Summer to Fall

Fall color on October 26, 2017
in Bishop, California 
which is along the Highway 395 corridor

For me the seasons seem to be zipping by more quickly all of the time*. It seems to me I was just starting seeds in my mini greenhouse. Now I am pulling out spent plants and depositing them in the green bin for pick up.

*Early in my nursing career 

                                                      when I would visit my parents 

                      on their farm South of Shenandoah, Iowa 

Stephen B. Howard

my dear, dear, dear stepfather 

warned me of this. 

  

Hopeful fall will arrive soon
Also the maple tree's colorful leaves

The 2023 autumn equinox here in the northern hemisphere occurs on September 23 "officially" at 06:50. Many of my local friends are commenting that day light is arriving later in mornings. Since I am an early riser I for sure notice this shift.

Fall color along the Santa Fe River Trail
featuring the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
in the background

Frenchy's Field was a short walk from Santa Fe 1950's Stamm home. Then another brief walk through the park to the Santa Fe River Trail. Shasta and I did this almost every morning then frequently repeated it with Dwight when he was up and ready to begin his day. On many occasions we walked in the dry river bed rather than on the concrete sidewalk where Shasta could run off leash. Of course if a coyote was spotted we'd keep her on lease, otherwise she would be off chasing the interesting looking BEing.

The Japanese maple tree on the West side of my front yard still remains clothed in bright green leaves. The breath taking vibrant color of the turning leaves has yet to occur. I notice other local maple tree leaves are still green as well. On a recent weekend PBS Newshour I heard a clear explanation of why leaves on trees change color. As usual I found the scientist's clear explanation helpful in understanding why all the local tree's leaves mostly remain green.

Hopefully fall with cooler temperatures will arrive 
so the maple tree in my front yard
will display colorful leaves like in this picture.

Cathie and Rose
November 18, 2009
in Bridgeport, California

Dwight and I along with our dog or dogs often spent a month over Thanksgiving in the Mono Lake area. We usually stayed at the Walker River Lodge in the ground floor "apartment" where the view out the kitchen window is the Walker River. The surrounding scenery is spectacular in the fall with the air both crisp and clean. We noticed the air since we were living south of Sebastopol where the air quality was often compromised ie full of smog.

Dwight and Rose with 
the Sawtooth Mountains in the background.
We were on a few mile walk along 
the road up to Twin Lakes.

Snow always remains on the highest tops of the Sawtooth Mountains. And fisher people were often seen along the shores of Twin Lakes  reeling in trout when we would drive up there to walk. On Bridgeport's Main Street we would see the trout frozen in Ken's Sporting Goods cases that sit out in front of their establishment.

I feel so fortunate to have been able to spend so much time in the most beautiful area in the world. Also grateful to be able share the time with my husband, such an exceptional BEing, Dwight J. Sims. 

"As we attune to rhythm and flow of the seasons" (Jo Poore) may we all celebrate with a hardy

Turning

 

Cottonwood leaves turning golden
along the Santa Fe River Trail.

“It’s a challenging time—

but also an exciting time 

as the forces of change gather strength, 

and the veil thins 

between the world of the seen and the unseen!  

 This is the time to ground, 

to weave the webs of resilience 

that keep us connected to our loved ones—

those who are alive 

and those who are on the other side of the veil—

to commit to defending our democracy, 

to claim our power 

and raise our voices!”  STARHAWK 10/17/20

As we look around us may we “celebrate what’s right with the world”. And may we all notice the turning of seasons so enthusiastically demonstrated by the leaves changing from all shades of Summer greens to a myriad of Fall colors. Here are a few pictures taken in my garden just a week ago or so.

Hargrande Apricot tree leaves

Saint Theresa red grape vine 
with the morning sun shining
through the turning leaves.

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
native to the tall grass prairies

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

Woods’ Rose (Rosa woodsii)

One fourth cord of Pinon Pine firewood
from EcoFirewood 
now covered to be kept dry
and ready for burning in our fireplace.

This picture below was taken around noon this Tuesday past from our door to the backyard. At this time of the year we are usually enjoying our midday meal and/ or our evening meal outside at this glass topped table we inherited from Dwight's granny.

“Early winter storms in New Mexico 

are a mixed blessing, 

reminding us of the storms in our country

and the storms in our world. 

Storms bring moisture to our parched land 

in the high desert southwest, 

and they clear the air 

of the heavy smoke 

from the terrible fires north and west of us.” 

UPAYA Institute and Zen Center (10/27/20)

As we await Halloween, All Saints' Day and the 2020 election results, may we celebrate what's right with world and 

Picnic for Autumnal Equinox

Western Spiraea (Spiracea douglasii) in her Autumn attire.

Today, September 22, 2016, is the zenith of Fall, aka Autumnal Equinox.This day, says Clea Danaan “is also called Mabon, after the Welsh god of love and youthful strength. He is a sun god, honored at this time as night and day sit momentarily in balance before slipping toward darkness. At Mabon, the Goddess evolves from mother to crone and the God prepares for death. The land is ripe, full of bounty; this is the Pagan Thanksgiving. It is a cooling, bittersweet holiday, for the bounty of ripe apples will fall, the leaves turn and drift to the ground. The sleep of winter is near.” 

In the vein of using the “gifts of autumn” we might gather locally grown eggs and beans, preparing them for a picnic to enjoy the glorious weather we are presently blessed with here in Northern California.

Here’s a recipe by which we can enjoy the ducks eggs our resident flock produce:

DEVILED EGGS

Hard boil 6 eggs, plunging them into ice water to cool enough to peel and cut in half. Set whites on a deviled egg plate & set aside.

In a bowl empty the yolks and add:

• 1 ripe avocado
• Juice of 1 Meyer’s lemon
• 1/4 C. organic olive oil
• 1 T. organic Dijon mustard

Season to taste with 

• Sea salt 
• Freshly ground pepper 
• Freshly chopped chives
• Thyme

Blend with a hand blender (or mixer) until smooth. Then place a large soup

spoon full into each 1/2 cooked egg white. 

As you can see the color of the deviled eggs is different than
when mayonnaise is used for fat rather than avocado.

Feel free to add organic edible flowers on top for decoration. The pineapple sage is in bloom here at MuRefuge right now.These would be a lovely decorative addition and taste delicious, too. 

SLOW COOKED BAKED BEANS

Pick over and wash 2 C. organic small navy beans (or any other small white bean you prefer) adding them to a bean pot with 5 C. water. 

Add

• 6 “diced” organic bacon slices
• 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1 C. finely chopped organic onion
• 3 T. dark organic unsulfured molasses
• 2 T. organic Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. freshly chopped thyme
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 1/2 T. grated organic fresh ginger
• 6 grinds of organic black pepper

We don’t tolerate garlic here, but for those of you who do, adding 2 cloves of organic minced fresh garlic adds another dimension to the flavor.

Put the lid on the bean pot and set it in the oven. Bake at 250 degrees for 14-16 hours when the bean will have turned a rich dark reddish brown.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) in her colorful Fall glory.

While we enjoy our picnic on this glorious Autumnal Equinox, may we each