"This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affectations glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn."
Swans in the Alpsee....the ice had broken up and these two were the first to arrive!
Well, we have almost made it to the end of 2014... as I write this, it is sunny - BUT - the winds are howling...my home is shaking... still, we have power - so I am grateful! I am happy I decided to reopen my Blog.. and write...to those who still come to visit - you are inspirational to me. To those who just come by and *peek in* - I hope you enjoy my photos. I took these during late Winter about 10 years ago when I was at an Opera Festival in Munchen. I would drive down to a favourite spot (near Fussen) to enjoy a real Bavarian Winter!
I wish you all a healthy and happy 2015! Love, ♥ Robin ♥
It's cold.... but no snow (alas) and no rain (thank goodness)...I am by myself this evening, but I don't feel alone... I had some calls from lovely friends...some e-mails, e-cards and gifts to open! Reflecting on the way my year began - in hospital with severe burns - I consider myself blessed because God saved me...to take walks among the beauty of Nature, to attend Opera, my passion, to share laughs (and yes, a few tears) with friends, to feel the lips of my love kiss me... I am sharing one of my favourite Christmas Cards I sent out a few years ago... one of my Traditions is to write a poem within the card.... this is the poem I chose for 2014....
Winter Trees, by William Carlos Williams
*All the complicated details of the attiring
and the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among the long branches
Thus having prepared their buds
against a sure Winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.*
Whatever your faith, even if you have none, I wish you health, happiness and love. May 2015 bring you health and joy.
Always,
♥ Robin ♥
I photographed the Christmas Crescent Moon - thirty minutes apart....I love how the sky changed from Lilac to Ebony.
No new post yet....but I couldn't resist adding my ususal Snowflakes..... it's December.... and here are a few photos my Chris took of Rhinebeck on Thanksgiving. I hope you like them... let me know. Hugs, ♥ Robin ♥
Ah.....after being in *Heaven* for two weeks in Santa Fe, then being in *Foggy Purgatory* in San Francisco, it was great to return to the Valley of the Moon - and spend time with Joyce and Mimi!
Russian Sage...my FAVOURITE plant! I first *discovered it 14 years ago in Santa Fe!
Look closely....a flock of Geese, *honking* their way through the Evening Sky....
Another gorgeous Sunset...(you know I never enhance my photos..)
The One and Only Mimi!
The first few days I was there.....*Mother Nature* was petulant....we had clouds and even some rain! (Still, it was in the 70's...so much warmer than SF!)
Mist over the Valley of the Moon
Shopping for Mimi....don't you love the name of the Pet Store!
Look closely....there is Joyce entering the Pawsarottis!
Critters
Mr. Jack Rabbit
Show me your Ears!
Then there were two!
*My* Woodpeckers
Their Tree in Summer
Sadly, last Winter, there was a terrific storm and one of the tree branches came down...killing one of the Woodpecker Family..
But there they are! Beautiful and angry that *that Girl with the Camera* is back!
Look closely...there are two! The Streetlight where they go to *complain about me* is just across from their tree!
Sunset through the Trees
*Not So Wild Critters*
On one of my walks, I encountered this sweet, Orange cat! (Sssh....do NOT mention it to Mr. Orange)
Hmmmm..I like you, might jump down to visit!
I really like you! So I will rub against your feet!
Mr. Grey lives next door to the *other* Mr. Orange....don't know if they are friends....
Geese!
Deer!
Mama, Yearling and Fawn
Quail!
Darn....though I did see a few, It was hard to photograph them....they are so speedy!
You see, they ARE plentiful... even the Weather Vanes have them!
There was also time for....OPERA! Joyce and I went to a Met HD Broadcast from 2007 of Gounod's *Romeo et Juliet*...with Anna Netrebko (I am a huge Nebtreko fan) and Roberto Alagna.....(I have never seen or heard it before..EXCEPT for this lovely Waltz...) Just loved the Costumes. the Set and the Singers acting abilities...(sadly, the score was for the most part unmemorable)...
Baseball
Joyce and me (Baseball fans...though not for the same team)..watched a few games..including a 14 inning (that's over 5 hours long, folks) game between the Phillies and giants....Mimi, wisely, gave up and went to sleep!
Mimi just couldn't take all of the 14 innings of Giants/Phillies Baseball!
And...I've saved the best for last...
Last night, out for a final *Violet Hour* Walk....I felt someone looking at me.....I glanced around and ...OMG..here's who I saw...
You KNOW I have been wondering for a while *What Does the Fox Say*.... ah...he didn't say anything..except with his beautiful eyes! I was honoured he didn't run...and stayed for me to take these photos...our eyes did meet, and I think he knew I was a friend!
All in all, I had a wonderful and relaxing sojourn in the Valley of the Moon! Just home...and a wonderful surprise....NO FOG! In fact, it's quite warm...70 degrees!
Okay....I am refreshed and ready for August AND Autumn! But, sadly, this is my last post. As so many know, fewer people are on the Blogs - and on mine, no comments for the past few months....so, I am *retiring*...
July has been a rough month for me...mostly cold, grey, windy days and nights... overwhelmingly depressing? Oh yes.... I dislike San Francisco Summers....particularly this year after spending two glorious, happy weeks in Santa Fe...seeing Operas and being with the man I love. I have not felt so alone in quite a while.
That being said, I have tried to combat my sadness by photographing things bright and warm looking.
Don't these look like tiny Bananas?
Mr. Orange waiting for his Dinner!
Although the nights have been foggy, I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of La Bella Luna, peeking through the misty veil....
That's all I can say.....less than two weeks until July ends....
BUT, I am travelling North to the Valley of the Moon on Sunday for a few days with Joyce and Mimi....it will be warm! Hooray!
A lover of all of life's beauties - music, poetry, nature, animals, the ever-changing moon, the smell of jasmine at twilight. Thunder and lightning in the Summertime. The smell of Pinon after the rain. Running through crisp, multi-coloured Autumn leaves with my favourite Chocolate Lab, Walking in the first snowfall of Winter and tasting snow on my tongue. Believing in the power of love - no matter what...
