Sign of the Times

I couldn't help but take this snapshot of Honeycrisp apples on sale at my local grocery store.  It helps to remind me that September is almost here, and along with it the eventual arrival of Rosh Hashanah and the slow transition to autumn.  I am looking forward to the season of apples and honey!

Late Touch of Autumn

Whenever I desire to enjoy a touch of autumn in Phoenix, however late, maybe I should look to the vines.

A Little Bit of Autumn in Sedona, AZ

As autumn-starved as I have been lately, my craving was satisfied today in Sedona, thanks to my habit of looking upward into trees' leafy crowns.  I am not sure what types of trees these are, although I think the first kind here might be cottonwoods. These trees are absolutely beautiful...and a much needed touch of serenity upon my life. Enjoy.

Lastly, throughout Tlaquepaque today were autumnal arrangements like this, above, complete with plump, fiery orange pumpkins.

A Skullful Celebration

It's that time of year: Happy Halloween and Dia de los Muertos!

Pumpkins

More pumpkins, just because I love their shapes and colors. Above, I should have captured in full the yellow pumpkin on the bottom, as I love pumpkins that come in less popular colors. I love the deathly pale white pumpkin, also on top, and the short, squat reddish orange pumpkins, below. There is also the one in the shape of a peanut, below at the top right, that's both quirky and fun.

Ristra Fiesta

Nothing says American Southwest better than a chile ristra. It reminds of days back in Santa Fe, during late summer, when vendors would roast chiles out on strip mall parking lots along Cerillos Road. Such a good scent, it quickly became associated with the arrival of autumn. I love the festive multicolored ones the best.

Into the Spirit

Christmas lights or carved pumpkins, I love it when people get into the spirit of the season. The people at this house in Phoenix invited a ghoul to hang out over their front yard during the run-up to Halloween, and so it spends its days and evenings offering everyone a spooky greeting.

In a Land Without Crows

Autumn is also the season when people indulge their cutesy inclinations. Maybe it's due to all those pumpkin spice baked goods. Owners of this shop might have forgotten that there are no crows inhabiting the Phoenix area, or maybe they're just indulging in wishful thinking, like my often futile search for trees changing leaf color this time of year.

Autumn Fix in Prescott, AZ

Because I was in desperate need of my fill of autumn, today I traveled north to Prescott, an Arizona city blessed with four seasons. Many of the deciduous trees in this area of Arizona are cottonwoods, but the Courthouse Square, the heart of Prescott's historic downtown district, has a series of tall, mature elm trees. That's what is featured here, the beautiful golden foliage of elm trees in middle October. Enjoy autumn's spectacular magic!

Gourds Galore

It is that time of year in the Valley when pumpkins and other gourds descend upon us, loaded in boxes and begging for a seasonal home.  It is autumn in Phoenix, and, as always, I am missing the autumnal chill, the rainy days, and the fiery display of changing leaf color.  As usual, I am trying to reconcile classic signs of fall with the sights of palm trees and cacti, which weren't part of my Midwestern upbringing.  But the weather is now markedly more pleasant than in previous weeks.  The temperatures have dipped well into the (upper) double digits, and the mornings are wonderfully cool.  Here's to cooler days ahead and to the colorful beauty of gourds. Thanks to our nearby dueling Trader Joe's and Whole Foods for making these two photos happen.

Seeking Signs of Autumn in Phoenix

I might have mentioned this before, but I love autumn, and one of my difficulties with now living in Phoenix, AZ, is the Valley's near complete lack of autumn. True, the heat that presses down upon the Valley in summer lessens considerably, loses its intensity, and in the autumn and winter months we do enjoy cool weather and sometimes beautiful rainy days. However, this is not the autumn I am familiar with, being a born-and-bred Midwesterner. Four fully and uniquely defined seasons are a beautiful thing; they help to provide the punctuation of change that is needed to observe a sense of moving forward and appreciate that which is passing. One aspect I really miss right now is the change in leaf color that occurs in autumn, with green giving way to leaf shades of red, orange, and gold. As we always say in the Valley, you have to drive north to Flagstaff or Sedona, or to Prescott, to get a taste of autumn in Arizona. But this week, driving through the South Mountain community, I was pleasantly surprised to see a band of street-front trees partially changing leaf color to a shade of burnt red. This afternoon, determined to enjoy a local version of autumn without having to drive two or so hours north, I journeyed to the site where these trees are planted and here are two photos from my encounter with ever-elusive autumn in the Valley. Part of the red I was seeing were bunches of berries the trees bear, but other parts are actual changes in leaf color, as you can see above. I confess I have no idea as to the type of tree these are, but they gave me the wonderful gift of enjoying autumn "right in my own backyard." Many thanks.  

