the week for fall

post #465
          Fall in Appalachia is shorter than in New England, where I lived until I went off to college. This year our part of the world has had a very long dry stretch. I expected the leaves might just drop off before turning colors. Not. We have actually had a real fall over the last few days! Here are some of this year's photos, starting with ones around my little pond:

I was looking for the red-winged blackbird nest(s).

cattails gone to seed early

a cattail still intact

Notice the raindrops....  Time to go protect the camera -- and pass the mustard....

 What follows are a few out and about photos:

The field in the far distance is on my land.

my mailbox, on Sideway Road

on the ridge road

a driveway that does this display every year

not always looking this amazing

 What will tomorrow bring, nearby and for our nation. And actually for the world. I'm grateful to be living in such a beautiful corner. I wish for everyone a welcoming place to call home.

license [plates] to photograph

post #464
       Long story -- Friday morning I planned to drive two hours west to Frankfort, Kentucky, the capital of our state.  At 10 a.m. I would get on a small boat for an hour's tour sponsored by the local Audubon group. We'd look for birds and wildlife in general AND learn more about the way the river fits into the landscape along with some history. Because I already had an appointment for that afternoon in nearby Lexington, I thought I could make it work, despite the challenges of getting there and finding the boat landing location. I had never been there before.
      OK, well, several things got in my way. I knocked my glasses off the bed just before leaving home, and a lens fell out and of course I couldn't see to fix it. But then I remembered the eye doctor in Morehead opens at 8 or 8:30, on my way, so I could take it to them to fix! And they did! But since I hadn't left home in a timely manner anyway, it was now going to be a close call to get there in time. I didn't put the location info into my phone in a timely manner either. And of course I had to visit the rest stop on the interstate, since we had been notified that there were no facilities on the boat!
        SO, as you can imagine, a little extra errand here, a little vagueness about the layout of Frankfort and the river there, and a short side trip to the parking lot of a bourbon distillery by mistake, I didn't get there in time. However, I am proud that I missed the departure by only 10 minutes at the most.  Even though I had really wanted to have been on the boat, by now I was mostly amazed to be where I had planned to go, with my camera in my car! 
        OK, making art makes for better self-esteem, so I had an idea of how to honor all the people who managed to get there in time.  I would take some photos of their license plates and bumper stickers -- knowing how interesting the folks might be who had been just a bit better about getting ready to go out on the river on this beautiful day. (Every plate is a Kentucky plate.)
        SO, here are the photos. I have to add that during my recent trip to northern California I had encountered more than a few people who had looked politely stricken when I would tell them I was from Kentucky. They didn't know whether to ask about my politics -- how could I be for Mitch McConnell -- or not.  On these cars are several stickers in support of Amy McGrath, who is running against McConnell... so I hope this reassures folks not in Kentucky that many of us are indeed trying our best to finish his Senate career. 

Anyway, here are my photos, and thanks for sticking with me through this shaggy dog story!!

THE EMPTY BOAT LANDING

Note: I don't show more than one plate of the same kind, AND my car is one of the plates..... Also, the University of Kentucky basketball team is called the Wildcats....

If only Google Map could tell me that the entrance to the boat landing is exactly opposite this unique row of multi colored buildings, I might have made it on board. I hope I get to meet some of these people some other time if I ever have a second chance to go out on the river with them.

 

sharing an adventure: Point Reyes National Seashore

post #463
           Sometimes adventures just simply happen, even when you are doing something else. I had one recently. It lasted for a single afternoon, but I literally went somewhere I had never been before. Now that I am back home I'm able to post some iPhone photos from that time. I know many people who look at this blog won't be able to visit there, so it's always a  happiness to share an opportunity I have been fortunate to have. 
           Thanks to Liz for suggesting we go there --  the day we chose was the one when the water in her neighborhood was closed down for repairs. All day! I also thank her for holding on to the back of my jacket when I briefly photographed the elephant seals. No fence, not safe, high cliffs, etc. I didn't want to forget I was taking a photo and shouldn't step forward, etc.  
            Oh, did I mention the wind yet? It was constant and very, very pushy.
        

at the beginning of the last part of the path

the fartherest tip of the land -- an area called Chimney Rock

looking south all the way to Antarctica!

the main wind-surviving tree

looking back to the way back

private beach and hideout for elephant seals -- hard for humans to get there to disturb them!

The ride out toward Chimney Rock features some cattle farms -- nothing fancy, hard workers:

A few other photos from the Bay Area of San Francisco, California:

two views of looking out my bedroom window at Liz's redwood tree....

my great nephew and niece (!!)

from the [moving] airport bus, after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, on the way to Liz's house

 So, adventures are good but so is home.  I'm always grateful for friends and family. And fun.

Miss Elaine E-us

post #462. 
       My plan for today was to feature photos that I want to share but which have never had a place in any of my "themes."  It turns out I am not fully ready to show those yet. So, instead, here are some of the unconnected photos I also want to post.  They may be strange bedfellows, as the expression goes, but so be it for today. (It's possible that all the current impeachment upheaval, sadly, is having repercussions in my own day to day life, just from trying to make sense of so much that is terribly hard to reckon with.)

So, some quiet moments, for now, with additions for this post during the week to come: 

sometimes known as Quaker Ladies

This moss was in bloom, for a day or two, and one year I happened to see it!

In London, at the British Museum, some books we might never GET AROUND to reading....

my Norwegian friend Reidunn with the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum

standing room only....

This past week, George Ella's beloved editor, Richard Jackson, whom she worked with since early in her publishing career, died in Baltimore, MD. He took a chance on me for the photos for George Ella's Counting on the Woods, and I am one of many who loved working with him. He will always be a treasure.

summer

our old barn in winter (not made as a black and white photo)

nine for now, more to come, laugh with a friend today, and have hope

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Monday's Add-ons:

Friday's Add-ons:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to this garden maven!