The Magic Of Pumpkins

"Why not imagine a talk with a pumpkin? Why not imagine going off for a drive with a friendly pumpkin,

 a companion who would not, after all, answer back;

 who would agree with everything you said,

 and would at the end of the day appear on your plate as a final gesture of friendship?"

~Alexander McCall Smith

The Woman Who Walked In Sunshine 

One of the best things about living in the Central Valley is all the summer and autumn fruits and vegetables. Everything is local, delicious, and very photogenic, especially the pumpkins! I have seen some of the most beautiful, and uniquely colored pumpkins this season, than I have seen in many years! They are amazing!

Don't get me wrong, nothing can replace the pumpkins from our favorite pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay, and we wouldn't give up that tradition for the world! There is just nothing like choosing a pumpkin, on a misty coastal day, but there is something to be said for hunting for just the right pumpkin on a warm Central Valley day! But Half Moon Bay has a really special place in my heart! We will be going down there in a week or so, but I am impressed with these pumpkins too!

Oh well, whether it's here in the valley, or along the coast, it always makes for a really nice day, just hanging out with Alan and searching for just the right pumpkin! And since I was a little girl, I just knew when I had found the right pumpkin for me. Somehow... the right pumpkin speaks to you... like a friend you just haven't met yet! It's downright magical to me. Autumn is full of magic, isn't it?

#16 Leaf Of The Day

October 16th, 2017

Manteca, California

Mood: Happy

Me :)  

An Autumnal Afternoon

"A moral character is attached to autumnal scenes; the leaves falling like our years, the flowers fading like our hours,

 the clouds fleeting like our illusions,

 the light diminishing like our intelligence,

 the sun frowning colder like our affections,

 the rivers becoming frozen like our lives...

 all bear secret relations to our destinies."

~Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand

Memoires d' Outre-Tombe

 

Alan and I took a drive yesterday, to enjoy the beautiful late autumn sun, and we enjoyed the journey very much! Saturday was the third day of vacation, and while we still have most of a month to go, things haven't gotten off to the best start! For one, on his last day of work, 2 hours before he was due to leave for the day, he was told he had to work over, for the men that had been chose to man the road closures at the North Bay fires! Frustrating, but more than understandable! Then on Friday, my back was killing me because I had gotten very little sleep, due to Dylan's meowing all morning... LOUDLY! That kitty does not suffer in silence. If things aren't just perfect... he will let you know about it!

So, that meant Saturday was our first chance to get out, and enjoy the beauty of a late afternoon drive in autumn. We chose as our destination, the small town of Ione, California, which is at the farthest end of the Central Valley, in Amador County. The town is known as the "Gateway To The Motherlode." I find Ione fascinating, because not only is it a rustic old west town, but it has a rich history, and it just so happens it has one of the most haunted landmarks not just in California, but indeed, America!

The spooky, Gothic Preston Castle, which was at one time, a boys reformatory! The castle has been featured on many television shows about the paranormal, most recently The Low Files, on A&E! I first visited the area last year, but I have planned a longer post about that later in the month, and what sparked my interest in going back for a visit this year. It's kind of a funny story, and I will share it in the coming weeks, right now it's all about the first real autumn photos for this year, and of course, the leaves! But stay tuned, there is a lot more to come!

#15 Leaf Of The Day

Ione, California

October 15th 2017

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Treacherous Summer... Having The Last Hateful Word Courtesy Of Man

#14 Leaf Of The Day

October 14th, 2017

Stockton, California

"There is always the threat of tomorrow's treachery,

 or next year's treachery, 

or the treachery implicit in all the tomrrows beyond that!" 

~Tim O'Brien

In The Lake In The Woods

The North Bay fire began very late in the night, last Sunday night. People have very little time, if any to run for their lives. There have been stories of heroism, and stories of families united but stories so tragic they can't be erased from the heart, nor should they. As of this post President has said very little, mostly empty words that basically amount to... isn't that too bad! This post isn't about him, well not really, it's about the fact that we had yet another hot dry summer in California, that not even the deep winter rains of last winter could help cure the lingering effect of years of California drought! 

