The Color Of Summer And Autumn

 

"Fall colors are funny. They’re so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to saturate you so you can stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary."

 

 ~Siobhan Vivian,

 Same Difference

 

Sunflowers in autumn, my goodness, is there anything more uplifting then the color yellow? These beauties grow wild along the roadside, all through the San Joaquin Valley, from early summer, through mid-autumn. And I always smile when I see them return each year, because I know autumn is on it's way! I thought posting these photos on the first day of October, my favorite month, would be uplifting for my mood, and hopefully for those who visit this blog.

 

 And The bees love them too!

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #6/New Horizons

 

"Use what you have, use what the world gives you. Use the first day of fall: bright flame before winter's deadness; harvest; orange, gold, amber; cool nights and the smell of fire. Our tree-lined streets are set ablaze, our kitchens filled with the smells of nostalgia: apples bubbling into sauce, roasting squash, cinnamon, nutmeg, cider, warmth itself. The leaves as they spark into wild color just before they die are the world's oldest performance art, and everything we see is celebrating one last violently hued hurrah before the black and white silence of winter."

 ~Shauna Niequist,

Bittersweet:

 Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way

 

I found a new spot at the, Cosumnes River Preserve, to look for birds, autumn leaves and nature in general. Well, actually, I did know that particular trail was there, I just wasn't able to do all the walking that was required to get the most out of the visit. The trail is approximately a mile in length, but with hubby pushing me in my wheelchair, I finally get to see some things I have been missing out on. There is a nice wetlands area that will be filled soon, and we heard some woodpeckers and some warblers. I have a lot to look forward to this year!

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #5/Green Is An Autumn Color Too

 

"There is a time in the last few days of summer when the ripeness of autumn fills the air, and time is quiet and mellow,"

 

~Rudolfo Anaya

Bless Me Ultima

 

I spotted these leaves on a plant that was growing along the delta, and while the are a summer green, they have a gorgeous deep burgundy color in the center, and that struck me as being one of the perfect autumn leaves I have seen that brings the best of both seasons together! I wish I could have gotten closer to it, and I wish I knew what it was, but I just downloaded Google Lens, so hopefully that will do a lot for me in identifying a lot of plants and birds going forward this year. I am probably the last human to add Google Lens to their app collection, but better late than never!

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #4/It Should Be IlLegal

 

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” 

~Emily Bronte 

 

 Politics in autumn should be fucking illegal. Sheesh. I am so sick of everything right now. I went out yesterday and spent basically 3 hours in 100 degree weather and to no pictures worth editing. It was a complete waste of time, and to make matters worse, I have one of those late summer colds, that is currently driving me insane, but that I am grateful for, because at least it isn't Covid. And I'm grouchy. But all is not lost, we are going somewhere today, in search of something, I am not sure of where and what yet, but first thing, later today, I will be in the little red Mini Cooper on my way to whatever comes my way. Wish me safe travels, and good luck in finding something and somewhere amazing!

Let's kick this mood's ass!

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #3

 

"As long as autumn lasts, I shall have hands, canvas and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see."

 

~Vincent Van Gogh 

 

We are only three days into autumn, and I see beauty everywhere! As if the leaves weren't enough, yesterday I was treated to a truly amazing sight of a large flock of Sandhill crane flying directly over the condo! There were two groups, one with about 12 or so, the other with a number closer to 20! It was the first day of autumn, and that magic I speak about was everywhere! Do you see it?

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #2

 

“Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly.

 They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.”

 
~Delia Owens

  Where the Crawdads Sing

 

A pretty orange flower to start the week!

September Midnight

By Sara Teasdale

Lyric night of the lingering Indian summer,
Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing,
Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects,
Ceaseless, insistent.
The grasshopper’s horn, and far-off, high in the maples,
The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence
Under a moon waning and worn, broken,
Tired with summer.
Let me remember you, voices of little insects,
Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters,
Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us,
Snow-hushed and heavy.
Over my soul murmur your mute benediction,
While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest,
As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to,
Lest they forget them." 

 

 

The Colors Of Autumn

 

“But when fall comes, kicking summer out on its treacherous ass as it always does one day sometime after the midpoint of September, it stays awhile like an old friend that you have missed. It settles in the way an old friend will settle into your favorite chair and take out his pipe and light it and then fill the afternoon with stories of places he has been and things he has done since last he saw you.” 

~Stephen King

  ’Salem’s Lot

 

I spotted this little Dark-eyed Junco a couple days ago in Castro Valley. My favorite park is coming alive with color! My favorite tree is off to a good start, and in the shrubbery beneath it were a couple beautiful spiders to play with! It struck me that this bird offered the best of Summer and Autumn. Brown and black, with just a touch of red. It blended into the fallen leaves so well I nearly missed it! Had it not been for my favorite birding app, GoBird, I would have missed it! We picked up the sounds of several birds we need for the 2024 file, and all signs point to it being a great place to really get in touch with autumn. We still haven't found the Brown Creeper, but it will be this year's quest. In birding one needs patience and luck. Mostly luck!

 

   

Saying Goodbye To Summer

 

“Nothing ever really goes away--it just changes into something else. Something beautiful.”

~Sarah Ockler

  Twenty Boy Summer

 

On one of the last nights of seeing the bats fly from underneath the Franklin blvd bridge, a single crispy brown cottonwood leaf feel gently onto the wall next to me. There was a stunning sunset, and a few early bats were flying about, which all made for quite a magical night. With the night coming sooner, and the bat population waning, and a dry leaf, it was apparent it was the end of summer. I didn't need a calendar, because autumn was mostly in the air, but celebrating it early just seems wrong this year, so I held onto the photo until now. I am not feeling rushed the way I have in the past. Dylan's passing made me realize just how fast 16 years goes by. Don't take any single day for granted. Anyway, this is my tribute to the end of summer. It was hot this summer. Really hot. But here, in the last days, the temperature has turned and I have an extra blanket standing by. If I had to lose my boy, I am glad he left me in summer. You see, I need fall this year to be a gentle distraction. My grief is deep, and the election is coming, and there is a lot to unpack about everything, but for now, I am living in this moment. One moment at a time. One emotion at a time. One broken heart at a time.

The very first, Leaf Of The Day, photo posts on Sunday! Don't forget!

 

You Are The Love/Hate You Give

 

Donald posted this nasty message on his Truth Social website this morning, and later in the day this happened...

 

Yep, that's right, there has been a second attempt at an assassination of Donald Trump. It was just about two months ago that the last one took place. Make no mistake, I do not condone political violence, in any way, but somehow when I heard the news that there had been a shooting in Florida, at this golf course, it didn't even particularly raise my interest, but throughout the day I have checked on the details, but it's just really hard to care about what happens next. This should be a time to celebrate our freedoms in America, we are about to enjoy our most precious act as American's... voting. But every day he, and J. D. Vance find new darker roads to take us down. Just this morning J.D. Vance admitted to making up stories and sharing them with constituents and the media for political gain. It's sick. And how can we not expect their actions to not effect folks who are perhaps mentally ill, and needing help? No one is safe in this political climate. I don't love what happened today, but nothing will surprise me when I wake up tomorrow. That's what he's done to us. We are all numb.

 

 And this stupid shit doesn't help either!

 

 

They're Eating Cats And Dogs

 

 

 "I have a concept of a plan."

~DJT

2024 Debate, when asked about replacing the Affordable Care Act.

 

 

 Debate Transcript

ABC News 

September 10th 2024 

 

 

Trust me, she won.