Although we didn’t see flowers, we did spot what my plant app says is some sort of snowberry (or maybe an American beautyberry?) Whatever it is, the pop of color was vibrant.
I missed the best leaf color but trees like this made up for it. I should have saturated this photo to give more of a true sense of the brightness of the yellow.
I’d love to give you the name of this sculpture and I tried to figure it out from the map but to no avail. Just enjoy it for what it is and what you think it represents. I like to think of it as a wood sprite.
To give you a sense of size, here I am.
A bit more autumn color and inviting path waiting to take us farther in our explorations.
Jo’s walking and Becky’s back with her wonderful square challenge. Life is good. I’m back from my vacation with lots of photos and stories to share, so let’s start walking.
This trip was all about seeing friends but there was a lot of scenery too, autumn colors that I’d been craving. On the 2 1/2 day drive, I’d passed through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri before crossing the state line into Illinois. Especially in Missouri I drove through hundreds of miles of thousands of trees in their festive bronzes, oranges, reds, and a few luminous yellows. The day after I arrived, my friend and I drove to downtown Aurora, Illinois for coffee and friend time, starting at Endiro Coffee. Although I’m mostly a tea person and my coffee drinks are mochas or cappuccinos, Endiro serves what they call African Coffee (or tea): Easy on the espresso or black tea, lots of steamed milk and light and sweet masala spice. Once when our younger daughter and I were there, she had the African coffee which I tried and loved. That’s what I had this time.
Downtown Aurora has a rather nice river walk surrounded by lots of old, repurposed buildings. I love that they haven’t been torn down but are used just as they were.
I got my autumn color fix too.
It was a propitious start to my two-and-a-half week visit!
…in Arizona aren’t the same as in other parts of the US. Yes, there are yellows and reds but not in the leaves generally, at least in the desert part of the state. But the beauty is real as you can see from these photos taken on my recent walk. I’m heading back to Illinois tomorrow (driving) so I’ll have a chance to see the “normal” colors of autumn (or fall as many of us call it.) I’ll get to see what October looks like in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois and then on the way back, November in the same states. Posting may be sporadic but the camera will be at work so eventually you’ll see what I see. In the meantime, be safe and have fun.
Unfortunately, you’ve already seen my One Word Sunday post yesterday as I inadvertently scheduled it for Saturday as well as my Saturday post. I do have a probable reason/excuse. My laptop calendar shows Saturday as the last day of the week while the WP calendar puts Sunday at the end so I think I just got confused. Then we were gone all day yesterday on a grand trip that you’ll hear about, so tonight (Saturday) I just can’t get it together to do a big post for Sunday. Therefore…
…I offer you a bit of the type of autumn leaf color most people expect this time of year, some lovely yellow leaves that we noticed once we got into the mountains. Here in the desert part of Arizona where we’ve had lots and lots of rain finally, the prevalent color is green. 🙂
Now I’m off to schedule this post, very carefully, for just after Sunday morning starts, when I hope to be soundly sleeping. Enjoy.
Donna at Wind Kisses, creator of beauty through photos and words, is guest hosting the Lens-Artists Challenge this week in honor of her joining the over-the-hill gang in the same week. 🙂 (That includes me, so I feel free to say that.)
When somebody says to me-which they do like every 5 years- “How does it feel to be over the hill?” my response is, “I’m just heading up the mountain.” — John C. Baez
Sometimes the path leads literally over the hill as it did here in Cape May, New Jersey quite some years ago. There’s something intriguing about a path that leads through a portal, don’t you think?
Sunset in Wyoming. I was down near the cabin when I decided there might be a wonderful sunset in the offing, so I ran up a very, very long, steep hill (at 7,000’+ altitude) that the horses take some time getting up. I wasn’t over the hill but the sun certainly was. I was simply exhausted but managed to keep the camera steady.
I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top. — Will Rogers
Plants that are seemingly over the hill still may manage to keep their beauty. Of course diamonds always add to that!
Sometimes “over the hill” is a bit more permanent than just being old. This is being ancient!
These rock stairs invite you to go over the hill in Descanso Gardens in California.
One early morning on the way home, the Bighorns once again stunned as I drove over the hill (think mountain and very unimproved road) and get ready to put it in first gear and head down the mountain. You never know what view might await over the hill.
Over the hill means the hardest climb is over and the view is terrific. ~found on a coffee mug
Finally, we’re now in autumn and in many places leaves are now over the hill, aging gracefully and beautifully.
The baptism went beautifully and it was a delightful day with family. Today we’re heading home after a good three weeks. I hope your Sunday is blessed!
Not everything in nature is large and/or showy. Look closely and you can see other things that bring joy, such as this little cutie hiding among the reeds.
Look higher and you might see this somewhat fierce-looking guy sporting some very natty threads!
My friends in most of the rest of the US are talking about the chilling effect of fall/autumn. Believe me, we’re feeling the chill, too! It’s been 105 or below for the high for some days now and later this week, temperatures are set to plunge into the 90’s or possibly even 89 for the high! Getting my fleeces out from where they’re packed as we speak. We even have some leaves in fall colors, although most of them are still attached. 🙂 It’s definitely a new adventure.
This, that and the other thing 