Autumn Leaves

On my walk this morning I noticed the leaves are gradually losing their color, a tattle-tale sign that tells us autumn is here. I had my camera with me so I took a photograph of this tree near our home.

I always feel a little sad and reflective when summer ends and the days grow shorter. But I do love the subtle shift in the light especially in the early mornings, and the soft golden glow that wraps itself around our hearts reminding us, change is upon us.

quote for the day;

“It is time for us to kiss the earth again, it is time to let the leaves rain from the skies, let the rich life run to the roots again.” – Robinson Jeffers

Gaia’s Hideaways

My early childhood was spent exploring the fields and nearby ranches next to our family’s farm. I roamed the countryside riding my donkey, collecting feathers, rocks, and arrow heads. Catching tadpoles, climbing trees, and communing with nature.

Today, even though I live in the city, I still love to explore and find magical places where I can spend some time close to nature. I usually take my camera and photograph anything interesting I might find along the way.

It’s amazing what you can find even in highly dense residential areas. It seems nature always finds a way to carve a place out for herself even in the most inhospitable environments.

Here are some beautiful, peaceful places I like to visit.

quotes for the day;

“Those of us who consider ourselves to be somehow involved in the birthing of a new age, should discover Gaia as well. The idea of Gaia may facilitate the task of converting destructive human activities to constructive and cooperative behavior. It is an idea which deeply startles us, and in the process, may help us as a species to make the necessary jump to planetary awareness.” – James Lovelock

“Shall I not have intelligence with the earth? Am I not partly leaves and vegetable mould myself.” – Henry David Thoreau

Bees & Flowers

I photographed this busy little bee while I was on my morning walk today. I was admiring the flowers in my neighbors garden and noticed that there were bees everywhere.

I am so happy to see them! Without bees, we would experience worldwide famine and starvation. Bee populations have dwindled to a quarter or less of their previous numbers and insecticides are blamed for much of their decline.

So the next time you stop to admire all the beautiful flowers in bloom, or sweeten your tea with honey, give thanks to the bees.

thought for the day;

“Veiled in this fragile filigree of wax is the essence of sunshine, golden and limpid, tasting of grassy meadows, mountain wildflowers, lavishly blooming orange trees, or scrubby desert weeds. Honey, even more than wine, is a reflection of place. If the process of grape to glass is alchemy, then the trail from blossom to bottle is one of reflection. The nectar collected by the bee is the spirit and sap of the plant, its sweetest juice. Honey is the flower transmuted, its scent and beauty transformed into aroma and taste.”  – Stephanie Rosenbaum

Cob Houses

Over the weekend, I read an article about a local artist that creates wonderful Cob structures to live and play in and fell in love with the look of them. What a great alternative to the conventionally built house!

I did a search on the web for information about Cob Houses and found this video.

An Old Woman Of The Road

O’ TO have a little house!
To own the hearth and stool and all!
The heap’d-up sods upon the fire,
The pile of turf against the wall!

To have a clock with weights and chains
And pendulum swinging up and down!
A dresser filled with shining delph,
Speckled with white and blue and brown!

I could be busy all the day
Clearing and sweeping hearth and floor;
And fixing on their shelf again
My white and blue and speckled store!

I could be quiet there at night
Beside the fire and by myself,
Sure of a bed loth to leave
The ticking clock and the shining delph!

Och! but I’m weary of mist and dark,
And roads where there’s never a house or bush,
And tired I am of bog and road
And the crying wind and the lonesome hush!

And I am praying to God on high,
And I am praying Him night and day,
For a little house – a house of my own –
Out of the wind’s and the rain’s way.

– Padraic Colum

Gaia

“Those of us who consider ourselves to be somehow involved in the birthing of a new age, should discover Gaia as well. The idea of Gaia may facilitate the task of converting destructive human activities to constructive and cooperative behavior. It is an idea which deeply startles us, and in the process, may help us as a species to make the necessary jump to planetary awareness.”
– James Lovelock