Can Every Day Be Rob Lowe Day?

Preston Castle Boys Reformatory

Ione, California

October 14th, 2017

 

"You need a break every once in a while  to enjoy the everyday

 and you need the every day

 to enjoy the break you take every once in a while."

~S. A. Tawks

Mule

Okay, well, this is how it went. Our vacation this year began on a sad note. Every single thing I had planned, fell apart a little before it officially began. I had several day trips to cities in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties, unfortunately, most of those areas were on fire! It was a sad event, not for us, but rather for the folks caught in path of the devastation. So, as disappointed as I felt about not being able to see some of the places I had looked forward to, that was really nothing, compared to what all those folks were going through. But as our vacation came closer, it became more and more apparent, we would need to make other plans.

We usually start our vacations in Orinda, California, at the Orinda Theater. The second Thursday of every month is free movie night, and each October they tend to show a Halloween themed movie, and this year it was A Nightmare On Elm Street. Neither Alan, or myself, had seen the film, so we thought it would be terrific to see it, for the first time together! Well, when it came time to go, we found out that the air quality in the Bay Area was so bad, the powers that be warned against going outside there, if you didn't have to, and because we both suffer from allergies, and breathing difficulties, we also had to cross that off the vacation plans.

On October 13th, our wedding anniversary, we got some take-out food and tried to plan our next course. Neither one of us knew what we wanted to do next. NO CLUE AT ALL. So, we decided to give it a couple days, and see what we could come up with, and that's where Rob Lowe comes into the story! One night I was up really late, looking for something spooky to watch on TV, when I came across a new show on the A&E network, The Lowe Files. I hadn't heard anything about it, so I decided to watch the first episode to see what it was like. As it turned out, the first episode was set out here in the Central Valley, at Preston Castle Boys Reformatory, in Ione, California.

The show is about Lowe and his two sons, traveling together, looking for ghosts, Wood apes, Bigfoot, and so on. Mostly it's about their spending time together, having little adventures, and enjoying being a family. The show is funny, heartwarming, fun, and at times it was fun to watch Rob Lowe get scared! The show doesn't take itself too seriously, like some of those shows do, which I find refreshing and I really hope there is a season two coming along next year! Check it out, it's truly worth watching!

But back to Rob Lowe Day. After we watched the first episode, we decided to follow in Rob's footsteps, and that all started at a donut shop in Galt, California! Now, this was big for me because I am a bit of a donut snob. I am definitely a Krispy Kreme girl. I like how light and airy they are, and they just melt in your mouth, so getting me to go to a different donut shop, especially in Galt, was, just a week earlier, quite the change of pace for me! Galt is a very small Central Valley town, with not much to see, other than a small amount of public art, some strip malls, and lots of farmland. In other words, it's like every other town in the Central Valley... rural. If you've seen one cow, you've seen them all... right? But Robe Lowe seemed to think the area was so pretty, it reminded him of England! Um... what, Rob Lowe? You can't be serious! But it made me curious, what did he see? And would it be possible to see it differently, like through his eyes?

 I didn't think there would ever come a day, when I would look forward to a visit to Galt to buy a donut, but it was part of the whole Rob Lowe adventure, so I played along, and to my delight, the donuts at the shop he visited, Happy Donuts, were pretty good! I had to admit that now, there was another donut shop, that I liked almost as much as Krispy Kreme! Alan loved that, because he has never been a fan of Krispy Kreme, so at least we now have a place we both enjoy! And he also enjoyed how giddy I was to go into the shop. I still don't know why I so weird about it, it's not like Rob would be there that day, but it was strange feeling to know I was standing where he stood, trying to pick out a donut!

After picking up the donuts, it was time to head to Preston Castle.We laughed along the drive, and I played the theme song to the Lowe Files, Don't Fear The Reaper, on my bluetooth, and of course the theme to St. Elmo's Fire, my favorite Rob Lowe movie. We talked about the show, and how one day we would love to go on a ghost hunt of our own, and just forgot about Trump, and the fires, and the other problems we are going through right now. We just had fun together, and it was just about the adventure. It's not like we expected to see a ghost, in the middle of the day or anything, but we did some speculating on what it would be like if we did!

