Autumn Leaf Of The Day #89

 

“I am captivated by the beautiful colors of Fall,
Show me,show me, Show me All!
Orange, yellow, purple, reddish-brown,
And the rustling of the leaves as they fall to the ground.” 

~Charmaine J. Forde 

 

Purple is a color of Autumn. In fact, it might just be my favorite color of Autumn. If I could, I would surround my condo with trees that explode with color in Autumn, and at least every other one would display some kind of purple color. I have yellow roses on my porch, and this last summer I added a pot of French lavender. They look very nice together. Perhaps next spring I will add another plant like a Pumpkin Patch rose or maybe a purple Hydrangea. It makes me really happy to think about it. Adding a little extra beauty around me is a healthy step forward. And hopefully it will make others smile as well! Maybe I will look for plants and container shrubs that show their color all year. He... that's a GRAND IDEA!

The Colors Of Autumn And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #42

 

Autumn

By Kalidasa

 

The autumn comes, a maiden fair

in slenderness and grace

With nodding rice-stems in her hair

And lilies in her face.

 

In flowers of grasses she is clad;

And as she moves along,

Birds greet her with their cooing glad

Like bracelets' tinkling song.

 

It's only the second day of November, and two wonderful things have happened. The magnificent Snow goose has returned to the Central Valley, and the first real downpour of autumn has occurred. Yesterday, I had to get out my cold weather wear. In fact, I got to wear, for the very first time, my brown, fuzzy, leopard patterned sweater I bought last year. I just never got around to wearing it! It stayed very warm through November, and I brought a lot of clean cloths with me from the old house. Then I got sick, and didn't do much out in the world, And there you have it. But it's going to get a workout this year. It's already becoming an old favorite, as are my green and brown cardigans. As I said in a previous post, on Halloween, we were treated to the appearance of the first adult Snow goose of the season, and it's juvenile companion. We will be doing A LOT of birding so I know those sweaters will come in handy. And as you might guess, I am sitting here, smiling at the thought of how much beauty is surrounding me right now.

 

And The Leaf Of The Day...

~Me

 

Autumn Rose And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #33

 

"The tints of autumn... a mighty flower garden

 blossoming under the spell of the enchanter frost."

 

~John Greenleaf Whittier

 

 

A little beauty, for a coolish autumn day. I grew that rose, well, me and all that the natural world has endured this year. It has really been a metaphor for what I have been through. The Covid left me with deep depression, and an almost complete lack of creativity and the ability to concentrate. It's called Brain Fog, and it apparently affects those over 60 who suffered from the original Omicron variant. It has been a difficult time, but things seem to be getting better. I am beginning to handle stresses better, and I think I have a better outlook for the feature, and as you might have noticed, I am embracing joy again, not fearing it. I don't know how much credit I can take for my rose, they are such hardy plants, but I did know how to care for it. And I know how to care for myself, I just needed to remember what to do.

Hot Cocoa Rose

Berkeley, Ca Autumn 2012 

 

I really miss that garden in the Bay Area. It broke my heart to learn Sandy L. had tore it, and my Japanese Maple tree, out of the garden, out of nothing more then old fashioned spite. But that is her problem. I cared for my roses and that tree, but all she did was make her property worth less money. It's okay. I am not going to spend time thinking about it, because there is nothing I can do about it, but I have the knowledge that I know how to grow a beautiful, strong, spicy rose, and I will always have that happiness inside me. This yellow rose smells like a baked sweet potato with extra clove, cinnamon and honey. Next year, if we find ourselves extending our contract for the condo, I might consider adding another rose or two to the front porch rose garden. Maybe a brand new color I haven't tried before, like Pumpkin Patch or maybe Sterling, but I really loved the Hot Cocoa rose I grew when we lived in the studio. In any case, I want them to look pretty in autumn.

 

~Me

Christmas 2019

"Christmas magic starts in the heart."

~Tori Sorenson

Hendrix's favorite treat... Roses!

