It's a classic rainy day. Not quite as heavy as the deluge we had a couple of weeks ago, but a nice, steady soaker. If it's anything like last year, the ground won't quite dry out again until June. I can already see the mushrooms popping up everywhere--I'll probably be taking even more photos of the same varieties I've taken before, as excited to post them as if it were a brand new topic. I'm the one walking around with my head down, afraid I might miss one.Same with the colored trees (when I think to look up). Between the storms, we have these bright, intensely beautiful days and the red, orange and yellow leaves standing out against the solid evergreens just gets me every time. I can't take enough pictures. I have my favorite trees around the area, and I might shoot them over again each year, as giddy about it as if it were the first time I'd ever seen seen them. Have you seen an October Glory maple? 'Nuff said.
These photos, here, though, start with our front patio.
Our American Tulip Tree is all bright yellow right this very moment. That's a leafy close-up, right there. A longer view is next, with the Japanese barberry and Japanese maple in the foreground. I'm constantly out there, just staring at them. Sometimes, there's a camera in my hand.
Yesterday, one of those postcard days, Tom and I took a lovely drive to Grass Valley and Nevada City just because. They're each only about 15 minutes from here, so it wasn't much of a journey. I took the next photo on East Bennett Dr., which is the way to go to Grass Valley from our house. It's always beautiful, but when the big-leaf maples are bright yellow, it's magical.
We tried to get a little bit above the town of Grass Valley to get a long shot of how it looks with the autumn colors. Not easy to do, because, well, the trees are always in the way. This is the best I could do.
We got out to walk around Nevada City with our ice cream cones. That's Tom popping his head out of a traditional Maidu nation dwelling which is set up, along with a very well-used grinding stone, on a tiny corner plot that was ceded to the tribe to keep as their very own. So generous, we are. You're welcome.
We headed home after also enjoying an artisan show and a co-op art gallery. I cannot seem to decide which arts organization with which to affiliate myself.
Standard Time is finally back. It's always a huge relief, for some reason. I love Standard Time. Why so much DST? My morning walks have been indistinquishable from those I might take around midnight, lately. This morning, though, I could actually see the doe I frightened trot away in her graceful consternation. There's a buck that's been hanging around, of late, no doubt looking for her. He's also been munching on some of my plants, even the one's I've "protected". He just rips the little cages right off. Ah, well.
Right now, as soon as these pictures load, I'm going upstairs to stoke the wood stove and start pizza dough for dinner. Next time, I'll either post my newest art (think hard-boiled) or my fun with knitting. Hm. How to decide...
