A Rainbow On The Day You Buy A Car

"What you see is what you get.

 It's not just black and white.

 It's a rainbow of fucked up colors too."

~Dana Husseini

RIP Basil

Wednesday, February 11th, 2026

So this squishy little rainbow appeared in the sky, as we drove to Sacramento to trade in our car. I hope that's a good omen, hopefully meaning that our old car would make it's way to someone who really needs it! Alas, I have a feeling that our Basil has gone on to it's glory. I am very sad about that. We had a lot of good times together. It truly had our back. But hey, 15 years isn't bad for a car. And it still got amazingly good gas mileage! But I digress. The point is, I am hopeful for the future, as soon as we learn to drive the new electric vehicle to get the most mileage. One thing is for sure, we will be saving a lot of money, and it's so much better for the natural world we enjoy so much! That's life in 2026!

One a side note... Donald Trump Can Kiss My Ass!

Read About it here.

Rainbows And Woodpeckers

 

"A lion does not flinch at the laughter coming from a hyena.

 A gorilla does not budge from a banana thrown at it from a monkey. 

A nightingale does not stop singing it's beautiful song, at the intrusion of an annoying woodpecker."

~Suzy Kassam

Rise Up And Salute The Sun: The Writings Of Suzy Kassam

The weather was a gentle mixture of sunshine, rain and rainbows. Well, I guess rainbows are more of a weather phenomenon then weather itself, but the point is, we didn't actually get all the apocalypse predicted. The Sierras, saw heavy snow, and the Bay Area was slammed pretty hard, but here in the San Joaquin country, we made it through pretty well! Louis Park was pretty today, that's where I photographed this gorgeous Acorn woodpecker, resting among the last leaves in the park. Birds were easier to find, as you might imagine, but I didn't get anything new, what I did get was beautiful, and it gives me an idea for what to plan for when we begin a new year of birding, on January 1st! There were lots of birders on the roads with us, which was nice, it's always good to see!

Autumn Rainbows And Leprechauns

 

“Great artists come and go; they are born and they die; but there is one exception who has been living for thousands of years and still continues creating new works, new beauties every year: The Autumn!”

 
~Mehmet Murat ildan 

 

What a beautiful surprise! A gorgeous rainbow over the neighborhood, just in time for Halloween week! There are a lot of legends about rainbows, the one I mostly believe in is that they're God's covenant with the earth to not destroy it with a flood ever again. But there are darker legends too, probably most common holds that there, at the end of the rainbow, exists a giant pot of gold and a with it, a leprechaun waiting to immediately steal it! That's a heck of a note, as my dad would say. Have you ever had your pot of gold stolen? Well, I guess I know the answer to that, haven't we all had that happen from time to time? I put those lean times down to Murphy's law of whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. But are there real life Leprechauns? 

  

You bet! They are called Republicans. And they serve at the pleasure to the president of the leprechauns, Donald John Trumprechaun. Health benefits are being held up, and as his form of stealing the pot of gold of the American people who depend on their jobs, their healthcare, their paychecks, and yes, the National parks we all need. Trump DOES NOT CARE because nothing we all depend on affects him. Karoline Levitt has said that his number one concern is the gaudy gilded 90,000 square foot ballroom he is building. He doesn't go without food. He doesn't visit National parks. He doesn't need healthcare. He doesn't need the SNAP program. He is the commander-in-chief and he gets paid, the military may or may not get their checks, we will see. 

 0

Please, if you can, donate to local food banks, and charities. So many folks are going to have a hard winter without your help. Just go through your pantry and find food that is not outdated, and give back to your neighbors, and possibly your friends who need help, but won't ask for it. Let them know you care. Please. I am so lucky, hubby and I have so much. We don't have to worry about eating... yet. But we have had difficult times in the past. In 2008, when Governor Schwarzenegger put state workers on furlough, hubby was docked three days pay every month. It doesn't sound like much, but trust me, it did! And to make it all horrific, my cat Elvis was dying, and we couldn't pay for his chemo care. We were lucky to have an understanding vet. Elvis got his care, and we only had to pay 50% of the cost. We had one last summer with our boy. How many have had to give up their pets? Please donate pet food as well!

 

 

This dog came to my doorstep last week. It's clear that he had a bad abscess on one side of his mouth. He was cold and wet and so sad, that I will never forget his face. I couldn't take him in, I have a house full of cats, but I talked to him a little bit, and then he ran off. I was hoping he was heading home. It's clear that he had a home, but for some reason, I expect it could be due to finances, they dumped him in the park I live next to. My heart is completely shattered. He was a really good dog. I drove through the neighborhood, but didn't see him again. Maybe he got out, and finally found home, but in any case, isn't he the face of the state of things right now?

 

Yesterday, hubby and I picked our Thanksgiving turkey, and an extra one for the food bank. My heart hurts. I am also giving a box of brand new clothes, so someone can get a new start. I am ready for the toy drives. Christmas isn't that far off, I can't deal with knowing their might be a child without a gift this year, so I bought two Barbie dolls, and I plan to get two gifts for a little boy. I might also throw in some stuffed animals, as that was my favorite present as a child. It's one of my favorite things. Goodness, you should see my stuffed animal collection! I have been blessed, and I need to share it! I hope you will too!