When we arrived in Ione, we hit the downtown first, and as we drove into town, we saw witch, and yes, a tiny ghost, with a candy bucket, doing a little early Halloween celebrating or perhaps some Trick Or Treating! We laughed for a few moments about that, walked around the old gold rush town, and then headed up to the castle. It was closed, but it has a long driveway, and I was able to get some photos of the Gothic castle, and some trees, and I even got to photograph a new bird for my files that I hadn't photographed before! The beautiful Acorn Woodpecker. 

And then it was time to head back home. We still laughed most of the way back home, and debated the best Rob Lowe movie, we both have our favorites, and we watched several of his movies that night, and yes, ate our donuts. St. Elmo's Fire and Stephen King's The Stand. I loved him in both, but I still think I enjoyed him in St. Elmo's Fire the most. I don't know, maybe because it was made during the 80's and there were some things about it I could identify with.

Plus we are the same age as the Brat Pack, and I think it's a generational thing. Either way, because of Rob Lowe, we had the best day, that was truly a departure from all the cares of the world, that he and I tend to get caught up in. I really need to stop following politics, but I know I can't, and that's why our next vacation can't come soon enough! If things had been different, maybe I would have taken some sort of job relating to politics, or perhaps put my love of photography in the mix, maybe as a campaign photographer, shrug, If I could, I probably wouldn't change my life much, I like where I am, but I could do with less stress. So I will be looking forward to our next vacation coming around, and when it does, we will be celebrating Rob Lowe Day, October 14th, 2018!

 My Rob Lowe Day Album

October 14th, 2017

Central Valley Stonehenge

;)

Ghostly Stone Face

 Thank You, Rob Lowe, For Reminding Us...

 It's About The Adventure!

#29th Leaf Of The Day

November 29th, 2017

Cull Canyon Park

Mood: Happy
~Me :)

If Autumn Had A Schoolhouse

"Come, little leaves," said the leaves one day, "Come to the meadows with me and play. Put on your dresses of red and gold; For summer is past, and the days grow old."

~George Cooper

I spotted this little bench, one day when Alan and I were visiting Rainbow Orchards, in Apple Hill. For some reason, it kind of reminded me of where a spirit teacher would sit, if teaching a class about nature, but autumn specifically. I don't know why really, it's just the image that flashed in my head. I think it's probably just a place for the owners to sit, and relax, or take a little time to enjoy the amazing autumn scenery, and the spicy smell of fresh apple cider donuts, being made just a few feet away, at their bakery/kitchen. 

Believe, me there is nothing like the smell of cartons of fresh apples, being pressed, and filled with spices, of cinnamon, clove and brown sugar, all coming together, in a warn apple donut! But I couldn't shake the image of a spirit, or autumn soul, surrounded by autumn leaves, playing with them, and encourage them to shine, and show off their beautiful colors, until that day, when it's time to go home.If the picture at the top is an autumn leaf schoolhouse, then the pictures below are of the leaves running, and floating about the playground, waiting for the school bell!

#28th Leaf Of The Day

November 28th 2017

Apple Hill, Camino, California

 

Mood: Happy

~Me

The Autumn

"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

I was looking through old files, and came across my files of autumn leaves that never made it into any of my galleries. I skipped over them because of small errors, angles. Sometimes the lighting was an issue, there were many reasons I guess, but while looking at them last night, I thought I would let a few of them shine, even if they aren't just perfect! So, I hope you enjoy them, and if you want to leave any feedback, feel free to leave a comment!

 #27 Leaf Of The Day

November 27th, 2017

Stockton, California

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Winter Plumage

"In November, so birds move away and some birds stay. The air is full of good-byes and well-wishes.The birds who are leaving look very serious. No silly spring chirping now.They have long journeys and must watch where they are going. The staying birds are serious too, for cold times lie ahead. Hard times. All berries will be treasures."

