Windy Days In November And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #50

 

“The wind makes you ache is some place that is deeper than your bones. It may be that it touches something old in the human soul, a chord of race memory that says Migrate or die - migrate or die.” 

 

~Stephen King

 

Yes, yes, I know. I used that quote just a number of posts back, but yesterday was like that. We are in November and the wind does something to one's bones. I want to find some real autumn color, autumn is a madness that only lasts a little bit of time, and then the death of a year come.s That makes a difference to me. I was sick for a large part of 2022. We held off a disaster with the midterms, now behind us, but there is unpleasantness in front of us, with Trump's impending announcement, and or, his impending indictment and arrest. God, how I am looking forward to his perp walk. Oh my, I digress. Here is the thing, I want more autumn color but it's like 2022 needs a little more inspiration to bring a little more color. Autumn is in my bones and I am waiting for now.

 

 

~Me

Thinking About Politics And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #49

 

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express

 their choice are prepared to choose wisely.

 The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.” 

― Franklin D. Roosevelt 

 

I have heard my whole life the following words, "This is the most consequential election of our lifetime, it's the democracy, stupid!" so, it seems like we whined for nothing, because in those other years we weren't fighting the effect a known liar had on the electorate as a whole.The BIG LIE as told by Donald Trump and pals has completely replaced common sense and critical thinking, with voting with one's, ahem, "gut." But this time, democracy is at stake because the education of critical thinking has ceased as a tool of voting for so long, it's now a dead process for choosing a candidate. Will a snake oil salesman, Dr. Oz, win tonight, simply because he is recognized from TV? Will Val Demings be successful in Florida because she is an excellent candidate who will protect Roe v Wade? How about the issue of abortion in states with it on the ballot? Will it be shored up or will the right to govern our own bodies be lost forever, at least in those states? (Shakes head back and forth). I will keep you posted.

The night will tell. And democracy is indeed hanging by a thread!

~Me

 

Please Note! And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #48

 

"Ease your whiskers, rest your paws,

Pies and puddings fill the stores

Sweetly dreams the night away

Till sunshine brings another day."

 

~Jill Barklem

Autumn Story 

 

 

On a cool, crisp, mid-autumn day, at the yolo Wilderness area, I was happy to see a young otter, living his best life! While absolutely adorable, he was, however, also a wee bit oblivious, because there was a really annoyed Blue Heron just feet away, making a huge, "HEY NEIGHBOR ... WHATCHA DOIN FISHIN IN MY CHANNEL"? But, as you can see, the otter didn't mind the fuss, he went about eating his crayfish, and then he was on his way, completely unaware of his neighbors irritation. I have seen a few otters on Desmond road as well Yolo, and as a matter of fact I have seen more otters this year, then in any time in my life! 2 along Desmond rd. and 2 in Yolo. I adore them, but I can't help but wonder if, again, if Global warming has any part in seeing more rabbits, otters and other assorted creatures I never saw before.

 

 

~Me

 

NOTE: Today is the midterm election. It is especially stressful this year. The economy, Covid, stresses, such as whether Trump will ever see any kind of justice, Elon Musk and his nefarious actions, is that enough examples. If it's as bad an evening as it could very well be, I may only post leaves for a few days. Win, lose or draw I am planning a photo trip later this week. Maybe Yosemite. Maybe Monterey. We will see. Let's get through the midterms first.

 

VOTE!

Naps In Autumn And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #47

 

"It was the possibility of darkness

 that made the day seem so bright."

 

~Stephen King

 

Autumn colors, they will always make me want to take a nap, on a branch, on a cold day. Sometimes I am downright jealous of the owls, falcons, and even the little perching birds, because to them, they are home, and they are comfortable. Not that I am not comfortable, I most certainly am. This has been a difficult year, but I am okay, and getting
more okay all the time. Doing my version of the bird life is pretty darn good here in the condo. A rainy, cold afternoon, a warm blanket, a cuddly cat, and I am living the autumn bird life. I am on my own branch and I am doing a-okay.

 

~Me

Northern Harrier And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #46

 

"At no other time than in autumn does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth, in a smell that is in now way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honey t sweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost."

 

~Rainer-Maria Rilko

Letter On Cezanne

 

Click To Enlarge

Sometimes, when I am out taking pictures, I wonder what some of the artists I have admired most like, Cezanne or Monet, would think of the beautiful autumn scenes I am currently enjoying. I am sure they enjoyed as much their scenery, as I do, Monet had quite a beautiful garden, but I just mean right now in time when we are standing on the precipice of losing so much. The drought, no doubt caused by Global warming, has inflicted a lot of damage to the ecosystem of California. I mentioned a while back about the Monarch butterflies all but having disappeared from Pacific Grove, and right now, Yolo seems to have a lot fewer birds than last year at this time. The hawks and vultures were out and about the other day, but there were very few ducks, geese or even Ibis to be seen! So, I made the best of it. I got a better picture of a Long-billed Curlew then I had on file, and of this fella too, the Northern Harrier. I have been seeing more and more of it. I just saw one on Desmond road the day before I visited Yolo, and while there I saw another one. That's more than I saw all of last year, which is a shame, because what a work of art it is!

 

 

 

 

~Me

Say's Phoebe And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #45

 

"The wind was as ripe as apples,

 so full that you could almost bite every breath."

