Nature's Blanket

Yesterday, I wrote about how Christmas, and holiday cheer seem to be overtaking fall.  They really do, especially in this city.  I don't have a huge problem with it, but I just love fall.  It may be my favourite season.

The best part is the leaves.  The browns, the reds, the yellows and the oranges that decorate the ground fill me with so much joy.  There is something so comforting and lovely about those tones, and the way that they create a natural blanket over the earth.  Part of me wants to put dried flowers in my hair and go running through a forest, celebrating.  I'm not actually going to do that, so here are some distinctly fall-themed photographs that I took during that same jaunt through Bryant Park on Thursday.  

We'll start out with the requisite shot of my own feet.

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

What Holiday Is It?

I posted about a month ago on the day after Halloween about the bizarre weather.  We had snow for Halloween.  It was nuts.  The holiday seemed to be all mixed up.  However, that was the work of Mother Nature, not the work of people.  People didn't go and dump snow on the ground outside.  People are, though, dumping Christmas ribbons, lanterns, decorations and the like on stuff.  Already.

Every year, people complain that the "holiday cheer" starts to be spread earlier and earlier, and I think they are right.  I took these photographs in Bryant Park this past Thursday, a full week before Thanksgiving.  The ice skating rink and Christmas market are set up, and open for business.  It's nuts.  Pumpkins decorate the park, and so do pinecones and bows.  So... has Thanksgiving become Christmagiving?  Are we skipping over the turkey and the gravy?  Don't get me wrong- I love the winter holiday season.  I celebrate Christmas, and it's one of my favourite parts of the year.  But, it is hilarious to see the mix of seasons decorating one place, to me.

The first photograph is actually from a store window in Grand Central Station, but I thought it summarized my point pretty clearly. Thus, it was included.

And, to sum it up...

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Warmth

So, I know that I posted that "Autumn Falling" blurb a few days ago, but this fall has actually been very warm so far.  It's been in the 70's (Fahrenheit) all week long, and it is supposed to be for about another week.  Now, I'm not griping- as a matter of fact, I'm pretty happy about it.  The flowers are still blooming, the beach is still usable for sunbathing and swimming purposes, and I can still wear sandals and sundresses.  But, pumpkin flavored/ scented things are appropriate.  It's the best of both worlds.

Here are some phone photographs I've taken lately to chronicle this unusually warm early Autumn.

 Cheers to a few more warmer days before we descend into another winter blizzard-pocalypse.

Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Inspiration Fridays: Autumn Falling

I am generally a warm weather girl.  I like the heat, as long as it isn't too hot.  A sundress with a blazer is my ideal style of outfit, or maybe jeans, a tank top and a blazer (like I'm wearing right now).  I'm also very affected by seasonal change emotionally and mentally.  Cold weather makes me sad and lazy, whereas warmer weather tends to result in a bright and cheery Emily.  So, when fall arrives, I am usually caught in a mix of emotions.  I'm sad that the weather is getting cooler, and the days are getting shorter.

 But, I'm happy for a number of other reasons-  pumpkin spice lattes, cute blazers and sweaters, boots, orange and red leaves, apple butter, being able to wear my hair down without sweating.  Hats.  Pies.  Halloween.  Thanksgiving.  Wearing decorative scarves without sweating. This year, I was able to be excited about school starting as well!  No, I'm not still in school, unless you count my martial arts school.  I do count that, but it's year-round, so it's not the same idea.  I'm teaching!!  I've been hired as a Voice and Speech Warm-Up instructor at the acting conservatory I work for.  I'm also the full-on Voice and Speech teacher for the high school students in the Outreach Program, which is thrilling.  Basically, I came up with a five-year plan in March... and I've achieved it.  My mind is a little boggled, but I couldn't possibly be more thrilled.  This is the best fall EVER.

Thus, I'm drawing my inspiration from the season today.  

Happy first day of Fall!

The Crafty Chica

The Wild Westie

66 Square Feet

Mama Gone Green

Let's Eat Recipes

The Substantially Similar Weblog

All the Pretty Elements

Walking in an Autumn Wonderland

It feels kind of silly to be posting this today.

Partially, because it snowed yesterday, and partially because this post wanted to be posted yesterday.  As a matter of fact, it was posted yesterday.  I accidentally scheduled it to auto-post in the morning, and hadn't actually finished it yet.  It took me all yesterday afternoon to get my act together, and I didn't feel like putting it up in the evening... so here you go!  Finally, we can go walking in an autumn wonderland.

  Why autumn?  It should be winter wonderland, like the song... right?  Nope.  Wrong. I would like it to still be fall.  I like fall.  It's cool and crisp, but not freezing. Right now, it feels like it's freezing.  And, when it's freezing with no snow on the ground, the world just isn't that fun.  Thank goodness for all of the lovely Christmas decorations everywhere to get us through the day!  They make me so happy.

Anyways, please, enjoy some very autumnal photographs from my trip to Maine!

There actually will be one more post after this with photographs from my very woodsy trip to Maine!  I hope you don't get sick of them.  The place is just so beautiful, and I took more than 500 photographs in about two hours, so I have a lot to share!  I won't share 500, only the best ones will make it here, but I had a lot to choose from.  I was just feeling extremely inspired that day.

Actually, I've been feeling inspired a lot lately.  It's been great.  Maybe it's because I get to act and sing pretty much every day, that could certainly help.  Working and doing what I love tends to put me in an artistic mood.  I love it!

Pictured: Bill Buck and Daniel Garrison

Readfield, Maine, USA

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Some Announcements

Okay... so... things for my readers to know! 

First off, I have a new facebook page!  You can like me.  I find that nifty.  It makes me happy every time I see that I got a new like!  (I only have 20.... but my blog really isn't popular so those 20 make me happy!!  I love you all!).  I'll be posting each new entry as it comes up, and little blurbs throughout the day.  Fun fun.  Anyways, you can click the little thing in the sidebar, and it'll take you to it.  Or, you can click HERE.

Second, I am running out of Photographer Features.   If you have any interest in photography, take a lot of pictures, or have gone neat places and taken some cool shots, I'm interested in you!  The requirements are really simple.  I've posted a link in the sidebar, but you can also find the information on the facebook event HERE.  If you know anyone besides yourself who you think might be interested, please let them know!  Once again, I'm not a high profile blog, so it's not necessarily going to springboard your career, but who knows!  It might.  Also, if you have gotten a feature before, please feel free to submit again.  You aren't limited to just one go around!

Third (wow... too many announcements!),  I am considering opening a store to sell merchandise using some of my photography.  It will probably be an etsy store.  However, before I do this... I want to make sure that it's not just going to be a money drain!  Please, let me know if you think you might buy some of my work.  As always, you can contact me by leaving a comment on any of my posts, or emailing me at travelandtoile@gmail.com.

Thanks everyone! 

The Maine Event

My grandparents live in a beautiful wooden house on Lake Maranacook in Maine.  Their place is more than a mile down a dirt road in an already rural town.  The trees climb to the sky, and during the fall and winter, the vacationers aren't around.  The whole place is gorgeous and serene.

Danny and I took a vacation there for a few days to visit with my Gramma and Grampa and relax after some busy times at work.  These are some of the photographs from our trip.

Here are my grandparents, albeit from the back, but it is them nonetheless.

And here, are some photographs from a jolly walk through the woods on a cloudy, cool morning. The first one is of their lovely house.

More to come on the morrow.

Photo of me taken by Bill Buck. 
Pictured: Bill Buck, Barbara Buck, Daniel Garrison and Emily Grace Buck (me)

Hallowell, Maine, USA
and
Readfield, Maine, USA