~Cynthia Rylant

 In November

We went out for a ride yesterday, we were going to go to Berkeley, to Tilden Park, where the Carousel is. It's been a tradition for Alan and I for years! We always buy our ornaments for each other, the day after Thanksgiving, at the amazing Tilden Carousel! But this year we could barely make it through the Altamont Pass, it was packed with cars, and by the time we reached the Bay Area, it would be too late, so we decided to head back home, by way of Highway 4, which goes through Byron, California.

As we were driving along, I spotted a tree, just off the road, with an Egret on the very top of each branch! There was nowhere to park along the road, so I could get some photos, so we had to make a U-turn, and find a place to park, directly across the street from the tree, to photograph the birds. The tree had mostly Cattle Egrets resting on the branches, but there was one Snowy Egret, which just happens to be my favorite bird, unfortunately, by the time we got back, the Snowy Egret was gone, and all that remained was the Cattle Egrets, which was fine, because they were beautiful! And look, they already have their winter plumage on!

It's turned cold, and it was a tiny bit foggy yesterday! Rain is due for today, and it's a cold hard fact, the season has turned, quickly to the cold, bare bones of autumn, despite having over almost a month left before it's officially winter! The trees with crimson and cinnamon leaves, are becoming more difficult to find, and my body hurts. But, like a quote from a previous post reminds us, there is a little of October in November, and a little bit of November in December. All seasons, blend together, but it always feels like autumn get's less time to shine, than any of the other seasons do.

#26 Leaf Of The Day

November 26th 2017

Knight's Ferry, California

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

The Beautiful Sadness

'

"Autumn is the time of year when Mother Nature says,

 "Look how easy, how healthy, 

and how beautiful letting go can be.'"

~Toni Sorenson

I have the hardest time letting go! Letting go of places I have lived, pets and friends when they have passed on, ideas that never quite came to fruition, even restaurants that I have loved, that have eventually closed, and TV shows that get cancelled! You name it, I don't like to let go of it! Every single year, I have the same melancholy feeling from the day after Halloween, that stays with me until at least a couple months into winter! I go out and continue to look for leaves, until I photograph the very last one I find, because knowing it is the last one, makes it all the more lovely, even if it's less than perfect!

Obsession much? Perhaps, but it does something else for me, it gives me time outside with the camera, and it keeps me focused on life away from the things that scare me, like whatever the next scary thought our president has, that I have no control of! There is nothing I can do about his decisions. Nothing. So searching for leaves, gives me a nice respite from worrying. If I don't find autumn leaves in late December, it's okay, because I might find something completely unrelated to autumn, that will encourage or inspire me. So no worries!

I have depression. It's that simple, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. Like I said a few posts back, it had been in remission for about 20 years, but it's back now, and it's been good for me to get out with the camera. I am going to do that as much as possible, but I wish autumn would hang on a little longer, because it brings some beauty to the sadness, and makes me a better photographer. I know when I accept that fact that autumn is gone for another year, I have done my best to capture it's beauty forever in my photos. All the life affirming beauty of autumn leaves, reminds me that there is an unmistakable beauty in letting go, and moving on. 

The end of autumn, gives me a beautiful sadness, 

but it's important keep moving forward. 

#25 Leaf Of The Day

November 25th, 2017

Apple Hill, Camino, California 

 Mood: Quiet

~Me

Happy Holidays

'Truley, Autumn is my season," the scarlet beast chorted. "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. Valente

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland

 In A Ship Of Her Own Making 

Thanksgiving is over, and it's time for all the worlds of autumn to come together! Christmas really should be the last party of autumn, as it belongs to winter for only a few days! It's always seemed to be that autumn got cheated by that, but to me, it is an autumn holiday, no matter what the calendar says! I tend to have all my holiday shopping done by December 20th, so I can spend the last few days before the big day to relax, and enjoy the decorations, and all that goes with the holiday, like baking yummy things.

We tend to celebrate Christmas Eve, with more enthusiasm, than Christmas Day. We make special snacks, play board games, or card games, listen to music, and sometimes get silly singing! Not necessarily Christmas songs, as actually there are very few of those I can actually stand, but any song that makes us laugh and enjoy! Then on the day, we do what most families do, we open our gift bags, and have a good time watching the furry people play with their new catnip toys. We are an unconventional family to be sure, but I bet a lot of families have more going on than we do!