We had a nice Christmas. Well, the holiday itself was nice, but there was one or two things that left a definite mark on the days leading up to the day, that were less than ideal. The one that left the biggest hurt happened Friday morning. Someone, very early, hit a cat, and left his dying body on our porch. He/she was a beautiful child, a silver tabby with lots of white fur, and a tiny full face. It had some horrific injuries, and wouldn't let hubby or myself touch it's body. Understandable I think. I could tell it was close to death, so Alan and I did the best we could do for our little friend, by putting a warm shirt underneath it, while we waited for the Humane Society to open. Unfortunately the little one passed away about an hour later. It was terribly sad, and it was a couple days before I could shake that feeling, but at least the little one didn't have to pass away alone. We were here.

The rest of the weekend came and went without incident. I was still processing the cold I got, you know, my annual Christmas head cold. If we are still in this house a year from now, it will be our 6th Christmas, and hopefully it will break the spell of a catching a cold every year at Christmas time, although at this point, it's turning into a kitchy holiday tradition. LOL. I guess you could say it has replaced my other annual holiday tradition of being called a BITCH on Christmas Eve by a complete stranger. That hasn't happened since we moved to the Central Valley. I guess the curse was broken when we moved here, or it simply goes without saying, I am a total bitch. Either way... it's all good. Tee Hee. Had the tradition continued, I would have been in my 35 year! Oh my, I think I miss it a little! Still, there is nothing like the euphoria of a fever of about 102 or so! But I don't recommend it. Much.

Anyway, it's New Year's Eve, time for closing the files for 2019 and looking forward to all that's waiting for us in 2020. Like kicking Donald John Trump to the political curb! Bye Bye ASSHOLE. We have already impeached him, and at the rate he's going, he just might be impeached again. With a little luck, he might break a record or something, for the most impeached American president ever! A sad, yet uplifting, turn of events should it happen. All I want in 2020 is to see him gone. Just gone. Not harmed mind you, just removed from office, and some sense of sanity returned in his place. Whatever that is. We will see. I have some New Year's goals, wishes and hopes. More on that later in the week. Maybe on Friday the 3rd, but until then, on this New Year's Eve, here is a look back at our Christmas. It was a lovely, quiet gift all it's own.

 I shopped for my annual gourmet basket for Alan. Included were some yumminess for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day!

Santa came and was generous with the fun! A Victrola turntable for me, and a theater light sign for Alan and the Bijou. That theater room is really coming together!

 I gave myself a set of 4, 4 inch spring-form pans for branching out with my stress baking! Mmmm. New York Cheesecake is coming in the new year!

It was a good holiday. Quiet. And the little fuzz balls were a lot of fun. Dylan enjoyed his brand new box of cat treats, and even made some sounds of Nom Nom. I think that silly kitty actually learned to say NOM NOM! What could possibly beat the joy of that? And boy am I thankful my little guys are indoor cats, I never have to worry about them being harmed by outside dangers. I love them so deeply, and fortunately, the love me back. I am a happy lady.

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)

Morris Chapel

"'Truly, Autumn is my season," the scarlet breast chortled. "Spring and Summer and Winter all begin with such late letters! But Autumn and Fall, I have loved best, because they are best to love.'"

~Catherynne M. Valentine

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland

 In A Ship Of Her Own Making 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I visited the ground of the University of the Pacific this past weekend, and was treated to some amazingly beautiful architecture. All the buildings are unique in their own way, but this beautiful chapel is definitely at the top of my list! There were no buildings I didn't enjoy, and to be honest I would be hard pressed to chose just one, but this one comes close to being a favorite. It has an amazing vibe in person, my photos don't do it justice at all! Morris Chapel, I think I will dropping by to photography you a lot more often!

#47 Leaf Of The Day

November 8th 2019

Cull Canyon

LG Stylo 5

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)

October Roses/ November Assholes

"The softened light, the veiling haze

The calm repose of autumn days

Steal gently o'er the troubled breast

Soothing life's weary cares to rest."

