My Poem - When Orange Falls

Well hello,  sorry I have been MIA since our vacation to New England.  We came home to Volleyball Tournaments, Birthdays, visiting Relatives...and subsequent sickness from lack of sleep.  So I apologize for the absence of posts, but sometimes life demands to be lived in my real world instead of my preferred Halloween-Town...ha!

So today's post is a poem I wrote, inspired by one of my most favorite things of all time...the Jack O' Lantern.  From their place of birth, to their ultimate destiny as Halloween's beloved icon!  And with it is an image from my trip this year.  While driving down a back road in New Hampshire, I saw this little entourage sitting atop a stack of chopped wood, piled high for the cold of Winter.  Of course, I had to turn around so I could get a shot of them.  Happy Monday!

When Orange Falls

©  2012 Wendy A. 

When Orange falls across the land,

The changing season's close at hand.

And shadows cast by Autumn's sun,

Means Harvest Scarecrow's work is done.

Of guarding orange gourds so round,

Entwined on vines upon the ground.

While Scarecrow's kept a watchful eye,

Upon the black crows flying by.

His labors have not been in vain,

As sentry in both wind and rain.

His orange globes will see new life,

Brandished from the carver's knife.

And some, they will be sacrificed,

Made into pies served by the slice.

But most will don a new disguise,

With crooked smiles and flashing eyes.

With candlelight tucked deep within.

They'll flash their impish, toothy grins,

Casting shadows in the night,

That summon both delight and fright.

But to Trick-or-Treaters, 
cruising the streets,

Be they pranking with Tricks, 
or begging for Treats,

Orange Jack O' Lanterns, 
most surely mean...

Tis' All Hallow's Eve.... 
So "Happy Halloween"!

Image and Poem © 2012 Wendy A. (All Rights Reserved)

What Color is a Scarecrow?

“Don't be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don't talk.”

 

The second offering this year in my Color Collage posts, centers around a Fall icon that is near and dear to my heart!  That sentry of the fields, the Lord of the Harvest himself....the SCARECROW!  Just what is a cornfield without it's mighty protector, the Scarecrow, anyway?  Nothing I say!  Every field needs a good Scarecrow to oversee the crops and keep those pesky crows from feasting on the goods before they get to market!  And the size, style and colors of the Scarecrow are as unlimited as your own imagination of course.  

So when I ask myself the question...What Color is a Scarecrow?  I do not get one particular color or color scheme coming to mind.  No, I see lots of colors...a variety as diverse as the Scarecrows and the Crops they guard.  What about you....does any one particular color resonate with you when you envision a Scarecrow?  Or do you also see a multitude of colors coming to mind?  And...do YOU have a Scarecrow standing guard in your yard during the Autumn months?  We do, but ours is a bit 'dark' if you will, not much color other than his big ole' punkin' head!  :o)

What Color is the Autumn Equinox?

"The hazy, cloudless skies of Indian Summer.
Leaves scurrying down the street before the wind.
The cold shiver from an arctic blast.
Indian Summer.
The last warmth of the sun.
Chilly mornings and glorious warm afternoons.
The Harvest Moon. The Hunter's Moon.
The Rainy Season.
Dry cornstalks clattering in the wind.
The touch of frost on grass and window pane.
The smell of burning leaves."
~ Keith C. Heidorn

It's official....The Glorious Autumn Equinox has arrived! Autumn People unite and rejoice, for our time has come once again. It may not quite feel like it in your neck of the woods, it sure doesn't feel like it here in Florida. BUT....there are probably tell-tell signs if you look hard enough. For instance here, I've noticed that it is starting to get a bit darker, earlier. Not much, but just enough to alert me that the days are starting to change. There are also a few acorns in the trees, but not as many as last year, which leads me to believe that maybe we'll have a milder Winter down here this year. And the squirrels are busy as usual. But I'm curious what kinds of signs you folks are starting to get in other areas of the US and abroad. What color is the 'Autumn Equinox' anyway? I believe it is a myriad of splendid earthy colors that correspond to nature's brilliant Fall Display. I ask these questions because it gets me stoked to read about the many ways Autumn is making its presence known. I also ask because, I was reading a blog where people were sharing reports of the differing signs of Fall they are all seeing where they live, and I came across an entry that really made me grateful that I don't live in Medicine Wheel, Arizona. It seems that the 'Old Timers' there have their own wisdom about what event heralds Autumn's approach, and it is the march of the Tarantula Spiders crossing the road. Yep...when those big hairy spiders start crossing the roads there....it means Autumn is on its way! SAY WHAT?!!!! TARANTULAS?!!!! And I thought having small spiders, lizards and the occasional garden snake was bad! WHO in their right mind would want to make their home where even 1, let alone many tarantula spiders roam around freely? That sounds more like the arrival of a frightening Halloween to me! Who needs decorations when you have the real thing? Yikes!

But alas...the most beautiful season is finally here again. It's time for the harvest, and the changing leaves, the apple stands and the pumpkin patches. It's time for corn stalks and scarecrows and birds migrating south. It's time for crisp breezes, rustling leaves and sweaters and scarves and boots. It's time for pumpkin bread and apple cider and hay rides and bonfires! Has there ever been a season so splendid as Autumn? I think not! And so the season begins my Autumn friends, and so does the Countdown to Hallowe'en! I am throwing my name into the proverbial cauldron pot, for participation once again in the Halloween Countdown this year. Not sure I can manage a post every day, but I will do what I can to spread Halloween cheer throughout cyberspace. I will be sharing my usual mix of art, photography, poems and Color Collages like the 'Autumn Equinox' one above. And I look forward to sharing the season with all of you. So do tell....are you seeing any signs of Autumn where you're at...inquiring 'Autumn People' want to know!