I was born Jewish, but raised Methodist. So, Alan and I honor both holidays. I imagine there are a lot of families like ours that celebrate both holidays, which is why I find it amusing that anyone would claim that there is a "War On Christmas!" All these people who claim Christmas has become, too commercialized, and that saying "Happy Holidays" somehow takes the focus off Jesus, are just more people trying to, literally, sell you a bill of goods." They want you to buy their books about the commercialism of Christmas, which is amusing, but also infuriating at the same time, because year after year, we have to hear about the same old, non-existent war, for the sole purpose of demanding religious conformity, and yes, getting rich off fear and hate! 

Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly and Donald Trump, among others, have now all sold products aimed at putting the Christmas back in Christmas! With the first two, it was all about selling books that declared that there was a war on Christmas, being waged by anyone wishing you, or anyone you know, a "Happy Holiday." Also, the whole holiday is one big shopping scheme, created by companies, to take the Jesus out of the season! So be good, for goodness sake, and yell at the next person wishing you a Happy Holiday, and be sure to by another book that explains how you can help, by not over shopping! Because nothing says noncommercial, like a $40 "MAGA" hat that says "Merry Christmas" on the back! Because, now, finally, with Trump in office, we can now say Merry Christmas again! Whew! What a relief!

I'll just be frank here... these people are full of shit!

Especially President "Anything For A Buck."

There. I said it.

Christmas is about as commercial, as you personally choose to let it be! If you want to go out and lavish your family with gifts, go for it! If you want to stay home, and make handmade pillows or blankets, great, have at it, but don't hide behind your "Christianity" as a way to rob anyone else of their religion, their manners, or their joy, or simply, their traditions, during what should be, the one time of year that we can really reach out to one another, in kindness, friendship, and best of all love. We have it in us, but sometimes we have so much noise going on around us, and so many people trying to tell us what to think, that we can't hear ourselves love. Let yourself feel the love in the words, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, because it's up to you to decide if you want to hear with ears of love, or ears of hate.

That. Is. On. You.

Here's a bit of advice... Don't Let Hate Win!

#24 Leaf Of The Day

November 24th, 2017

Knight's Ferry, California

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

Happy Thanksgiving

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude."

~A.A. Milne

Winnie-The-Pooh

I won't lie, it's been one HELL of a year! But that doesn't mean I have been left with an angry or bitter heart, far from it! I have a lot to be grateful for, and a lot of happiness with Alan and the boys! Life is full of uncertainties, but one thing remains fast and true, I am loved, and appreciated, and I might get scared from time to time, but fear does not fill my heart, gratitude does!

#23 Leaf Of The Day

November 23rd, 2017

Quincy, California

 Mood: Happy

~Me :)

 

The Thanksgiving Gift!

"Everyone enjoys being acknowledged and appreciated. Sometimes even the simplest act of gratitude can change someone's entire day. Take the time to recognize and value the people around you and appreciate those who make a difference in your lives."

~Roy T. Bennett

When someone asks me what I am most thankful for, my family comes to my mind first. I imagine that would be what most folks would say, but our family is Alan, myself, Hendrix, Dylan and Joe. Two humans, and three fuzzballs. Cats. We adopted Hendrix and Dylan in autumn of 2008, after we lost our cat Elvis, to Cancer. Joey was found on the Saturday, after Thanksgiving, in 2013. He was alone, dirty, injured, and it was pretty clear that if we didn't take him in, he wouldn't survive the weekend. Opening our hearts to this tiny lost cat, turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made!

From day one, he has a sweet kindness to him, and his intelligence is unbelievable! He has a funny way of "meeping" if he thinks he is in trouble, as if he is apologizing.When he is unsure about playing, or if wants to try something new, like sleeping on the end of the bed, he will meow in such a way, that it almost sounds like a question! "May I please?" Or "Is it okay if...?" Honestly, he is the best behaved cat I have personally ever known or owned. He seems to know that he was saved by Alan, taken into our home, and he knows we love him, and we always will!

He says THANK YOU to us, every day,

 in his own way, with snuggles and nom-noms. 

