Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Hello, Fall







           I live in an part of Northern California that is celebrated for wonderful bike riding.  We have hills and flats, towns and the ocean, small country roads and bike paths.  Bicycling can be treacherous, however, so I generally save long recreational bike rides for Sunday mornings when there is very little traffic.  I do not like riding in the foggy damp weather and we have had a long stretch of such early morning weather.  Finally, last Sunday was the first Sunday morning in a long time  when it was NOT foggy at dawn.  My camera and I set out for what I figured would be a relatively short ride - maybe an hour - but I got pulled in by Fall's appearance and stopped often for photos.

       I guess Fall is tiptoeing in.  He is making his presence known but not entirely blasting us yet.

He has started his fall leaf magic.
Brilliant painter, isn't he?


Are the leaves doing a folk dance or


standing like soldiers?




I wonder if the dead notice the changing earth?




I don't remember every seeing these berry-like things before.



They were so vivd sitting on the fence along the road.




How cool to look closely at this leaf!




Amazing sun shining through!


What colors!





This has got to be quintessential fall, waiting for winter.


16 comments:

  1. Are you starting to come around to liking fall? It's beautiful

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    1. Hi Beautiful! You are right - fall is beautiful (like you) - I still don't like the sharp late afternoon light nor the early closing of the day but I am gaining more appreciation for the brilliant colors. XOXOXOXO

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  2. Hey, great images you snapped. By the way, those "berry like things" that you refer require you to make a call to Homeland Security, I believe. Indeed, they are pods from Zeta Halfon, an alien and hostile planet. I knew the buggers would get here eventually. Do NOT hesitate.

    Also, I know bike riding can be hazardous, but my goodness, you ought to try it in Manila, the home of 12 million people plus, with rare stop lights and absurd drivers.!

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    1. I would LOVE to try bike riding in Manilla!
      and, I weill make that call to Homeland Security just as soon as I make a move to a place where the sun and tropical breezes envelop me every day! In the meantime, I might have to look for more alien stuff!

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  3. Ahh, inspiration for a fall type journey with my camera. But for now we are still shades of green here at the Jersey shore.
    The "How cool to look closely at this leaf" photo made me think of a palm and fortune teller and life lines.
    It's so weird, well probably not all that weird considering it is fall, but when Ross and I were out for a drive a couple of days ago, we saw that exact same hay stack. :)
    The photo of the gravesite made me wonder if we are our most brilliant colors in the fall of our lives.

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    1. Still green? We have been in this initial fall phase for about a month now.
      I LOVE your musing about being our most brilliant colors in the fall of our lives....Sometimes I agree with that. Hmmmmmm -- that might turn into a new post :)

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  4. Wow... beautiful pictures!
    You are soooo talented!

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  5. Your photo's have helped tip me over into enjoying fall! I always have a week or two of missing summer, but I do love autumns changes, and I'm ready to get out and walk through some crisp leaves.

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    1. I hear you on missing summer! The bike ride on Sunday even made ME okay with fall....

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  6. Beautiful photos as always, Gracie. Our leaves are nearing peak (a little early) and we've come close to frost/freezing temps a few nights in the past week or so.

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    1. I think it's interesting how fall arrives at different times in different parts of the country. It seems to be here early as well - although peaking won't happen for at least another two weeks. Frost already? We will likely see our first frost in November!

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  7. Ah, yes. Fall is definitely making its presence known in your neck of the woods! Beautiful!

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    1. I will agree that the colors are spectacular. If only I could buy the cutting light!

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  8. I'm so glad that you decided to share these photos; they're wonderful. We're still pretty green here in Virginia so I appreciate to preview.

    The shot of rolling hills beyond that grave is breathtaking. Seeing that every day must be nice. And those cute little berries could really pass for little mini pumpkins.

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    1. It is true that we are fortunate to have some very lovely scenery a bike ride away from daily light. What I wasn't able to capture well enough to post was the hot air balloons floating in the sky. There are thriving hot air balloon companies in the flats and , on clear weekend mornings there can be as many as six or eight colorful hot air balloons drifting by!

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