Autumn Leaf Of The Day #11

 

“For art, she had thumbtacked hundreds of autumn leaves on one of the cracked walls.”

 
~Eleyne-Mari Sharp,

Inn Lak'ech

 

The Rain is falling, as are the beautiful colors of autumn. The smell of damp earth, and the sight of the earth tones of the trees, just about fills me up, but add in wearing my favorite autumn sweater, and the first taste of a big mug of hot chocolate, or a tangy Chi latte, and I am in a dreamland.

 

 Life in autumn. 

 

 

Halloween Countdown... #30 The Mephisto Waltz

 

October
I sit with braided fingers
and closed eyes
in a span of late sunlight.
The spokes are closing.
It is fall: warm milk of light,
though from an aging breast.
I do not mean to pray.
The posture for thanks or
supplication is the same
as for weariness or relief.
But I am glad for the luck
of light. Surely it is godly,
that it makes all things
begin, and appear, and become
actual to each other.
Light that’s sucked into
the eye, warming the brain
with wires of color.

 
~May Swenson 

 

Well, we didn't make it to Bodega Bay, but we are making another attempt today. Sigh. Cat dramas can be big, yet little sometimes. I don't mean to be cryptic, everyone is okay, it's just that we found out that Simon is terrified of spiders. Big or small. Last night he saw one, and bounced high and low, taking the stairs 4 at a time, and bouncing off the walls downstairs! We were afraid he was going to hurt himself, so we sat until he calmed down by himself, which took a couple hours. Finally, at 2:30 am, hubby went to bed. It seems the situation would be handled in shifts. About 45 minutes after hubby turned in, I was able to pick Simon up, snuzzle him, talk softly to him, and finally put him in his condo for the night. I was exhausted, hubby was exhausted, so we called it a night at 3:30. No trip, but at least our little guy is okay. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again! 

 

Now, about the movie! The Mephisto Waltz was spooky as HELL when I was a kid, and you can say it's one of the movies that boils down to, FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT!" Alan Alda is perfect, as usual, as is the whole cast. I loved it when I was a kid, and I love it now! I don't want to give the plot away, so I will just say it is devilishly good fun! It's available to stream on Fandango, so if you haven't seen it, go watch it. 

 

But turn all the lights out first! 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #10

 

“I learnt from the autumn leaves, the formula of healing.
every year, they break, fall off the trees and die.
and then again in a few months, they find their way back home.
reborn, living a new life just to die again.
but never did that stop them growing again.
so why can't we humans just live up to them.
fall, get hurt, bear pain but have enough
courage and energy to stand up and fight back again.”

 
~Renesmee Stormer

                         

Today's Halloween Countdown... #31 The Birds

 

“Then he saw them. The gulls. Out there, riding the seas.
What he had thought at first to be the white caps of the waves were gulls. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands... They rose and fell in the trough of the seas, heads to the wind, like a mighty fleet at anchor, waiting on the tide. To eastward, and to the west, the gulls were there. They stretched as far as his eye could reach, in close formation, line upon line. Had the sea been still they would have covered the bay like a white cloud, head to head, body packed to body. Only the east wind, whipping the sea to breakers, hid them from the shore.” 

~Daphne du Maurier,

  The Birds

 

 I have a love affair with this movie. I remember watching it, for the first time, when I was about 8, or so, and being terrified by the eeriness of the pace of the film. It built slowly. It made you wait for what you knew was inevitable, for the final attack, and oh boy did Du Maurier, and Hitchcock, make it easy to identify with Melanie Daniels! After all, there are birds everywhere, and how long before they lose their every loving shit on the stupid people who ignore the ecosystem of the Earth. So much could go wrong. Anyhoo, I grew up loving this movie and I thought it would be great as our first choice for the month of October! Mid-century movies let your imaginations run wild. And in that we are on our way to Bodega Bay today, you bet I will be keeping a close eye on, THE BIRDS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #9

 

“It's like summer wear the world out, and by October everyone is just ready for a nap”

~ Ta-Nehisi Coates,

 The Water Dancer

 

 

Autumn Emotions

 

“I needed a long and lingering autumn, a tenure with which to ease into another state of being.”

 
~Ruchika Tomar,

 A Prayer for Travelers

 

I love watching leaves float to the ground.They are in their last moments of life, and they deserve my respect and empathy. But more important they need my deep appreciation for their work all year, and the beauty revealed. Isn't autumn, and oak leaves, just magical?

 

  

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #8

 

“There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant

 about the annual cascade of autumn leaves.” 

