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Archive for the ‘Nature Notes’ Category

I do wonder if people think I’m crazy as I walk through downtown Boston and other city centers picking up leaves and sticking them in any available pocket.

I keep thinking I should plan a specific leaf-picking adventure with a proper bucket or plastic bag as container.  But somehow it is more fun to be walking along to work or to shop and to be open to the possibility of finding … something … along the way.

Of course it is easy to behave that way when the sun is shining and autumn leaves glow like jewels falling from the sky.

I’ll be curious what’s to be found on the ground this day.  Hope your day goes well wherever you are in the world. 😉

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… because I am having an orange day.  At least that’s how I’ve decided to define this day, by the color orange.  I mean, I didn’t expect it to be a green day or a blue one. I knew that I would work with the color orange at least for a bit.  On the list of to-do’s that I created last night, I had planned to post the following image with the title “a bit of autumn colors on a plate.”

Yet the day began with me finding a funny bug on a window so I posted that picture instead and likewise little else has unfolded this day as I imagined it might last night.  Nothing horrible has happened.  Just the beautiful unexpected complexities of life that can leave one breathless. But as I raced about, my eyes kept being drawn to sunlight striking orange items.  And finally, as I stopped to catch my breath, I gave myself permission to take the time to snap a few photos of the orange world deigning to reveal itself to me.

Of course then I gave myself permission to play with a few other colors in the autumn palette.

I managed to find at least one leaf. Imagine that.

And there were a few extra tomatoes from the dish I made last night.

Now as I tuck my camera away, I don’t know that I am anymore calm but my head is certainly filled with orange-hued and golden thoughts.  It is indeed a lovely colorful day.  I hope you’re having a good one too. 😉

 

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I found this fellow as I was opening the window this morning.  Just look at those lovely legs.  If anyone knows the name of this insect, please share. 😉

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I love to travel, but it feels good to be back home. 😉

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…my traveling companion and I of course had to follow the arrow pointing to the National Print Museum.  I’m not sure if the arrow was meant for people in a car or on foot.  Regardless, for us two pedestrians, the museum took a while to track down.  Many locals did not seem to know its location and warned us that sometimes young people like to twist the signs around to fool tourists.  Well, we eventually determined that the  sign was pointed in the correct direction.  Hopefully, more people will visit this wonderful hidden place.

After seeing the Book of Kells exhibit earlier in the week and being reminded how precious books and the written word have been throughout human history, it seemed apropos to visit a museum focused on the evolution of the printing press.  The main floor of the museum has several operating machines with trays of moveable type in different fonts.

We did not have enough time to gain any hands-on experience with the different machines but the museum does offer workshops and handling sessions.

I also highly recommend visiting the reference library on the 2nd floor containing many books and pamphlets that are likely out of print.  Just the few minutes I had to peer inside a few books planted seeds in my mind for future projects.

Learn more about this fascinating museum via this link.

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… I found beautiful blooms …

… and even a bird or two …

… and of course a few more leaves.

FYI, you can learn more about St. Audoen’s Church via this link.

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While in Dublin, I visited great cathedrals and amazing galleries, and even attended an intimate music performance.  The people were friendly and always willing to share a tale or two.  Sometimes the accents were so thick I could not understand a word but I didn’t care because the flow of the words were like music as well.

In addition to music, Dublin is a city noted for its great literary heritage and perhaps that is why I did not often pull out my camera (along with the rain and wind and such).  I was too busy listening, or even sitting down on occasion with pen and paper myself.  When I did pull out my camera, I found myself less photographing churches and more trying to capture nature.  And in particular I felt compelled to try capturing the leaves in Saint Stephen’s Green, a public park located near the hotel.

What called to me?  I guess the colors and patterns …

… and emerging contrasts as autumn continues to unfold …

… and there was the glisten from intermittent rains.

In a city that has a lot of hustle and bustle, especially with Trinity College right there in the center, the park was a calm respite …

… and a joy to traverse even in the rain. 😉

You can read more about Saint Stephen’s Green on Wikipedia via this link.

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… but I couldn’t help myself.  Sometimes I find dragonflies on the ground and sometimes I find moths.  On occasion, I spy spiders sitting on silken webs in a corner of the house.

I’ve yet to photograph the mouse that refuses to wear diapers else he’d be welcome to stay.  In the end, they are all beautiful creatures.

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