Between the horrendous damage of Hurricane Hugo, Maria, and Jose, the wildfires burning not just in the North Bay, but throughout the state. A devastating earthquake recently in Mexico, and other assorted atrocities since Trump took office, it's not hard to believe the end might be a day or two away. I know... I know... a lot of generations have predicted the same, but things are getting worse. People are getting worse. And by that I mean we had a chance to reverse the affects of climate change. Hell I heard when I was a child, that there was a hole in the ozone, and if action wasn't taken, the earth was going to suffer.

The earth is fucking pissed! It was at least 45 years ago when I first heard that warning, and while steps were taken initially to do that right thing, such as the creation of the EPA, evil men and women, mostly GOP and big business, have made it their priority to dismantle as many protections as possible! Why? To protect their bottom lines, and line their pockets, not giving a care in the world about the future because they want to have their money while on this earth, and we all know, you can't take it with you! FUCK FUTURE GENERATIONS, and even THIS ONE!

So, why did I title this post the way I did? Because I hate the heat of summer, because I know that besides being uncomfortable as HELL, it tends to set the stage for the devastation that the North Bay and the Los Angeles area, among other parts of California are facing. The seasons come around for balance. Summer has a place, and a purpose, but we are at a point where we better be fixing the evil that we have done, or face losing all life on this planet. 

California knows that, we have some of the smartest environmental laws in the country, but until the entire nation is onboard, we will just keep seeing tragedies. And they will get worse. And men and women who hold office will say pray because God intervenes, but those are empty words that make it sound good. As a Christian I know God left us in charge of the planet, and he also gave us free will.

FREE WILL!

MAKE OF THAT WHAT YOU WILL! 

On a separate note, yesterday was our 27th, Anniversary! I didn't post because, well, for a couple reasons that I will share later, so I will simply post an extra leaf today. We are officially on vacation for the next four weeks, and I will try to post every day, but I may not be able to, so PLEASE STAND BY...

 AND STAY TUNED!

 #13 Leaf Of The Day

October 13th 2017

Stockton, California

 Mood: Quiet

~Me

Beauty Unrivaled! A Love Story Of Napa and Sonoma Counties

"Things don't ever stay the same.

 Natural beginnings come to natural or unnatural ends."

~Kristin Cashore

Fire

My heart is completely broken, as I write this post. The devastating wildfires currently burning in the North Bay area are taking homes, and businesses with a deep demonic passion! When all is said and done, it will be the biggest, costliest fire in California history! It has ruined lives and ruined dreams. It has destroyed some of the most beautiful counties in California, the towns that produce the delicious Napa Valley wines and so much more. I can't say enough about the natural beauty I have witnessed in those vineyards, of each leaf of autumn, and each grape ripening on the vine! Also the fun of the bits of whimsy, around Santa Rosa, in particular, when I photographed the Snoopy "Joe Cool" Summer in 2007.

 Every single theme you can think of went into those sculptures, and Alan and I took a day and chased them around Santa Rosa, enjoying the day, and giggling as we found each one on the map. That's Santa Rosa. That's Napa, County, and we have had amazing fun in Sonoma County as well. It's a little something for everyone up there. Winery's. Dairies. Vineyards. Art. The whole area is in my heart, and my heart is completely broken right now. The one good piece of information I can hold onto right now is that as of the time of this post the Charles M. Schulz Museum is untouched. A little good news, that I am so relieved about in the midst of this terrible tragedy!

I send the people of the North Bay my LOVE and Friendship!

#12 Leaf Of The Day

September 28th, 2017

Stockton, Ca 

Snoopy "Joe Cool"

 

Mood: Sad

~Me 

 

Art About Town... Stockton Children's Museum Toy Soldiers

"There is nothing truly more artistic to love people."

~Vincent Van Gogh

I am beginning to really enjoy Stockton, and learn about it's past. What is really exciting about my new hometown, is all the public art around town, and the stories behind some of them! I am not sure if the Toy Soldiers at the Children's Museum of Stockton is considered part of their official public art program, but they have always caught my eye, any time I have been down on the waterfront, and so I thought I would learn about the museum, and it's history.

As it turns out, the museum has a very poignant story, and I will leave a link to it at the bottom of the page. Horrors happen every day, and on an average day in 1989, something truly horrendous took place, on a school yard in Stockton. I can't speak about it. I am very passionate on the subject, and if I begin explaining it, I feel like it will take away the meaning of this post. To me, the point of public art is to heal, to educate, and escape the horrors of the world.