~Joe L. Wheeler 

 

 

It's The Third Dragonfly, But There Could Be More

 

 
“It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon.” 

~Sarah Addison Allen,

  First Frost 

 

This the third dragonfly. I captured this beauty at Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area about a week ago. It's been a hot September, and the dragonflies are loving it, but as dragonflies go, I haven't seen a lot of varieties yet. I will keep looking, and hopefully be the time the weather changes to the cooler days of autumn, I will spot many more dragonfly colors and shapes. I love the blue ones, and the ones with double wings. Here's to the journey! 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #7

 

“I am falling in love with autumn all over again”

 
~Charmaine J Forde 

 

 

Yet Another Dragonfly

 

“Fruitful. Lusty. Wild. Revealing. Every day a brilliant reminder of how nothing stays the same, every day an exercise in variability, resilience, and trust.

I love seasons, live for the changing seasons, could not imagine my life without seasons, but, I must admit--at the risk of offending the others-- autumn is my very favorite one.” 

 
~Shellen Lubin 

 

And there's only more dragonflies to come.

 And birds too.

 Just wait!

 There's much more to life then all this despair. 

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #6

 “You cannot move forward in the real world
if you cannot see the real world.
You cannot find the beauty in the world
if all you see is its adornment.

Autumn comes.
Autumn falls.
Autumn leaves.
The world turns fire
and burns off all that is fading.”

 
~Shellen Lubin 

 

 

Another Dragonfly

 

“There's a promise between
beginnings and end.
And, there's a hope between
end and beginnings..!!"

O' Autumn, you'll never stop,
singing your sanguine songs.”

 
― Monika Ajay Kaul 

 

Summer's dragonfly, meets autumn's beginning. So beautiful, and so emotional. I like the transitions of the seasons. How two moods share one space. Sometimes I can find lovely autumn leaves as late as March. Winter's sorrow blends with the earthly giggle of spring. I don't care much for spring and summer, but I appreciate the wildflowers, and the return of the Mexican Free-tailed bat. Maybe I am obsessive about the turn of the seasons, I get that, but they affect my creative side in all the best ways, and gives me a respite from the stresses of the moment. It's magic.

 

 By the way, I have more dragonfly pics to come!

 

 

Sandhill Cranes On Desmond Road

“Every story begins somewhere, some in the rain of forgotten yesterdays

 and some in the scent of autumn leaves...”

 
~Jayita Bhattacharjee 

 

 Finally! I spotted them on Desmond road yesterday, at 4:00 pm. My beautiful Sandhill Cranes are back! Well, actually, they have been back for over a week, but they are officially back for me now. They weren't making much noise, so I didn't hear that beautiful call and chatter of theirs, but soon they will be back in large numbers, and then good luck not hearing them! And I wouldn't want it any other way!

 

Here's where you can find them today!

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #5

 

“There is great beauty in each season, but autumn has a pinch of something more.”

 
~Laura Jaworski 

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #4

“A lifespan of a leaf is equal to the seasons. And its purpose though small, contributes to the bigger picture. Being who you are—even if you are a leaf—is no ordinary thing.”

 
~Reena Doss,

  The Last Leaf Of Autumn: Barefoot and falling, infinity is a number that has none to end  

 

 

Grasshopper, GRASSHOPPER!

 

“Even tiny plants experience autumn.” 

 
~Devika Todi,

  Dreaming in A Fish Bowl

 

 

 

Okay, first, let me share, I hate bugs, but love and appreciate what they do for the ecosystem, but damn they are spooky looking! Like a mean spirited alien from some unknown planet. I've learned about different insects since moving to the San Joaquin Valley, but I hadn't gotten around to the grasshopper. As it turns out, I learned that they are actually fascinating creatures, and not bad to have around. Most cannot possibly be less interested in humans. But you see, I visited, Mount Diablo State Park, last week, and I met a bug a little less harmless. The Black wasp. Ugly, and come to find out, it has a really painful stinger. To their credit, they are not really aggressive, but you know, sometimes you meet someone and you just don't get along with them, the chemistry is just off!

 

To be fair, it was mostly me I guess. It flew into the car window and landed on my hand, surprising me, and I panicked! It bit/stung me, I went to smash it on the door, and it bit/stung me for the second time. It. FUCKING. HURT! We had only just arrived at the top of park, at 3,848  feet! What a way to begin a pleasant day. I am very sentimental about Mount Diablo, it has soothed my nerves to know that even if you live in the valley, if you can see that mountain, then the Bay Area is close by. I get a little bogged down out here, my nerves fray, my depression gets to me, and of course, there is gun fire all around me, but I can always see Diablo from anywhere along Hwy 5, and feel like I am home when I need it. 

