One yellow, one green
Fall and summer and in between
Bye, bye summer, how great you’ve been.
I love summer. I love the sunshine. I love the heat.
But all good things must come to an end.
So in an effort to console myself, I went for a walk, camera in tow, to capture the beauty of fall.
With every picture I snapped, I was energized by the beauty around me.
Taking a camera made me look – actually look at the beauty around me.
I took 70 pictures and saved the best ones for you.
I love my neighbour’s house. I even like that this fence is in dire need of a paint job, it looks more vintage this way. It’s a 100-year-old house which means it’s been around as long as the greatest outdoor show in the world; The Calgary Stampede and Exhibition.
You might recognize the tops of these buildings as they’re featured on my banner photograph at the top of my blog. I once got a glimpse inside and it has those old elevators with the gate that you have to pull open and the apartments have hardwood floors and 7′ ceilings.
These flowers continue to hang on, mostly because, although it’s autumn we are still having summer like temperatures. It was around 25c (77f) this day. These flowers got me thinking about how I’m holding on to the summer of my life. At 49, it would seem I’m more in the fall of my life now…well really, really early fall!
I’m no photographer but I was very impressed with this photo! I like how clear and crisp it is in the forefront and how it blurs in the background. Wish I could say that was intentional but…
I have noticed how all the photogs mention what type of camera they have and although I’m not in their class by a far shot…I have a finepix Z, it’s set to ‘automatic’ and slides nicely into the front pocket of my jeans! 😉
Blowing these seeds, holding buttercups under my chin and chewing on the sweet nectar of clovers all hold the most wonderful childhood memories for me.
Hey, I guess that’s when I was in the spring of my life. 🙂
I stood under this tree and aimed up. You can’t really tell by this photo but the sky was completely clear.
Don’t tell anyone, but I actually stepped onto private property to take this shot. I just love this dead piece of wood in their front yard and how pretty it looks with the yellow leaves.
A solitary leaf under the tree it probably fell from. I tripped on these roots and became aware of this leaf as if it was vying for my attention so I snapped a picture.
This is one of my favourite shots of the day. I love the colours and couldn’t have set it up to look prettier if I tried!
oops is that my shadow bottom right?
These berries look juicy enough to eat but they’re poisonous from what I’ve heard. Does anyone know what they are?
Yes, summer is ending and I’ve been really sad about it. But on this day I’ve seen the beauty of autumn and have marveled at it. And just like fall reveals new wonders, perhaps there are wonders yet to be revealed in the autumn of my life.
Pingback: Sunday&Beach | MINDFUL DIARY
shianwrites said:
I’m sad about it too. You have a great eye, I really like all the pictures, especially the one of the sidewalk.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thank you very much S! It was a gorgeous day. 🙂
LikeLike
WordsFallFromMyEyes said:
What great photos – & I so love summer too.Your lone leaf on the root of the tree, though, that really stood out.
Re your other post on MrsFringe – yes! I will visit! But I wanted to say, that’s a great service you did her. I was talking with someone yesterday & they said New York/New Yorkers was FANTASTIC when they visited. Awesome, a dream to go there…
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks for stopping by WordsFallFromMyEyes (Great blog name by the way)
As for mrsfringe, I so enjoy her blog and I feature another’s blog every Friday! I don’t do the award thing (It’s too full of rules and work for me) but I did want to find a way to honour the many awesome bloggers out there!
I’m going to stop by your blog and check it out too – Happy Saturday!
Diana
LikeLike
WordsFallFromMyEyes said:
What a great idea, Diana – because I agree the awards can weigh heavily on my conscience! My first post this years was a new years resolution of writing more, awarding less. Works for me!
LikeLike
thoughtsfromanamericanwoman said:
I enjoyed your pictures of autumn. There is no shortage of photo opportunities no matter what season it is and you have captured fall beautifully! Patty
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thank you Patty, I think we were looking at each others pictures at the same time! I loved your post today 🙂
LikeLike
thoughtsfromanamericanwoman said:
Thanks! 😀 Great minds think alike!! LOL
LikeLike
mrs fringe said:
What a beautiful neighborhood! I love the peek into your city. I’ve never been, but the photos make a trip there very tempting. 🙂 You seem to be further into fall than we are, and I am still mourning the loss of summer. On the metaphoric side, I’m not mourning, I find something…right about being in the autumn of my life.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
You know, this is a beautiful neighbourhood and city! I enjoy living here very much. I mourn the end of summer too, I mean my twitter handle is wantsummerback – it’s clear I love summer!
I mostly agree with you on the metaphoric side. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts – it’s always good to see you.
LikeLike
newsofthetimes said:
Beautiful!! Fall is actually my favorite. And that is what I love about photography! I never notice details and photography makes me look around and notice beauty!! I love that! Great post!!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
thanks J!