Please help me fight these Leprechauns!

These Monsters! Republicans!

 

And Donald Trumprechaun. 

 

Bonus Halloween Movie!

 

Leprechaun

Starring, Jennifer Aniston

 

 

 

 

Orange On A November Day

“November is usually such a disagreeable month...as if the year had suddenly found out that she was growing old and could do nothing but weep and fret over it. This year is growing old gracefully...just like a stately old lady who knows she can be charming even with gray hair and wrinkles. We've had lovely days and delicious twilights.” 

~L.M. Montgomery,

  Anne of Avonlea

 

The colors of leaves are so beautiful right now, and it has inspired me  to take a real look at each one. Not just each leaf, but each color. It all started with a particularly vibrant rainbow I saw last Saturday. I don't know, maybe it's because daylight hours decrease in autumn, but I can never quite get enough of the way the autumn sun makes everything look. Everything looks so vibrant and full of pure life. I never can fully explain my love for this season, but it begins with colors like this...

 

 

Happy St. Patricks Day

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time...

 a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic."

~Adrienne Cook

May your blessings outnumber

The shamrocks that grow

And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go!

~Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

October In The Abstract...

"There is no abstract art. You must start with something. 

Afterwards you can remove all traces of reality."

~Pablo Picasso

October Is About Seeing The Unusual...

I love October, You Never Know What You Might See!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Saturday's View Of Autumn

"In Heaven, it is always Autumn"

~John Donne

Autumn weather has finally arrived in the Bay Area! We had rain Saturday, on and off, just enough to make the whole world seem fresh and full of color and life. It snowed in Truckee, California, so it should be amazingly beautiful when I visit next week. Well, unless my plans change. This vacation has been all about the Plan B! I am a big fan of staying flexible. 

One never knows what amazing opportunity is just waiting to surprise you!

I am so ready for the wild, windy, rainy days to begin.

 I love the dark. 

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Day After The Day The World Didn't End

"If the world were merely seductive, the would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."

~E.B. White

Last Friday was supposed to be the end. And not just the end, it was supposed to be THE END OF ALL THINGS. Sigh. I have had mixed thoughts about that. On the one hand, there was a side to me that would be thankful to never have to hear hateful retoric. I could be happy to never hear about the murder of any child ever again, or justifications and excuses about why there is nothing that can be done to get assault weapons off the street.

On the other hand I would love to live long enough to see the world change for the better. I would be happy to just be able to see as many amazing sunsets as possible, and photograph as many cats and kittens as possible. Now that I have flown in a single engine Cessna, I want to fly in a helocoptor. That would be awesome. But to be able to do those things, the world must go on.

So, the question is...

Is it worth it? Is the world not ending worth it?

I don't know...

But I know my camera never lies to me.

With camera in hand, here is what I saw on December 21st, & 22nd 2012.

12/21/12
 


12/22/12






:)




What is it about watching other people have fun, that makes you feel all warm and happy inside? I saw parents with their children ice skating, and smiling. Happiness was all around. I think there was definitely a lot of love everywhere I went, and an air of gratefulness about being able to hold your family close. It's more than understandable, in fact isn't it what this time of year is all about? It made me sad to look up at the clock on the Ferry building, and see the American flag still flying at half staff, and know that the last of those children were buried yesterday, but it really warmed my soul and lifted my spirits to see all that love between families, being shared with everyone who stopped long enough to notice.

I noticed. The clock, and the passage of time, had quite a message.

:)

And as that one particular dad and daughter, who careened out of control on the ice and came barreling at me at great speed, we three were already laughing as they hit the side of the rink up close and personal with me. LOL. Strangers 30 seconds earlier, now friends in humor, and shared smiles.

Who would have thought that the END OF THE WORLD could result in such life affirming joy?

"Where there is love there is life."

~Mahatma Gandhi

~Happiness!

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #132: Rainbows

"One can enjoy a rainbow, without necessarily forgetting the forces that made it."

~Mark Twain








EMPS #132 RAINBOWS. NOW CLOSED!
It's been a while since we took on the subject of RAINBOWS... so let's do that, shall we? Let your imaginations soar with this subject. You can choose one color from the RAINBOW and highlight it, or you can choose to photograph a natural occurring RAINBOW in all it's glory. It's your choice. Be creative, and have fun!

Extra Credit: Put your photo in a frame, using your photo editing software.

Guidelines for Assignment Submissions...

1.The EMPS closes each Sunday evening at 9:00 PM (ET). No submissions will be accepted after that time.

2. Submit your entry by getting your photo, uploading it to you blog or website, and then comeback here and leave me your link in the comment thread. PLEASE REMEMBER... THE LINK YOU LEAVE MUST GO BACK TO AN ENTRY WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT! A general link to your site will not do, and will not be added to the list of those participating the following Monday. HYPERLINKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!

3. Please be sure to provide a link back to the assignment in your submission, so your readers can find the assignment and join us. Everyone is welcome to play along!