 

As for the grasshopper, I didn't find him on Mount Diablo, I found him at the Yolo Bypass wildlife area, in Davis. And he got nowhere near me, but damn did I have a tiny flashback of panic! I was not interested in being stung by yet another insect, especially since I haven't been stung once, since visiting the bypass for the first time several years ago. Lets keep that place pure. Soon, the ducks, geese, cranes, and stilts will arrive, and I plan to visit... often! So no drama please. I also have not ruled another visit to Mount Diablo! They have a lot of wonderful creatures to see, like the tarantulas, especially during their mating season in October, and foxes, coyotes and on occasion, the California Condors. I'm kinda planning for a visit there next month, but I have a long list of places I would like to visit. I dunno, who knows, it could happen!

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #3

 

“The autumn leaves remind me of my own faded memories.
The leaves hold their own precious stories,
which drift about in the wind,
finding a new place to settle
and continue to exist.

The bare branches of the elm tree
still stand tall and strong, like I do.
It is a reminder that life still continues
even during the most adverse times.

As I land gently on the grassy plain,
my attention is drawn to the sight of fallen autumn leaves,
floating across the steady stream of water.

Sherwin has presented me with
many of these beautiful leaves in the past.
They are symbols of our steadfast endurance as a couple
and bring warmth and joy to my heart.”

 
~Susan L. Marshall,

   Fleur of Yesterday

 

Go visit a park. Spend time in your garden. Visit a river, or the beach. Sit on your front or back porch and study the world around you. See the colors. Listen to the sounds. Just step out of this life we are forced to endure. There is so much more than the stupidity of the moment. Stepping away from it all, is the best way to be in the here and now. Make new memories by letting go for a little while!

 

 

Oh, There You Are!

 

“Thoughts swirled around her head like the leaves in the breeze.”

 
~Diana Jaques,

 The Falling Leaves

 

 I have been looking for a Green Heron this whole year, but as luck, and the rules of birding, would have you, I found one completely by accident, months after I should have. They are usually, dependably, everywhere! You remember me mentioning that birding is Sometimes about being in the right place, at the right time? Well once again, my avian friends proved it's true! I am still on a quest to find the Sandhill Crane, which have arrived in the San Joaquin Valley. The map says they are in Lodi, Mokelumne City, the Cosumnes Reserve, and Staten Island on the delta. They are here, I know they are, because you can track them here. I am just not seeing them. Yikes!

 

 So, a couple days ago, we decided to pick a spot on the map, and see if our luck could change a bit. The spot on the map we chose was Staten Island. We had never been there before, so it would be an adventure. As it ended up, there wasn't much to see yet, but it's only a matter of time until the rice is harvested, and will be replaced with water, to provide grain for the wild birds, but aren't quite there yet, so we left. On our way home, I spotted this lovely Green Heron, sitting on a telephone wire. I saw him just by chance! He moved to this tree, while I photographed him, and engaged in a little fishing in the ditch line. He was very accommodating of me, and made my time very happy, as he moved about into one beautiful pose to another. There's the rule of birding, you see what you didn't even know you wanted or needed, to see! 

 

I love it when that Pacific Flyway opens each Autumn. I have to thank the gorgeous migrating cranes, for helping me finally spot my Green Heron.

 

 

Autumn Leaf Of The Day #2

 “Autumn is a love affair with the earth, where every leaf is a love letter.”

 
~Jayita Bhattacharjee 

 

 

On The First Day Of Autumn

 

Crimson Marsh Glider

Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area

Davis, Ca

September 22nd, 2025 

 

 “I wish autumn came around twice in a year

 — first as a season, then as an event.”

 
~Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu

 

What a beautiful little creature! Yesterday, as a way of celebrating the first day of autumn, we took a little trip to the Yolo Bypass Wilderness Area, and our time there was definitely not wasted! There were few birds, but the insect world was working overtime! There were tons of dragonflies, and yellow jackets, which could be a little intimidating at times. I didn't photograph any of the yellow jackets, but it was definitely not for lack of opportunity! The Mexican Free-tailed bats should have quite a banquet this fall. I did photograph some really pretty dragonflies, and I will be sharing them this week, plus a new bug that I have never photographed before. A funny fella with BIG eyes! You'll see! Yolo Bypass should be full of all kinds of birds in October, it should be downright glorious! There is a lot of natural beauty to look forward to!

 

It was a good day!