LikeLike
joannerambling said:
What a beautiful photos fall/autumn is such a lovely time of year in it’s own right, I am one of those people who prefers the in between seasons when it’s not to hot or to cold……………
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
I believe you are with the majority. I love hot, but it has to be dry heat. 🙂
LikeLike
Andrea Kelly said:
Great photos! Your neighborhood looks beautiful in fall 🙂 I love the shot by the curb.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thank you so much…yeah that curb one seems to be a favourite even though it wasn’t particularly one of my faves! 😉
LikeLike
Andrea Kelly said:
It’s funny how that happens sometimes!!
LikeLike
elizabeth2560 said:
Great photos. I have lived in a place with eternal summers and I have lived in places with seasons. In my view the latter is preferable and not just because you are more able to appreciate a summer after winter, but rather because each season is unique and magnificent in its own way. So too your references to the seasons of our lives and your declaration of you being in the ‘ autumn’ of your life. (Me too). What a wonderful season to embrace! A time for reaping all that has been sown. A time for appreciating all the vibrant colours this season brings to us. A time for realising and relishing that life may be lived at a slower and yet somehow more enjoyable pace.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Wow Elizabeth – how profound! Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful thoughts with me. 🙂
LikeLike
Jeff Nelson said:
Fantastic photos.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thank you so much for stopping by and complimenting my photos Jeff!
LikeLike
stuffitellmysister said:
Thanks for taking us on the walk with you! I loved the visit…..great pics ♥
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks for coming along, loved having you!
LikeLike
stuffitellmysister said:
🙂
LikeLike
artsifrtsy said:
Nice set! I like getting to see a bit of your ‘hood. The curb is one I love and the yellow leaf on the dark dead wood – really nice. You have a good eye. BTW – the best camera in the world is the one you have with you. We are just starting to see color here – in a couple of weeks I’ll be shooting every hour of daylight I can steal.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
My camera is the best? And to think I picked it because it’s this pretty blue colour hahaha! I can’t wait to see your autumn photos!
LikeLike
artsifrtsy said:
If it takes being a pretty blue to go along with you it’s the best:) I’m waiting for a bit more color.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
and I will sit here patiently waiting while you wait. 😉
LikeLike
artsifrtsy said:
🙂 I’m in Michigan on a short business trip – there is already some color here. I’m getting antsy…
LikeLike
Margot Schwenk said:
Very nice pictures. It is a real pleasure looking at them and it makes you walking through the woods which I will do later on today! I like the season of Autumn very much. The air smells so clean and crisp. I always enjoyed the walks with my dogs through the woods. It would be a good idea to submit some of your pictures to a local newspaper.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Mom, yes you and I love walking – I got that from you. I hope you enjoyed your walk in the woods today. 🙂
LikeLike
Brigitte said:
D, lovely Fall pics. Fall’s my favorite season and I know you’re more of a summer person…still each season holds something special, I think. And I’ve lived in places where it seems summer all the time. Trust me, you tire of it. You’re quite the photographer! What a great idea to just go out and snap pics of things that move you.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thank you so much Brigitte. It was fun and I ran to 3 people I haven’t seen in some time. It was a great day. 🙂
LikeLike
Wyrd Smythe said:
You’re never too old to blow dandelion seeds! 🙂
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Agreed!
LikeLike
mylifeisthebestlife said:
Great pictures…I miss Calgary!
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks, I’m not a photographer but I thought they turned out ok. 🙂
LikeLike
thisislemonade said:
Beautiful. I especially love the contrast in the picture of the curb – not spectacular but that pile of golden leaves is just lush 🙂
I have a question…why aren’t you still blowing the seeds, waving buttercups under your chin and chewing clover? I didn’t realise that was only reserved for the “spring” of one’s life…no one ever told me that……… 😛
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
A very good question! I guess I just don’t stop to do it. But you’ve given me something to think about! Thanks for stopping by, it’s always good to see you. 🙂
LikeLike
billgncs said:
beautiful – Good job ! Here in Chicago we don’t have many trees, I miss them.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Bill! The City of Calgary aims to plant one tree for every two people. I like that!
LikeLike
billgncs said:
that’s a relief.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
haha Punny!
LikeLike
cyclingrandma said:
I agree. Hard to say good bye to summer. I have to pull the sweaters out already… ugh.
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
The last 24 hours have been the same here. But it’s supposed to warm up into the 70’s again starting Thursday! Fingers crossed and hanging on to the last of T-shirt weather. 🙂
LikeLike
bodhisattvaintraining said:
lovely photos, thanks for the peak around your neighbourhood 🙂
LikeLike
dianasschwenk said:
thank you and my pleasure!
LikeLike