Nom-Noms are kisses, by the way. He loves kisses! 

Finding him on Thanksgiving weekend, in 2013,

 made it all the more special for us!

 So, at thanksgiving time, I always feel thankful, 

and grateful he came into our lives, and made it a much nicer place!

"If having a soul meas being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans."

~James Herriot

All Creatures Great And Small

#22 Leaf Of The Day

November 22nd, 2017

Knight's Ferry, California

Mood: Grateful
~Me :)

Thankfulness

"Thankfulness creates gratitude,

 which generates contentment that causes peace."

 

~Todd Stocker

 

The rest of this week belongs to thankfulness. I am happy, I complain a lot about politics, and things that frighten me, but deep down I have a good life, with a good man, and three amazing little furry people that love me! Trust me, if you are loved by a cat, you are truly loved! Cats aren't like dogs, if they don't like you they will not only demonstrate their dislike, they will leave you at the first opportunity! So, I have a lot to be grateful for, but mostly, I am grateful I am loved... deeply! At the end of the day, that's what is important!

 

 "Celebrate your journey of life."

~Lailah Gifty Akita

 

#21 Leaf Of The Day

October 28th, 2017

Quincy, California

Mood: Grateful

~Me :)

 

Life In The Abstract

"I feel like I am parked diagonally in a parallel universe."

~Anonymous

This post is another departure from the beauty of autumn. Rather than focusing on the intense beauty of this season, I want to go back a few seasons, and bring you to right now in my life. I want to post about how I have been feeling inside, since Trump took office. Simply put... it's felt a lot like the quote at the stop of the post. Like this all simply cannot be real! Life has gone from real, and logical and secure to something that feels like it cannot possibly be real! Even my faith, which I rarely speak about online, because it's so personal to me, has gone through a bit of a metamorphosis.

 I think in some ways it my faith has gotten stronger. I don't linger there, because if God does have some specific thoughts about the time we are living in, they are between Trump and God. Or maybe Covfefe, perhaps, because we still don't know if Covfefe is an entity, or the made up object of a demented mind, which brings me to my point.

For the first time in my life, I feel like every day is an exercise in an abstract existence. Is the universe real? Or did I pass through a thin spot where different worlds blur in their lines? And if I just find the right vortex, will I return back to the world that might not be perfect, and might throw me the occasional curve ball, but that mostly makes sense! Every decision in world politics right now, seems so abstract and random! It's all so surreal, that we can't possibly analyze it effectively, so should we even try?

 There was a day when I felt like it normal that life that moved about randomly, and we humans would get thrown the occasional ball of surreal, to keep it all interesting! How many times have you either heard, or even said yourself, "well, I didn't see that coming!" I know I have had some pretty surreal experiences. Stuff that I can't explain. Incidents that boarded on the supernatural, or so strange, that they could only be left up to mine, or Alan's interpretation of it, because it was personal to us.

 Day to day life for he and I, usually moves along pretty scheduled and routine, but every once in a while, we have to look at each other, and say... "What just happened?" I mostly like it when the unusual happens, but the surreal got kicked up about 10 levels when Trump took office! He is doing so many things that make NO sense, and no one in the GOP, seems to have a problem with it! The night he tweeted out "Covfefe" it stayed up on his official Twitter account for at least 6 hours! That's NOT NORMAL.

 At first it was confusing, but then it turned to funny, as folks around the world, tried to make fun of it, or speculate about it's meaning. But when my own glee wore off, I got a sinking feeling that it may have been a nuclear code, or perhaps a intelligence code word, because earlier in the year, he reveled a code word that belonged to an ally, when he hosted the Russian ambassador at the White House. THAT'S NOT NORMAL.

Trump has provoked North Korea to the point that, every day goes by that we aren't fully involved in the end of the world through nuclear war, I am surprised! Sometimes I wonder if I will wake up in the morning, or will I die, and simply move on to a new existence without realizing it! Did I already die? Did we all die, or is this some existence in a nightmare I can't wake up from. Am I in a coma somewhere? Did the earth find a thin spot in the universe and we all had to go through it? Maybe that explains why pictures have turned up, apparently untouched, of folks holding what looks like cell phones... in the 1930's and 40's! THAT'S NOT NORMAL!