I have photographed art that went out of it's way to both bring the soul peace, and I have photographed art meant to disturb the soul so deeply, that we finally face the truth about our pasts, presents, and futures. Right now, as I am encouraging my own healing, at least I am trying to, and I appreciate this museums work to not ignore that painful past, but to demonstrate to children, with hands on exhibits, the best of life. The art of healing, through art. This whole concept makes me thrilled and proud to be a Stocktonian.

Please take a moment and read about the tragic circumstance that inspired this amazing place for the children of Stockton! And if you are looking for a truly good cause that helps children, please consider donating to this amazing place!

#11 Leaf Of The Day

October 11th 2017

Stockton, California

 

Children's Museum Of Stockton

Cleveland Elementary School Massacre

Mood: Reflective

 

~Me

Breast Cancer Awareness 2017

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

It's almost the middle of October, and I should have done this post on the first of the month, because it so important to do all you can to remind all my friends that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 

I am one of the lucky ones. I have not contracted this vicious disease, despite having a few of the risk factors. For one, I am over 55 and never had children. Also I am Caucasian and studies show that slightly more white women get this type of cancer, and also I was exposed to DES as a child born in 1962, right at the end of the Baby Boomer years. DES exposure, however, took place between 1940 and 1972.

But, while I am relieved that my mammograms continue to come back negative, I think about getting older, and how I have an increased chance of contracting different types of cancers. Life sometimes throws you curve balls you never see coming, I kinda like to fight against that by being diligent about getting that simple test on time, and checking my breasts myself, several times a month! I'm trying to eat better, but find myself slipping into bad habits, since Donald Trump took office!

Shame on me! I should be trying my best, now more than ever to keep my health strong. You never know what's going to happen next, and while I love to put my head in a bag of potato chips, or do what I did  earlier this year, eat four Strawberry Boston cakes in less than a month, I am trying really hard to remember that one day his term in office will end, and a lovely impeachment will begin, and all will be right with the world! Hopefully!

But to my credit... after eating those 4 cakes, somehow I managed to lose 10 pounds! How does that even happen? I don't know but I thank God for it every day!

Now, here is one look at how Stockton

 observes this very important cause!

Lincoln Center is the shopping center closest to where I live, and it did my heart good to see this gentle reminder!

If you haven't had your mammogram yet... GO GET IT NOW!

#10 Leaf Of The Day

October 10th 2017

Stockton, California

 

Mood: Happy/Encouraged

Me :)

 

What Is Beauty?

"Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end."

~Remy de Gourmont

In my past autumn leaf collections, I have chosen only leaves with very little damage to them, to make the collection as beautiful as possible, but this year I have come to appreciate the brown and withered ones just as much as the ones bright with color! I almost passed up this pretty little leaf, because it's obviously missing some of it's natural shape, but it struck a cord with me, and it was so pretty against this background, where I found it, that I just had to feature it! This leaf lived it's life, and served the tree it was on, and just because it was no longer completely intact, was no reason for it not to have it's day! It should be appreciated and enjoyed for the life it lived. I think I identified with it somewhat, so this year I might feature more imperfect leaves, because there are no rules when it comes to natural beauty! At least there shouldn't be, right?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Oh Sweet October

#8 Leaf Of The Day

October 8th 2017

Stockton, California

 

"This tree must be falling for me, as soon as I sat under it, it dropped it's leaves. Oh sweet October."

~Charmaine J. Forde

I love the colors in this leaf. I loved it so much, in fact, that I decided to use it as my main post today, rather than post it along with a different subject. The colors remind me of Christmas, which will be here soon enough, but what is really intriguing to me, is how dark the leaf is, considering we aren't that far into autumn. Usually Dogwoods have a lighter colors this time of the season, but I found one in downtown Stockton, that was covered with the darkest colors I have ever seen on a Dogwood tree. It didn't have the almost neon look trees tend to get, but it did have it's own unique beauty, and I think I will be visiting it often this season, and maybe I will do a full post on it's progress. We'll see! In any case, it definitely lifted my spirits to find it!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

Side A And Side B

"What's meant to be will always find a way."

