don't know that it's there. Then it's over, then you see it."

~Karl Ove Knausgard

 Autumn 

I spotted this scene from the car, as we drove through Emeryville, on our way to the Bay Bridge last Saturday.The sky all afternoon had a strange green tint to it, with just enough golden color to produce a sun-dog. I love looking for cool things in the sky, so when I saw it I had to smile and continually snap the camera, in hopes I could manage a half decent photo or two. I got really lucky to get both the sun-dog and the plants in focus! Damn I'm good!

 #58 Leaf Of The Day

November 19th 2019

Berkeley, California

Nikon

 ~Mood: Happy 

~Me  :)

Little Bunny Miniature Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)

Little Bunny Miniature Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
July 1st 2014

"That beautiful season the summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
And the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's summer. It's warm. And sometimes my mind wanders away. Just wanders. The other day, while Alan was searching for a hidden object, I will explain more about that later in the week, I saw this patch of Little Bunny Fountain Grass gently dancing back and forth in the warm breeze. The sun was in the far western sky, so there was just the right amount of light making it appear different soft pastel colors. I reached down and touched one of the ivory blossoms, and was surprised to find how soft it was. Fluffy, just as it's name implies, like a bunny's tail. I am beginning to become quite fond of this plant. So much about summer can be harsh, but not this unusual plant.

"People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy."

~Anton Chekhov

Mood: Happy

~Me :)