Autumn Photograph: The Leaves

 

Thoughts As September Ends

 I read a recent headline that time goes by faster as we age. Old news. Time perception changes like a lot of other things as we get older. 

In my mind, the visual I have of age years hasn’t changed much since it began to develop in my pre-school years. By  about 8 years, my internal visual timeline of aging was done. When I look at it in my imagination, there is a topographical flow, ups, downs, slopes that I have to move along to see, (in light of my having lived through those years). 

Nearing 80 years is the most terrifying to me. I have no references to access because my timeline hadn’t entertained my being that old. 

I don’t feel old. If I didn’t have a mirror, I’d have little understanding how old I am. I go past a mirror with the reaction…Oh! That is you!

This September has been a steep incline for grasping summer is over. The pumpkins help me transition to autumn. The Vermont foliage report map showing peak colors are in the north already is a shock. The next two weeks will be go out and about sooner than later because leaves will not wait to drop for anyone. I see a sidewalk tour this week to document colors’ progress.  

Mount Abraham
Lincoln Vermont

As October nears, I have been watching news reports recording political news, congressional hearings, interviews and speeches. Before that, I greatly limited reading or watching the news because doing so has a profound negative impact on my mental health. I can't do that anymore. 

This is not a time to limit the amount of news we read and watch. It is a time to know the facts. The excuse that supporters use that they don't like the man, but they support his policies is no good anymore. 

More Paint From a Photo Considerations

Adirondack Mountains 
a Vermont view

Update 28 September 2025: I just realized that the above mountains may actually be the Green Mountains up in Lincoln, Vermont and not the Adirondack Mountains. A photo posted on the 24th are the same location. I will check my folders for time and dates.

Below Snake Mountain

The Green Mountains
Addison Vermont View

The search continues for a photograph to paint for a blog series this year. Painting them all is a thought. Asking myself what am I looking for, my answer is clearly that I will know when I see it. 

In this selection, my heart goes wide viewing the first picture. The chicory tucked in the maple leaves has a cute kitten vibe. 

The last photo feels to me like taking in a big breath of crisp autumn air on a frosty morning.

As a painting, out of all the images posted thus far, The Green Mountains, is my favorite.

When Is It Time?

 My first reaction when I received an email about the iphone 17, I felt the here-we-go-again slouch. 

A week later, my iphone is acting weird, page freezes, keyboard glitches or no response to some things I click on. 

Hm? Is it time to trade in for an upgrade? I browse the Internet for the shopping page that helps you decide. To my surprise on an ATT page, the results are for an iphone 16. 

First, I have to know the plan I already have. Second, I need to know my phone service features. Lastly, I have to search online reviews and iphones. 

The best part, IMHO, is that I know where the local ATT phone store is to get help. 

How do you decide when to upgrade?

Afternoon Sky On Friday
September 2025

Day 269 of Week 39 September 2025

The horrors being done to  America as reported in the news can’t be ignored. Fascism builds. 

Speaking up against wrongs can be a risky thing to do. My recent dip into the Instagram waters has been interesting in helping me think about being on YouTube.

The debut of my YouTube channel next week is in a hold because I am not sure I can handle the criticism going public exposes me to. I need time to think, process, and decide if my mental health can handle posting videos.

Have a wonderful weekend

Possible Photographs to Paint From

Paint from photos I'm 

Thinking about for composition

Digitial photographs under Copyright

Adirondack Mountains 
Sorry, I think they are the Green Mountains. 

New Haven River
2024 runner up

Ripton Vermont
Robert Frost Interpretative Trail

New Haven River
Lincoln Vermont

Milkweed
Addison Vermont

Art In Autumn

Middlebury River
Acrylic detail

Last year I posted about the painting process, from a photograph, for the larger painting above, Middlebury River. 

This year I will do the same. Starting next Wednesday, 1 October 2025, I will begin the new series with posting the winning photo sketched. I am searching photo folders for a few images to consider. There are more pictures of fall than the other three seasons combined. 

A canvas is on my easel at the ready. 

Foliage & Apple Pie

Wordle in 3 for two (2) days** in a row makes me smile 😄. Yet, life, creating, blogging are all going slowish but not slower. 🥴

I heard on the news that the stress of the drought on trees can cause the foliage to turn colors sooner as well drop leaves sooner. That means now is the time to scout out locations to take photographs. Slow cannot rule when the leaf peeping   is upon us!

Going local is a goal this year. There are places in town that have a wonderful autumn vibe that I want to take pictures of. I can’t walk long or far with my bad knee, but I can walk far enough. 

Another goal is not to miss pick your own apples time. I have dreams of making a real Dutch Apple Pie. Vanilla ice cream and apple pie is a great American desert that has a quaint New England vibe. Change it up to be Dutch Apple Pie and vanilla ice cream, that raises pie vibe. 

* 24 September 2025

 Wordle in 3 for 3 days in a row!

* 9/25/2025 

Wordle in 3 for 4th day in a row

The Seasonal Transition

Hello to Autumn! 

Each year when the ambient temperatures cool and frost appears, there is a sense of prepare for winter.

The little shovel and scrapers go into the vehicle. Deicer spray in the closet. A mat is put down for wet boots. Gloves are moved up to the small drawer by the door. 

Soup weather brain lights brighten. Hot chocolate mugs are lined up. The crockpot silently sits on the counter.

There may be hot weather before the trees are all bare, but pumpkin hunting and hot soup season is here. 

Half Way Done September

   Almost

Autumn is 4 days away! 

Leaves in the higher elevations are showing fall colors. It is still daylight at 6 PM EDT, but I need to turn on  the living room lamp. I can see the sun on the tree tops and shadow down to the ground. 

Have a Bright Weekend!

Make hot chocolate mix

Line up apple recipes

List local fall festivals

Shop fingerless gloves online

Read about barn history

Buy a warm scarf

Bake spinach quiche

Pray for reasonable rain

Day 261 of Week 38 September 2025

 All week has felt like a Saturday to me. Posting the day and week numbers on Thursday instead of the usual Friday, feels right. I hope it doesn’t throw anyone off.

What new things have I learned this week? 

The pumpkin version of Special K is pretty good (based on my limited ability to taste). 

A quarter pound of Genoa salami is an act of denial for me because there is rarely enough left the next day to make the picnic sandwich I bought it for. I know I need a half pound.

I need a book to keep recipes in that has paper thick enough to glue cut outs in. My menu is so bland and predictable, my interest in preparing meals is nearing zero. I need to use recipe files.

I learned that if you don’t like something a person publicly advocates for, then in America, saying you don’t like that person, might get you targeted for hate speech. That is very scary. 😱 

As for information I didn’t know, I remember listening and knowing the tips are new to me, but I forget what the tips are. They are something about hiking safety. 

Oh! One is to not run because that can trigger a bobcat’s chase instinct. Back away slowly, look bigger, do not run. 

What new have you learned this week?

Rainbow Cloud 18 September 2025