~Tricia Yearwood

 

With the exception of the Leaf Of The Day, the pictures in this post are from 2016. I took them on vacation, on a spur of the moment trip in our new backyard, the California Central Valley. While we moved here in 2015, the summer and autumn of 2016 was the first chance we had to check out our new hometown, and the surrounding area. 2015 was a very busy year, and it had some demons in it, but things had calmed down by this point last year. The struggles I had last year were mostly about being tired, and still unsure of our financial situation, having just bought a new house, for the first time, in our mid 50's. Let me tell you, buying a new home is terriying, when you have been a lifelong renter. I never really appreciated the difference between renting and paying a mortgage. I do now! 

There are good and bad sides to that story! The good, is knowing after a hard day that the place you come home to is yours! The good is being able to put your unique fingerprint on it, as far as painting and landscaping go. The good side is the money it actually saves you. Believe it our not, you do actually get to keep a lot more of your own money, and if managed well, owning a home makes you feel much more secure about your old age! I have second guessed our decision to purchase many times, because of the circumstance that led us to purchase, but I am more sure now than ever that we did the right thing. The downside... oddly enough is also financial, in that I worry about whether we will be we able to fix the roof, should the shingles go flying or what to do if a mouse should find it's way into the wall, which as it turns out, it did one night!

The mouse story is actually pretty funny, but I will share that in a different post. This post is about owning a house, and the stress involved. And again, stress has different sides. Something can be extremely stressful, and funny as hell at the same time! Like going to a horror movie, that is unintentionally funny! Anyway, last year I was all over the place in my state of mind about my my personal life, and then I was pretty much freaked out about Trump, and the possibility that he could actually win the presidency. With both my waking worlds in turmoil, I think my photograhy suffered. I found solice out in the world with my camera, but I definitely wasn't seeing the world as instinctively as I had in previous years.

But it's a year later, and autumn, and I am heading back out with the camera, and yes, I took a decent photo or two of the full Harvest Moon, and I think, that so far, my Leaf Of The Day project is coming along okay, but I am fighting full on depression this year, so how will that be reflected in my photography? Will I be seeing only cynical darkness? Will the colors look different? Will it actually make my photography better, because I will have to make a greater effort to not just go out and take photos, but I will need to make careful plans to do so, sometimes forcing myself to complete the goal? Our vacation officially begins next Thursday, but I am going for a short ride to the small towns of the valley later today. It will be a chance to stretch that photography muscle. I don't know what I will come home with, but I am just going to load up the cameras, and hope for the best! What else can I do?

 

 #7 Leaf Of The Day

October 7th, 2017

Stockton, Ca 

Mood: Hopeful

~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 :)  

But With More Brains...

"Blood is really warm

it's like drinking hot chocolate

but with more screaming."

~Ryan Mecum

Zombie Haiku: Good Poetry For Your... Brains 

I saw this scene, late last October, as we were leaving Ocean Beach, in San Francisco, and I just had to snap the photo because it reminded me of two things... people watching a nuclear apocalypse and zombies on a beach, after a nuclear apocalypse. I couldn't quite figure out if the two things were the same thing. Would a nuclear apocalypse kill you? Could it turn you into a zombie? I guess it depends on who you ask. Right? Ask a nuclear physicist and they will probably say the nuclear apocalypse will just kill you, but ask Stephen King and he will probably say... the nuclear blast will definitely make you into a zombie, because you survived the blast! Frankly, I don't know which is worse, surviving the blast only to end up a zombie, or dying on the spot, from the blast.

I considered both possibilities that evening, on the way home. We had just gone out for a lovely day in the city. The Blue Angels preformed that weekend, and I was quite happy with most of my photography that day, but despite having had a good day, I had the upcoming election on my mind. I had a feeling, deep down, that Trump was going to win, and of course, he went on to do just that! A now, I find myself, a year later, still contemplating the effects and fallout from nuclear annihilation almost on a weekly basis. Several times since Trump took office last January, Alan has come home to me terrified. Really terrified! Crying, planning possible escape routes. Like I said, terrified. It's like having the worst Halloween you could imagine, every day of the year!