No, I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I do listen before I judge. And while the pictures and videos I have seem to be real, there are some explanations when seem to dispel the idea of time travel. Early versions of hearing aids being one of them, which makes sense! But what about what's happening now? Is it that idiots have always existed, we just have more now, then any other time ever? Well, folks have been falling for bullshit for as long as I can remember, we just have better access to it because of the Internet! See, that makes sense, and sometimes weird shit happens, and there just isn't any explanation for it, but personally, when things happen, that are NOT NORMAL, and it affects the whole world, I tend to want to know why?

Welcome to life in the abstract!

Or parallel Universe!

Or purgatory!

If you find out which it is, please let me know!

Personally, I believe it's a parallel universe.

But I'm open to the possibilities!

#20 Leaf Of The Day

November 20th, 2017

Cull Canyon

Mood: Quiet

~Me 

 

 

Beauty In The World... From The 2017 Archives

"I believe all photographers want to be remembered for their images. They reflect a piece of their soul."

~Christer Paul Flateau

I was tiptoeing through my photo archive, from earlier this year, and since I did very little blogging in 2017, I decided to chose a few photos that I liked, but didn't feel up to blogging about on the day they were taken, and highlight them now. It's less than a week until Thanksgiving, and it's going to be a busy time, so I think it's the right time to take a look backward, with thankfulness, rather than bitterness, about how the year has been with Trump in office.

I let a lot of my creativity slide, instead choosing to be scared, angry and depressed. It's hard to not feel all this things, when even experts in various fields, like the American Psychiatric Association, have felt a duty to warn the American people about the dangers of having Trump in the White House. That was unprecedented, and should be taken seriously, however, the powers that be don't seem interested in removing him from office, so we are all stuck in a situation we, as individuals, have NO WAY to fix. It feels like we are all on a roller-coaster, running completely out of control! That is not a fun feeling, at all!

So, now I find myself quoting the Serenity Prayer to myself. I got that chip when I successfully graduated from Adult Daycare, after my nervous breakdown in 2000. It was a long, hard, painful road, but I worked through some things, and I was managing stress and occasional bouts of depression pretty well, again, until the Electoral Collage put an unstable man in power. After all those years, I found myself feeling things I hadn't felt in years, but when I recognized how bad it had gotten, I sought help, and I am beginning to come out of my almost self-imposed darkness.

I don't think, at the time I took these photos, I fully appreciated the beauty in them. I was taking photos, at Alan's request, because he was worried about me, and thought it would be good for me to do something other than dwell on all the bad things happening in America. It wasn't healthy to watch CNN 24/7, because, as he pointed out, there was nothing I could do to stop anything Trump does while in office. I needed to "accept the things I couldn't change." And I have, or at least I am trying my best to do just that!

This next week, I know that he will be pardoning a Thanksgiving turkey, per White House tradition, but he will probably use his power to pardon a few other turkeys as well, if you get my drift. I see it coming, but there is nothing I can do, so at least I am aware, that there is a strong possibility regarding pardons, and can deal with it by picking up my camera, and searching for the beauty in life. Oh don't get me wrong, I will feel all those emotions that are perfectly reasonable to feel, but hopefully, I will be able to balance the feelings with some creativity. That's my hope anyway.

 So, lets look back at some beauty I didn't appreciate earlier this year, and we will go from there. I used some editing software on some of them, just to give you an idea what my imagination sees, rather then what the camera sees. Sometimes I see through an Impressionist filter in my creativity, and I try to bring that to my photographs, to let you get a better idea of how I see the world.

Golden Lamp

Carson City, Nevada

November 6th, 2017

(Soft Filter)

Purple Flower

Moss Beach, California

April 13th, 2017

(Impressionist Filter)

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco, California

April 13th, 2017

(Soft Filter)

Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco, California

April 13th 2017

(Soft Filter)

#19 Leaf Of The Day

November 19th, 2017

Carson City, Nevada

Mood: Creative

~Me :)