Autumn Dawn over Topanga

The days of October are so short. Dawn does not come until 6:30 A.M. I wait, listening to an Owl hoot and crickets chirping. As the sky lightens from black to more blue, the Owl decides finally to go to sleep. His song is replaced with a Coyote cry.. and crickets fade away. Pink clouds form over the Topanga State Park giving me this great photo opportunity to start the day.

Calabasas Pumpkin Festival

Had a nice day looking at pumpkins, arts & crafts by locals, & listening to live music. Happy to see the County of LA had a "Smart Gardening Booth" and could talk to folks about backyard composting & waterwise gardening.(www.smartgardening.com) for more info.

Also happy to see my friends from Topanga Art & Tile showing their creative tile pieces.(www.topangaarttile.com/about.php)

For more info on the Festival, which is ongoing through the Oct 17/18 wknd, (www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com).

After the Rain

The world is so quiet without the sound of the rain, I thought to myself as I started my day. Off for a walk down the street with my dog, everything so alive & vibrant the day after the rains. Raindrops still hung to Peppercorn leaves. I missed the crunch of Peppercorns under my feet; they were all soggy and mixed with fallen leaves. My neighbor's sprinkler still blasted away needlessly.

The fog which had blanketed the sky yesterday, today instead hung low in the Canyon, a brilliant, fluffy white lit by the sun. I paused to watch it move across the hillside ..