Monday, October 27, 2014

Octobers End


If ever there was a morning I regretted not having my camera along, this morning was it.  It was not exceptionally early, when we headed out the door.  Around seven o'clock, a gray morning, we were not woken up by the normal light!


Leaving Mister Cat and the photographer, who would NEVER leave without a camera, still sleeping. As we get outside, we are met by a crimson bright and gold sky to the East, heralding an approaching storm.  A fabulous drama in the distance.  Just beautiful!


Another reason for a camera today and this time of year in particular is because our neighborhood is dressed in her October best!  With all the fun corn stalk and bright pumpkin and squash displays on many porches and front steps.  There are scare crows and spiders.  Spider webs and bats.  Gravestones and skeletons.


As we go along, this particular morning and turn to go up Mark's Lane we see a magnificent rainbow,  spanning a bridge from one mountain range to another, across the San Benito Valley.  It was breathtaking!  People coming out of their houses taking pictures with I phones and cameras... while I had left both at home!


Lucky for us, we made it home just before it started raining!  Snug now, Garbo and Mister having eaten their breakfasts, the photographer and myself enjoying a cup of coffee, a bagel with cream cheese, gravlax and slivers of red onion.  A breakfast fit for both kings and queens.


As October is coming to an end our tomato plants are ready to give up the ghost.  We have truly enjoyed those little gems for a long time.  Preparing one of my favorite pasta dishes a couple of days ago, cooking cherry tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, hot red pepper flakes, oregano and calamata olives. Adding a handful of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano before serving.... saying farewell to picking tomatoes on the back deck for a while.


Grateful to have thyme, rosemary and basil still, to stuff into soups, stews and chile con queso during the upcoming cooler season!

There are candles to light, movies to enjoy, hot tea, apple cider and chocolate to pour into our cups, or a glass of red wine to warm us up!


Come on Autumn.....  we are ready!

Monday, October 6, 2014

(some of) Our Dogs


Someone forwarded the following sentiment to us in an email this week.
A few days later I saw these same words posted on social media.
True words!


Words that tug at my and the photographers heart:



"Dogs come into our lives


to teach us




about Love,



they depart


to teach us about loss.


A new dog



never replaces



an old dog,



it merely expands



the heart!


If you have loved


many dogs



your heart



is




Very



BIG".

(Not all the dogs that have shared in our life are depicted here, most are.... Blackie (for one) who lived with us for 15 some years, is missing. We will feature him another day. Blackie was a small dog with a BIG life and a LOT of heart. John's best friend!)