Intimations of Autumn

All day today, from morning onward, I was experiencing weather suggestions of autumn. The day itself was relatively cool and in the morning the Valley was greeted with the most beautiful puffy clouds. Yes, two items that are recurring themes on my blog (among the many): rock formations on the ground and cloud formations in the sky. It all makes for beautiful vertical symmetry. Today, despite the palm trees rising into air and the cacti populating landscaped areas and lawns, I could not get autumn out of my head. There was a coolness to the day, a lessening in the intensity of heat, and the air possessed a slight moisture, that I just couldn't resist recalling cool, damp, autumn mornings in Chicago after a night of rain, with clouds parting to reveal a rich, intensely blue sky. Memories. At any rate, today was a photo-rich day, and I have other photos that I will post later. In the meantime, I just couldn't resist sharing these.

Greetings from the Dead (Grateful and Otherwise)

Day of the Dead Storyteller

Yeah, this is totally dorky on my part (but I am going to do it anyway!) Some of you might already know, but I have a love for and fascination with the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). I also love Halloween. This Day of the Dead figure is also a Storyteller, which is a popular Southwestern Native American figure. Throughout the Southwest, you can find Storyteller figures on sale, especially at Native American arts and crafts stores. Originating from the Pueblo cultures, the Storytellers symbolize the oral transmission of traditional beliefs and rituals through the art of the narrative. While the Storyteller usually comes in the form of a human being, often a woman with children attached at her side listening to her narrative unfold, I have also seen Storytellers come in the form of animals. There is even a Jewish adaptation of this theme that can be found in some Southwestern art stores, with a Storyteller rabbi, complete with tallit and kippah and with children at his side, transmitting Torah to a new generation of Jews. Very cool.  I happen to like the Day of the Dead version myself, and with Halloween being today and the Day of the Dead also this week, I thought a photo of this was completely appropriate. Have a hauntingly happy Halloween and a festive Day of the Dead celebration.

Autumn in South Mountain

Autumn at Farmers Market, Phoenix, AZ

Yep, under desert sun, and in the midst of palm trees and cactus, we still indulge in autumnal celebration here in the South Mountain community of Phoenix, AZ. This is a local fruit barn and bakery on Baseline Road that sells a variety of fresh produce, dried fruit, nuts, and baked goods. Autumn is a season that conjures up images of harvest, and the display at this farmers market illustrates this theme perfectly. Chile ristras hang in rows, wheat stalks are bunched together at the posts, and pumpkins are stacked on top of each other in a mound. Looking at this sight, you can't help but entertain notions of the bountiful beautiful, and you can't get much more autumnal than that! Well, trees with leaves that change color in the fall would be a beautiful thing, too. I guess a future trip to Prescott or Flagstaff is in order. Anyway, enjoy the beauty of autumn!

Autumn in the Heart

Cottonwood tree, Boulder, CO

Partly because I was lazy today, and partly because I miss autumn and have not yet gotten Boulder out of my system, I am posting these two photographs from my recent vacation. Contrary to the stated preferences of many people I meet, I love autumn and winter. Autumn, in fact, is my favorite season, and so here I am in Phoenix, suffering from autumn withdrawal. I will have to get back to Sedona soon, or visit Flagstaff, some place in Arizona where autumn is very much alive. It is not until you move to a place without four seasons that you begin to appreciate how they add punctuation to the year, providing a sense of direction and purpose, and a meaningful bio-cycle. Even though Phoenix can get cold during the winter months, somehow enjoying a cup of hot chocolate on a desert night is just not the same as it is in a place where leaves turn scarlet or gold, or where dried brown leaves on the ground scamper off in the chilly breeze, or crackle beneath your feet. I will need another fix of autumn soon. Meanwhile, tomorrow should be a day for taking photographs, and so I promise to contribute more to this blog very, very soon.

Cottonwood tree and moon, Boulder, CO

Along the Boulder Creek Trail, Part Two

Autumn in Boulder, CO

These photos mark my second and final installment of photos taken along the Boulder Creek Trail. The Boulder Creek Trail, if I am remember correctly, heads into the mountains for a good few miles. I didn't walk the entire mountain part of the path, but I made enough headway to enjoy and capture these views. Last Sunday was just brilliant, the kind of sunny autumn day I remember most vividly when I think of my previous period of living in Boulder. Sometimes words get in the way, and so I'll let the photos here speak for themselves.