4. Please keep in mind that the image you submit for the EMPS assignment, must be your own original photography. NO LIFTING!

Please Note: I have set aside two days during the week for visiting your submissions. Thursday and Sunday, so look for me then!

Participation List for EMPS #131: Looking Up 07/04/2011

1. Freda

2. Goodies For A Pleasant Life (Blog Name)

3. hapzydeco

4. Jama

5. JR Cline

6. Cheryl Ann

7. Karen (submitted via email)


Awesome turnout this week guys! Thanks so much for keeping this project going with your ongoing participation! As you know, I couldn't do it without you! See you next Monday, have a great week!

~Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #41: Clouds!

"I may have my head in the clouds, but my feet are planted firmly on the ground."

-Unknown





EMPS #41: Clouds. NOW CLOSED!
CLOUDS. Simple... right? Show me CLOUDS. As always, feel free to think outside the box or the CLOUDS. CLOUDS in your coffee. CLOUDS out your airplane window. CLOUDS above you, or CLOUDS below you if you live in the hills. CLOUDS at sunset. CLOUDS in the morning. CLOUDS in the distance. You know... CLOUDS.

Extra Credit: Show me some colored CLOUDS.

**PLEASE READ**
You have until next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM ET to get your photo, upload it to your blog, journal or website, and comeback here with the direct link. Please remember, it must be a direct link to an entry specific to this week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment. Please, NO HYPERLINKS! Also, it would be great if you could also add a link back here so others can find the EMPS and play along!

Linking List for EMPS #40: Rainbows. 06/01/09

Now Closed!

1. Jama

2. Suzanne

3. Martha

4. Greg

5. Karen

6. Terri

7. Mike

8. Liz
(Corrected Link)

See you next week with photo shoot assignment #42! :)

-Carly

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #40: Rainbows

"Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simple consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow."

-Douglas Pagels








EMPS #40: RAINBOWS.
Inspired by my pal Martha's new meme, Color Carnival, I thought it would be fun to explore color this week. And where can you find a lot of color? Why in RAINBOWS of course! Grab your cameras, and show me some RAINBOWS. Now if you happen to be in an area where RAINBOWS occurring naturally are hard to come by, recreate one or simply use one from somewhere else, such as a RAINBOW on some fabric or maybe created with ribbons or paint. However you choose to photograph a RAINBOW is fine.

Extra Credit: Write a little about which colors gives you the most problems with your photography, and which colors are the easiest for you to photograph.

**Please Read**
You have until next Sunday evening, at 9:00 PM ET, to find your RAINBOW, photograph it, and add it to your blog, journal or website. After you do, comeback here with the direct link to your entry. REMEMBER it must be a link to the entry specific to this week's Monday Photo Shoot assignment. Also, please include a link back here to this entry so others can play along.

Linking List for EMPS #39: Memorial Day. 05/25/09

NOW CLOSED!

Sherrie

Suzanne

Karen

Liz

Greg

Mike

Jama

Connie

Nice turnout this week! It was good to see so many players! Now, GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS! I will see you back here in one week, with an all new Monday Photo Shoot assignment!

-Carly

A Visitor To My Garden

"Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down the rainbow."

-Douglas Pagels

The weather here in the Bay Area has been nice this summer. The days have been warm... not really hot... and the nights very cool with a nice breeze. The garden is coming along nicely, and with the weather so mild, it has been a real joy to spend time outside in the afternoon, just waiting for critters to pay me a visit. I have a bird feeder up, but the birds have been scarce this year. Only a few from time to time, which is a stark contrast from last year, when I swear I saw 50 different varieties come in an out of the yard. I guess it all runs it's cycles. We haven't had many opossums this year either, one day last year my favorite opossum, Ipson Pendragon, just stopped coming by, but we have raccoons by the dozen. :) In fact, I think it might have been one of those wacky raccoons that made off with my herb garden. LOL. I am going to replant, and give it another go. I still have the cilantro, and the garlic chives, so all is not lost. :)

Yesterday, I set up the tripod in the garden, to try to capture the picture of a lovely little butterfly I saw sitting on top of the stock. It is a common male checkered skipper (Pyrgus communis). I had a good time photographing this little guy, it was very comfortable with me, and so I was able to take my time. I used the macro lens, and got in really close. I was able to get several good shots, before he scampered away. I like the skippers, they are tiny, but their markings are so beautiful. I need to check within the stock, to see if any females have laid eggs. I planted the garden so it would come into full bloom in the autumn, I would be thrilled if I have a lot of butterflies among all the flowers. :) That would make for a happy place I think. Right now the only thing blooming is the Nemesia, and the roses, both of which have a ton of flowers on them. Elvis has taken up sleeping between the containers of flowers, he likes the butterflies too.



"No vision and you perish; No ideal, and you're lost; Your heart must ever cherish some faith at any cost. Some hope, some dream to cling to. Some rainbow in the sky. Some melody to sing to. Some service that is high."

-Harriet Du Autermont

-OndineMonet
"Rainbow Across The Pear Tree'
Berkeley, California
July 28th, 2007
Afternoon