~Phoebe A. Holder 

A Song Of October

The Queriers Magazine

October 1890

The last 24 hours should have been somewhat relaxing. We, my fellow democrats and I, should have been able to rest, because of the wonderful news of the Congress being won back by the Democratic party, but as I compose this post, Alan and I are planning on possibly attending a peaceful protest over the sudden, but not unexpected firing of Jeff Sessions! I never thought I would protest that in a milli on years, but with Tuesday's loss to the Democrats, Trump has further fallen, or jumped, down a rabbit hole and further into insanity! Dangerous times. Truly scary, and these times are doing nothing for the agoraphobia I have been fighting. I know, I know, why would I put myself at a protest, if I am afraid to leave the house, well, it feels a little like zip-lining, when you are scared to death of heights. Sometimes you just have to hang on tight and pray, to face your fears! And besides... it's about doing the right thing,whether it scares me or not! Fuck ME!

But for right now, before any decisions are made,

 I just want to enjoy the beauty of these October roses I found last week. Aren't they absolutely beautiful? 

October is such and agreeable month.

November only brings assholes.

And Now...

#48 Leaf Of The Day

November 8th 2018

Photographed October 29th 2018

Stockton, California

~Mood: Quiet

~Me 

Roses That Sing

"Maybe there's a whole other universe where a square moon rises in the sky, and the stars laugh in cold voices, and some of the triangles have four sides, and some have five, and some have five raised to the fifth power of sides. In this universe there might grow roses which sing. Everything leads to everything."

~Stephen King

"IT"

Alan bought us some roses for Christmas! They weren't just for me, they were for Hendrix too! Hendrix has always loved the taste of roses, and in fact, cries for them if he sees them anywhere in his line of sight! It all started one day, when we were living in the cottage in Berkeley. I had a rose garden, surrounding a Japanese Maple tree. There were roses of every color! Of all of the different kinds, I think my favorites were the white ones, followed closely by the Hot Cocoa roses. As it turns out, the white ones were his favorite too, because one day he decided to take a big bite... CHOMP... of the prettiest white rose in the garden! He ate those petals with such glee, that it was hard not to laugh, even though I had spent the better part of a year, caring and shaping them!

 I checked with several online sources to see if he was in any danger from that big bite he took, and as it turned out, roses are not one of the flowers that are fatal to cats. That was a huge relief! So, from time to time, we buy him some roses, and let them dry slightly, so he gets to eat them like potato chips. Taking that big bite was all it took, for him to form a lifetime taste for rose petals, which he now eats like potato chips! He only gets 3 petals every few days, as I can't go out and buy them as often as I would like to, but watching my little cat enjoy them over Christmas, has inspired me to put more thought into getting him a rose bush this spring!

He loves them so much, that's not a lot to ask for, considering how well he takes care of us! I only use organic soil and plant food, so he never gets exposed to anything that might harm him. I don't know for sure what type of rose I might get, perhaps I will try a new one, but my goodness, I sure do miss the Hot Cocoa roses, and truth be told, I miss all the varieties that I had in my garden. But there was a pumpkin colored rose that I had always wanted, but could never find, maybe this is the year to search for it! Regardless, I know my little boy will be happy with any rose I choose!

From The Archives

My Rose Garden

Apricot Nectar

Hot Cocoa

 Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Life Lived In Frames

"Photography is a reality so subtle

 that it becomes more real than reality."

~Alfred Stieglitz

Christmas came a little early. Alan gave me the go ahead to purchase a new camera. Getting out to do some photography had been good for my soul this past month. I had forgotten how much better I feel when I can step out of my own thoughts, and into the natural and real world. There is beauty in the world, and I love being there to document it. There is also a lot of pain in the world right now, and I know I will be there for that too. It will, perhaps, be unavoidable at times. America is about to go through a troubling, dark time. We can hope for the best, but I think we should probably brace for the worst. But we will have time to speak about that later, for now here are the first few images I captured with the new camera...