 

~Robert Newton Peck

Soup

 

It was cold this morning. Not a big surprise for November, right? But this cold weather seemed to come on really fast, like overnight, not the gradual transition one would usually see. There is snow on the foothills, and more on the way, and the birds love it! And I love it too! All kinds of birds are flying in now. The last couple days have been a real treat for the eyes! A Ruby-crowned Kinglet, in Cull Canyon the other day, and in Yolo Bypass, a Purple finch and this, a Say's Phoebe. It just flew past us, and landed on the top of a section of k-rail. Hell, it posed, which was delightful! While we were there we saw plenty of birds, and even an otter, but not really anything new to us, except this gorgeous, and cooperative bird. I am glad I got to see it! Just look at those colors and try to not smile! On the way home we stopped at Desmond road and we spotted a large group of Tundra swans, but I don't have a photo because they were so far away. I got pictures just good enough for an ID. Shrug. I will try again tomorrow. Tomorrow is beginning to sound like a really good word!

 

~Me

 

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #44

 

"If of all the seasons, there is a season in which a person completely forgets himself and constantly watches the magical environment, it is undoubtedly autumn!"

 

~Mehmet Murat ildan

 

 

This is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I looked most of last year, and a fair amount of this year, for this tiny creature, and then finally gave up thinking it was nothing more than an urban legend. LOL. Then yesterday, dear hubby caught a glimpse of it when it buzzed right at him, practically giving him a kiss, while he was sitting in the car at Cull Canyon Park. I was off photographing leaves, and as I returned to the car, I saw this gorgeous little bird, about the size of a hummingbird hanging around, buzzing really fast around my car. Isn't that always the way? And I left home without my SD card for my camera, and when I finally did find one in my purse, I snapped it into my camera and the camera broke! Yesterday was quite the adventure! But I finally have a Ruby-crowned Kinglet for my file, and with that bird I am at 122 for the year, with about 7 weeks left. What will my final number be? I don't know, but I do know I am going to see a lot of beauty between then and now, and hubby and I will help each other get there. Life is pretty good.

 

Three Egrets And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #43

 

"II was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow."

~Wendy Delsol

Stork

I wanted this shot to work. It was the perfect autumn day. But it was not just any perfect autumn day, it was late in the day, on a perfect autumn day in late October. October only comes once a year, and I wanted to capture it forever. As you can see, autumn colors have been kicking in slowly but it's not altogether dreary. The ducks, geese and cranes were out to play along Desmond road, and the Great Egret were dancing all around. I don't have very many photos of egrets, so I decided to get in a little practice with them. I almost got it, as they sailed in for a landing in the dry weeds, but it was just out of my grasp. This was the best I could do. I think I was getting lost in autumn. It's light, it's colors, the sound of the birds. Everything seemed to be telling me to put the camera down and enjoy the sight, and that's just what I did. Some moments in life are just about perfect. This one came late in the day, on an perfect autumn day, in late October 2022.

~Me

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

 

The Snow Goose Has Arrived And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #41

 

 

"The sound of geese flying overhead,

 is the sound of life moving on."

 

~Marty Rubin 

 

There it is. A beautiful snow goose. Well, actually, one adult snow goose, and one juvenile. I have been wondering when they would arrive, now I know, so I will begin looking for them around the end of October, even more reason to love that month the way that I do! I think I might have been a bit impatient, so, as they say, a watched pot never boils, advice I would have been smart to have taken, and I hate to use a cooking example, but you get my drift. Anyway they are on their way, and that means nothing but pure joy for me, because I know that one day, very soon, I will be treated to, at the slightest of whims, the sound of large flocks of Snow Geese, Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, Great White-fronted Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and every other type of bird all taking to the sky in one giant roar of wings flapping and beaks singing, and that is just about the happiest sound I know, unless it is a cable car climbing a high steep hill in San Francisco. Clang, clang, honk, honk. Seriously, it only takes one goose becoming spooked, for the entire sky to be filled with birds. Or one lady, lonely for San Francisco, to bring music to one's ears.

 

Like this...

 

Sandhill Crane, Cackling Geese, Canada Geese, Red-winged Blackbird, American kestrel, Mourning Dove

(J) Snow Goose

 

Happy Halloween And Autumn Leaf Of The Day #40

 

"Haunt an old house.

Ask for a treat.

Laugh like a witch.

Lick something sweet.

Offer a trick.

Wander a maze.

Echo a boo.

exclaim the phrase.

Normal's unnatural on Halloween."

~Rochelle E. Goodrich

Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & Little Poetry

 For Every Day Of The Year

Oh dear, we are here already? We are at Halloween? I suppose that means I have been happy, doesn't it? Is that a good thing? You bet it is! I am feeling more and more like my old self every day! The bad part is, of course, that time goes by way too fast. As of today we are one-third of the way through my favorite season, but I should just own the fact that autumn really lasts longer than 90 days, or three months, or whatever way you like to measure it, because, truth is, I will still be looking for leaves when Easter arrives. And I will find it! So, I don't feel sadness today, I just feel really happy that Covid-19 is nearly gone, I can eat most foods again, my brain feels less foggy, and life is, once again, worth not just living but also exploring. 

 

So, in that I am feeling much more enthusiastic, here are some old fashioned Halloween cards I have made. I loved getting them when I was a child. Sometimes in school, sometimes they were attached to my Halloween candy. It reminded me of Valentine's Day cards. A gorgeous picture on the outside, on the inside a favorite poem or saying or maybe even a joke. I love that part of owning a computer. Having some fun and making it all more sentimental by choosing one of my favorite photographs to make it all the more personal, fulls me with a lot of happiness.

 

 

~Me