Autumn on my iPhone

So I have something kind of cool to share. This year I became a new smart phone owner when Verizon finally received the iPhone. I was even able to get the 'unlimited data' plan, which ironically has already been revoked in less than 6 months. But I was 'grandfathered' in, so I get to keep mine for now....woo hoo! I have yet to learn how to operate the blasted thing correctly however. And I'm quite certain that the phone is possessed by demons who place random calls to people in my contact list without me ever touching it. The phone truly has a mind of its own.....but none the less I do enjoy it....WHEN I have it. The kids have it confiscated most of the time, playing Restaurant World and checking their heart rates.

And that brings me to my cool news, which wasn't the phone itself, but rather the protective case that surrounds it. I originally had a Purple case from the Apple store. I really didn't like the choices there, so I just went with my favorite color. But you know me (well you probably don't), but I don't really dig things being plain and generic. So I went on-line looking to see if there were some other designs that were just out of stock at the Apple store. And I found an incredible website that allows you to design your own custom iPhone/iPod case, using your own artwork. Spooktacular! That was right up my creative lil' alley, and the cost was the same as my boring purple case with the exception of the shipping charge. So I promptly got to work trying to adapt one of my favorite art pieces "Autumn Equinox" to fit an iPhone case. Below is the original image that I used.
That little adaptation was way more difficult than it seemed it should be, because the company's software for resizing and such was not very efficient. So it took me several hours of tweaking and re-tweaking in PS, and on their site, to finally get it just right, so that everything was showing just as I wanted it. Adapting a horizontal 8x10 to a vertical 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 was a 'you know what'! But in the end, my determination prevailed and I came away with the most fantabulous phone case EVER! I feel akin to Dr. Frankenstein with my beloved new creation! It turned out great, and to know that it is a one of a kind original of my own art, just makes me smile every time I look at it. Not to mention that I made sure it was representative of what I love most....which is Autumn, Owls and the Moon.

Additionally, you can sign up to be a contributing artist at the site, and if your work is selected, you make a whopping $2.oo for every $40.00 case that gets sold with your art on it. Wow, really?! A whole $2.00? Where would I spend all that extra dough? Don't think I'll take them up on that...probably not worth all the work. Though I would consider making custom cases for other people by taking my price that I paid, and putting a mark-up on it. But for now, I'm just stoked about my new Autumn Phone! I'm thinking about making one with my "Autumn Rain Scarecrow" or some of my Halloween Shadow Art to put on during October. If I make any more, I'll be sure to share them. Happy Hump Day! :o)

Serendipity of the Autumn Equinox

In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
the gray smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all,
Flowers in the summer
Fires in the fall!

~ Robert Louis Stevenson, Autumn Fires

Ooh....there is magic in the air today! Do you feel it? I woke up this morning, checked my email and I just felt that things were falling into place in just the right way for such a special day. First up was the 'Photo of the Day' that I get in my inbox from a photography website. And today's image was this incredible shot of an Owl Family by Kathy Cline which is posted below. I've never seen that many owls in one place...this shot is fantastic! And knowing as you may, how much I adore owls, I thought this was a perfect sign that today was going to be an extra special day. Then I receive a notice from a Blog called 'Etsy Stalker'. I've not heard of this blog before, but apparently they are 'stalking' me today. Well not literally of course...but they are 'stalking' or including my artwork "Autumn Equinox" in their post today on the Autumn Equinox. My piece is the 6th item in their list. How great is that? Thank you oh stalkers of the Etsy world. You picked one of my favorite pieces to showcase on one of my favorite days of the year. So on this most special of days, serendipity rules. I just love serendipity, don't you?

Oh....and the image above that accompanies the poem Autumn Fires by Robert Louis Stevenson, is an image I shot in New Hampshire. While driving through the countryside, we came across this small river rambling through the beautiful fall foliage and when I saw the bridge just down the way, I knew I had to photograph it. If I were there right now, I'd pack up an Autumn feast and spend my day sitting right there on that bank. That's one reason New England itself is so magical...because you can find these incredible vistas around every corner. My heart is wedded to that area....I think I must have lived there in a past life.
So yes, today marks the much anticipated Autumn Equinox. The day I wait for all year long because it marks the return of the season that is most deeply rooted in my soul. This seasonal day of celebration reminds us all of the importance of 'balance'....balance in our lives, in nature, in our world! To everything there is a season....a time to reap, a time to sow, a time to live, a time to die. That's also my favorite Bible verse, the one that makes the most sense out of life, in my opinion. And for me, this is the theme of the Autumn Equinox....a balance of light and dark. Life is a continual balancing act between light and dark, but everything flows better in life when it's kept in balance.It's also a time to take stock and be grateful for all the blessings we have, all the people whom we love and love us, and for the beauty and bounty that nature provides for us. At no other time during the year, is the beauty of nature more on display than during the Autumn season. (I took the image above across a field behind my house. This Autumn hued sunset was breathtaking and it reminded me of a gorgeous Indian Summer.) So take time today to get outside and soak in what it means to be alive. Embrace Summer's departure and Autumn's arrival. Go for a hike, have a picnic outdoors, or hang lanterns outside under the stars tonight in honor of the Moon Festival. Whatever you do to mark the day on your calendar...be sure to languish in the glory of the Autumn Equinox.

Autumn images copyright Wendy A.
Owl image copyright Kathy C.
(All Rights Reserved)