I finally called my therapist, and we spoke at length about my fears, and she shared with me that there has been a huge spike, in former patients, returning to therapy after the election. So I know I am not alone, but I would suppose geography plays a part into what kind of fears one has about Trump. I imagine someone in Wyoming, wouldn't fear nuclear holocaust the way I would, but financial ruin, racial tensions, tax worries, and probably misogyny are top concerns. And now, with Trump's complete botching of recovery efforts in handling the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, we can all assume we are on our own, in the case of a natural disaster, if we don't, or haven't, kissed his ass enough.

This is all completely new territory. We have never had a president that designated allocation of relief monies and supplies based on merit. I am scared to death, California hasn't had a large earthquake in several years, so I don't really know what to expect should one hit. I am thinking about adding earthquake insurance to our homeowners policy, but we are stretched pretty thin now. So thin in fact, that you can see through the policy. For the first time in my life, I don't what to expect when I wake up tomorrow. Well, I know Alan and the furry kids will be here, but beyond that, I have NO clue. Will we be at war? Will a nuclear missile have already hit the west coast by this time tomorrow?

I don't know.

I know the current Secretary Of State called Trump a moron recently, which of course, he is. But somehow that doesn't make me feel better. Amused yes, but more hopeful for the future... not at all. I always wondered why I was in therapy, if everyone else in the world is crazy. That's a bit like swimming against the tide... right? But the doctor says therapy will help me feel less alone, and will help me handle all this better. I know it's the least I could do for Alan. So, we'll see. Frankly, I just feel hazy and unfocused on anything but doom. But despite that, I'm trying to keep taking those steps forward. It's just not so easy, when you feel like your brain has given up and you are little more than a wandering zombie on an apocalyptic beach!

#5 Leaf Of The Day

October 5th, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Quiet

Me

 

No Words

"To be poor and be without trees, is to be the most starved human being in the world. To be poor and have trees, is to be completely rich in ways that money can never buy."

~Clarissa Pinkola Estes

The Faithful Gardener: A Wise Tale About 

That Which Can Never Die 

I'm feeling really quiet. Another day of aftermath, from another day's tragedy. I have no words about the words of others, which tend to drown out words of comfort. Words of respect. Words of compassion and words of remembrance. Sometimes I think we have finally arrived at the point where, there is just nothing left to say but, ironically, it takes words to covey that you have no words.

#4 Leaf Of The Day

October 4th, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Quiet

~Me

Red

"Red is the ultimate cure for sadness"

~Bill Blass

I was going to do this post in a few days, but I had thought I would go ahead and post them today, due to the lack of sleep I got last night, I was unable to do the photography I had planned. The tragedy in Las Vegas hit just after I posted yesterday, and it pretty much consumed most of my time, waiting for updates on the news. I am not sure why I do that every time something like that happens, I guess some part of me always hopes the reports get it wrong. It didn't really happen. It was a false alarm. But as the night went on, it became all very real. It wasn't some ill timed drill. And the numbers involved didn't go down... they went up... and by the time I woke up yesterday, it was the worst mass shooting in American history! And it wasn't a group who did it... it was one man, alone in a hotel room, on the 32 floor. 

I remember years ago, my therapist told me that red was a power color, which made a lot of sense to me. She said it gives one an air of strength. Color plays a lot of roles in our lives, and I found the whole thought of one color making that much difference, I began to read all I could about how to use color in decorating. I am not really into Feng Shui, but I do enjoy decorating the rooms in our home in a sort of seasonal feeling. I bet you think my whole house is done in a fall theme... right? No, not the whole house, just the living room, which is done in Rusty Nail, on 2 statement walls.

The bedroom is Cornflower Blue, again on 2 walls. The guest bathroom is two toned. Blue Glacier and Roasted Corn. The coffeehouse is Meditation Green, my office will be Purple Daffodil, and the on-suite bathroom is Crisp Apple and Apple blossom. Each room has a different vibe, and I am enjoying that, because I find as I get older I need more places of refuge when the world turns crazy. It's funny how the older you get, the more you tend to appreciate your surroundings, especially your own home. I know I do. 

The Cornflower blue on the bedroom walls did wonders for calming me down, as I tried to sleep. When I finally did finally fall asleep, I slept only about 4 hours, be they were in a deep, restful sleep. And the cats helped too. All three of them were by my side, making me feel safe, and very loved! Unfortunately, when I got up, I then woke up to the sad news that Tom Petty was clinging to life after suffering a massive heart attack. I loved his music so much! So, my heart broke for a second time in 24 hours. 