Autumn cottonwood, Boulder, CO 

Rocky terrain, Boulder, CO

Boulder, CO

Mountains, Boulder, CO 

Boulders in Boulder, CO 

Colorado autumn, Boulder, CO 

Cottonwood, Boulder, CO

A field of pine, Boulder, CO

More rocky terrain, Boulder, CO 

Autumn in Settlers Park, Boulder, CO

This was the last photo I snapped before heading towards the Pearl Street Mall. When I organized my visit to Boulder, I did so hoping to have an opportunity to reminisce and to enjoy a taste of autumn. I am happy to say that the weekend offered me the opportunity to do both.

Autumn Cottonwoods, Boulder, CO

Cottonwoods along the Boulder Creek Trail, Boulder, CO

Okay, I lied. I have to post one more photo today. My first two days in Boulder last weekend were gray and chilly, with occasional rain. I love those type of misty autumn days. But I also love sunny autumn days, when the sky is a crisp, clear blue and sunlight bathes the land. That was precisely the type of day that I welcomed on Sunday, my last full day in Boulder, when I spent the morning walking farther along the Boulder Creek Trail into the mountains. I love cottonwood trees in autumn, the way they turn to a bright, sunny gold, similar to the way that aspens change in the fall. Here is a choice photo I took of cottonwood trees while on the Boulder Creek Trail. As you can see, there is a house tucked in behind all of the foliage. Some lucky people get to enjoy this view each and every morning, and I am jealous. Happy autumn, everyone!

Boulder, CO

Settlers Park, Boulder, CO

I lived in Boulder, Colorado, briefly about fourteen years ago, then moved back to Chicago. That about-face remains today one of my biggest regrets. Boulder is beautiful. Situated right up against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder offers a variety of walking and biking trails that lead up into mountain beauty. It is also a beautiful, historic Western town, a college town with two universities, one of them being University of Colorado at Boulder, and the other being Naropa University, a small Buddhist university that focuses on the liberal and fine arts. The heart of downtown Boulder is the pedestrian Pearl Street Mall, which offers a great selection of art galleries, boutiques, bookstores, restaurants, and Tibetan art gift shops. To this day, Boulder, Colorado, is a hippie haven and a place that conjures up in my mind the breakfast image of a steaming hot cup of black coffee and a bowl of organic granola (in either low-fat, soy, or rice milk, of course!) A place of artists and seekers of all types, Boulder is truly unique. After I left Boulder about fourteen years ago, I vowed to return for a visit. And it never happened. Not until last weekend, that is, when I finally made a visit. After moving back to Phoenix, I decided that I had to take advantage of the relative close proximity between these two Western locales and go back to Boulder. This and the next few posts will feature Boulder, Colorado, a place that I once left but still call a spiritual home.

Boulder Creek Trail, Boulder, CO

The day of my arrival in Boulder, I was welcome by a chill in the air, a soothing gray sky promising rain, and mist hanging over the mountains. After walking down Pearl Street Mall, and eventually enjoying a late lunch of a burger and a couple of stout beers at one of the pubs, I decided on a whim to take a walk on one of my favorite paths, the Boulder Creek Trail, which starts in the heart of Boulder and leads a good two miles into the mountains. Hoping to visit a place that would give me the taste of autumn I lack here in Phoenix, I am happy to say that Boulder, as always, did not disappoint.

Boulder Creek Trail, Boulder, CO 

Autumn out on the road, Boulder, CO 

Boulder Creek, Boulder, CO 

Boulder Creek, Boulder, CO 

Boulder Creek, Boulder, CO 

I cannot tell you how many times I walked the Boulder Creek Trail when I lived in Boulder. Under a crisp blue sky or a sky gray with oncoming rain, I never tired of experiencing the slow, gradual ascent into mountains and listening to the sound of water from the creek rippling over boulders and rock. One day in October, just weeks before I moved away, Boulder witnessed an early winter storm that dumped a heavy amount of snow over the mountains and the city, and a day or so afterward, with snow still on the ground, I took a walk along the Boulder Creek Trail and snapped some beautiful photos of mountains and pine trees caked with snow.

Boulder Creek Trail, Boulder, CO 

Mountain, rock, and pine, Boulder, CO

Pine trees, Boulder, CO 

A field of pine, Boulder, CO

The serenity of scenes such as these are images that nourish me during hard times. I am glad that I made the trip back to Boulder. There are more Boulder photos yet to come!