The camera and I need to get to know each other. It will come with time. So far I am happy with the results. Both photos were taken on a rainy day, which plays with the lighting at bit, and as I was losing the light pretty quickly, the focusing was getting more and more difficult. All relationships take time, and commitment.

That was my life yesterday, lived in frames.

 Leaf Of The Day

November 21st 2016

Mood: Quiet

~Me

 

Rainy Day Roses And Cats

"The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play.

 So we sat in the house. All that cold, wet day."

~Dr. Suess

The Cat In The Hat

I woke up yesterday morning, to the sounds of rain softly tapping the rood, and my cat Dylan purring as he slept on my arm. He is a complicated cat, but when Dylan tells you are loved, you can believe it because he doesn't lie! He makes me feel like a success because he is very picky about who he trusts, and who he loves. Believe me, you haven't been ignored until you have been ignored by a cat, and no cat is more adept at ignoring than my Dylan. He loves me to the point of green eyed jealousy and allows only me to put him in his cat kennel for those odd times we have to take a ride in the car! He is a complicated cat, but he is worth all the fuss we go to from time to time. He just needs a little more understanding than most. And really don't we all need that from time to time? 

As if waking up the way I did wasn't enough to get my day off to just the right start... I woke up to this gorgeous pink rose bloom in the yard by the pool! Isn't it stunning? I am looking forward to nurturing it along this winter, and planting some new varieties next spring. Roses, and miniature Japanese Maples are on the agenda. Ideally my yard will look like an autumn wonderland next year at this time, but we'll see. There is a lot to come to terms with between now and then. Hopefully we can get some bills under control, and I need to get my homesickness/grieving under control, but in some ways I am already feeling better. With every new amazing autumn leaf I find, I feel a little better. It's all a matter of putting one leaf in front of the last, and moving on. 

Rainy Days and Tabby Cats certainly help!

Leaf Of The Day

November 9th 2015

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Delicious Autumn... My Very Soul Is Wedded To It!

"Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love... that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very sould is wedded to it, and if I were a bor I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

~George Eliot

Letter To Miss Eliot

October 1st, 1841

Yesterday was Family Day. A special day Alan and I chose, while we were on our honeymoon, that we thought would be a good day for us to celebrate autumn with the children we might be blessed with one day. We were married on October 13th, and while we vacationing and dreaming about the family we would start, we figured that little ones might like to also have a special day in October that would be set aside to celebrate us as a family. We chose October 23rd. That is also the day that we choose our official pumpkins for the season. Half Moon Bay is our traditional destination for all things gourd, and to relax and just share our love. Well, we were never blessed with children, so we opted to adopt 3 little fuzzy kitties, but since kitties don't really like long car rides to pumpkin patches, we leave them at home, and spend the day together, just he and I. Oh don't worry, we always bring them each cat a pumpkin of their very own, and you'll see their's soon. But Family Day is still about the family we became. Alan and I are happy with how things turned out. We have the love, and the family we were meant to have, and life is really good. We are a mommy, daddy and three fuzzy little boys.

Because of how the past 6 months have gone, I really needed Family Day this year more than most years! My mind and focus has been scattered in 30 different directions. My heart has been broken. My patience tested. But my values have been confirmed in my heart and mind. I am happy about that, and I am ready to move forward, but the sadness taps on my consciousness daily. Still, there are days like Family Day, when the autumn air, and the colors... all the autumn colors... and smells make me smile and lift my spirits so much that all the sadness floats away. Sometimes so fast I don't even know I am in the middle of a giggle until I am doubled over with joy! The sounds, the sights, the sheer romance of autumn heals me. It always has. I hope it always will. And when you add in the love of Alan and my fuzzy little boys, I know it will all be okay. It will all work out. I just have let it.

I just have to remember to trust in love

 and autumn

 and I will be okay.

Sights From Family Day

October 23rd 2015

Different Kinds Of Pumpkins And Delicious Organically Grown Vegetables And Flowers From Half Moon Bay, Ca!

Leaf Of The Day

October 24th 2015

Mood: Happy

~Me :)