Life is really hard. 

There will be time for the rant I have planned about gun control.

Right now I think I will sink into the colors that soothe my soul.

Put on some music. And appreciate how it all comes together to make me whole again. Life goes on, and it's just an unfortunate fact that we have to live through the bad. to really appreciate the good.

To everything there is a season,

 and a time and purpose under heaven.

#4 Leaf Of The Day

September 22nd, 2017

Old Sacramento, California

Mood: Reflective

~Me 

 

Country Things

"Country things are the necessary root of our life... and that remains true even of a rootless and tragically urban civilization. To live permanently away from the country is a form of slow death."

~Esther Meynell

Make NO mistake, I am a city girl through and through! I don't care for giant bugs, or spiders, both of which seem to really enjoy the open spaces of life in the country, not to mention their friends the rodents and scavenger birds. It seems like a strange system that all those creatures depend on each other to live. One feeds on the other. I guess that's just life... one thing feeds on another. 

 

It's all part of the food chain.

I try not to think too much about it, but since moving to a relatively rural part of California, one can't help but notice how nature works. I wish I had the courage to photograph those exotic creatures, but I don't and I am skeptical that I will be able to anytime soon, but at the same time, you never really know about these things. Before we left the Bay Area, I had started to come to terms with certain spiders I was encountering in my rose garden. Let's just say... we had an understanding! 

I wouldn't kill her, if she didn't crawl on me when I photographed my flowers! It worked out pretty good for most of one summer, until one day, she was gone. I am pretty sure she became a juicy tidbit for a Blue Jay, that began hanging out in our yard later that summer. I had been scared to death of that spider, but when she was gone I found I truly missed her. It was a strange feeling to miss something I had been so frightened of. 

Anyway, as time goes by, and I acclimate more to my surroundings out here, I see some intriguing opportunities to stretch my photography muscles, on subjects I haven't covered over and over,  like barns, cattle and all things country! There are fruit and vegetable stands everywhere, and its all quite lovely, in it's own way. The San Joaquin delta is quite lovely in places, and it goes on for miles. I am hoping to devote some time on vacation to hunting down little inlets and visiting some surrounding towns.

I spotted the barn, in the photo above, somewhere along Highway 37 between Novato, and Sears Point raceway, which runs along San Pablo Bay. All along that stretch of highway, you can spot some really interesting things, like one moment you are photographing a barn and the next moment you might see an abandoned boat! Which is kinda fun, because I took all these photos while we were driving! When I get the chance to investigate closer, I am sure they will be be more interesting, but still, considering I took them completely by instinct, rather than planned, but I think they capture the imagination, and they inspire me to want to see more! We'll see what comes from a whole world just waiting to be noticed, but I think it will be more barns and boats, and less about the spiders!

Famous last words... right?

And now...

Leaf Of The Day

October 2nd, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Hopeful

~Me :)

 

The Last Sunset Of September...

"Ah, September! 

You are the doorway to the season that

 awakens my soul... 

but I must confess that I love you only because

 you are a prelude to my beloved October."

 ~Peggy Toney Horton 

Yesterday was the last day of September, and it left this year on a high note! There was a cool breeze and a sunset that reminded me of both summer, and autumn. Warm air, cool breeze and gorgeous colors found in autumn leaves! While I am not usually a big fan of palm trees, I have kinda made friends with this one. It's very near the corner of the street I live on, and when the sunset is just right, it's a stunning companion! It was a pretty way to end September!

 "After the keen still days of September, the October sun filled the world with mellow warmth... the maple tree in front of the doorstep burned like a gigantic red torch. The oaks along the roadway glowed yellow and bronze. The fields stretched like a carpet of jewels, emerald and topaz and garnet. Everywhere she walked the color shouted and sang around her... In October and wonderful unexpected thing might be possible."

~Elizabeth George Speare

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

 Today's Leaf Of The Day reflects a little of the red in last night's sunset. It was so beautiful... brown and brittle, with just enough of the red and purple from the sky to link the two seasons in all the best ways... 

Leaf Of The Day

October 1st, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Happy

~Me :)