October's Bright Blue -

After weeks of daily drizzle, we finally had a real, bright blue October day! The sky and leaves were so gorgeous that Jack (my black lab) and I took the camera out to capture a bit of it during out walk.

As I've said, my favorite time of year... The incredible variety of shapes, the multiple textures, the earthy aroma of fallen leaves, the sun glinting off of vibrant colors, the crisp feel of the air...

The leaves fluttering to the ground in golden showers with the occasional breeze... I have a new potential tag for this - rather than 'air decorations' (which I have never found satisfying) , how about 'nature-confetti'? Still not perfect. Any other ideas?

Beautiful clusters and stands of October color along the roadsides....

It is also finally cool enough to begin to indulge in that heated nectar of the gods - Dagoba Xocolatl Hot Chocolate! My taste buds, and blood-sugar levels, are doing the happy-happy dance of hot chocolately goodness!

Autumnal Quote for the day:

Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees.

--Faith Baldwin

Sunshine and 'snow'...

We're having record-breaking or near-record-breaking high temperatures here at the end of May... (see that *hot* sun bursting through our Big-Leaf Maples? Indigenous to this part of the country - they truly have BIG leaves. Larger than your head. Larger than a dinner plate! Too big to be pressed in any of my existing flower presses even.)


For our un-airconditioned Pacific NW houses, this means one must close all the curtains, run all the fans and try not to move to energetically, or you will get much too hot!


Another option is to take a walk through the 'snow' that is currently falling from the cotton trees... (It *looks* like it ought to be cool, at least)


I believe it was about this time last year that I posted about our late-spring 'snow' season. I've still yet to come up with a better descriptor than 'air decorations'... Still open to suggestions!!!


I loved the juxtaposition of 'snow' and bright green, new growth...