Autumn is Here

Autumn is here, and the trees in Northern Virginia are changing color already. See today's image as evidence.

Good grief, autumn is here? Where has the year gone? Wasn't it just autumn?

While I'm looking forward to saying farewell to 2012, I didn't expect the year to pass so quickly. Soon enough autumn will be over and we will be greeting the holidays and the arrival of winter.

And chances are good that I'll be saying, "Good grief!" again.

Constancy of Light

I've been trying to write this post all day today. Each time I would get a moment to add a few words, I would be interrupted and I would need to place the post on hold. This evening, I received some sad news and realized that the reason this post has been in hold all day was that it needed to wait until now.

One of the joyful things about the arrival of autumn is the vibrant palette of colors that are introduced into our environment. Brilliant, warm colors like red, orange and yellow are added to our landscape, bringing light into our lives.

In truth, there isn't a season that doesn't offer us light:

• Winter's snow reflects light;
• Spring's bright colors manifests light; 
• Summer's sun brightens our neighborhoods with light; and
• Autumn's changing creates light as well.

As the seasons change through the year, the days may get longer or shorter but light -- in some format -- is always present. Light's constancy is our reminder that no matter how dark the day may seem, there will always be light. Somehow, someway, light will exist in spite of cloudy skies or dark days.

Even when you feel alone and lost, just look around you. Once you adjust your vision to see the light present in nature, then you'll find it easier to see light present in other locations, such as people and situations.

Light is all around you, so please hold on if you are in despair. With a little practice, you will learn to see it again. Eventually, your vision shift to allow you to see more light than darkness and inspire inner courage to face the new day.

But until then, let the people around you who do see light in you and in your surroundings be your mirror. We'll show you the light until you start seeing it yourself.

Like light, love is constant too.

Both Light and Dark

Today, I'm reminded of one of my favorite quotes from J.K. Rowling's brilliant Harry Potter series. The following quote was said by Sirius Black, Harry's godfather as he tried to ease Harry's concerns about his growing dark magic ability.

"We have all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the power we choose to act on. That's who we really are."

It's a simple idea, yet one that we humans struggle with. It is hard for us to accept that we are each capable of both great goodness and great evil. It would be easier to believe that we are born either one or the other. But the coupling of goodness and darkness is essential to our evolution.

As George Lucas suggested in the Star Wars series, we can choose to embrace the light or dark forces as both reside within us. Once we make the choice, it can define us but it is not definitive; we can still switch sides.

We don't have to look to only pop culture to understand this viewpoint. Most of the world's religions have similar explanations for mankind's dual nature. Since then, modern storytellers like Rowling and Lucas are weaving the same tale.

Autumn Road

Here's a an autumn moment of zen. Looking at roads like this one, lined with trees full of brilliantly-colored leaves, makes me want to get in a car and just drive for hours.

If I could describe serenity, it would be sitting on a deserted beach watching the ocean waves or driving along a tree lined road like this one during autumn. Both scenarios are so peaceful and calming. Not going to lie, I could use one of those trips right now.

Mulberry Row

This weekend is a meandering weekend filled with slow explorations of new places without agenda or schedule.

Like my leisurely strolls on paths like Mulberry Row at Monticello two weeks ago, I also enjoyed exploring for the first time Fredericksburg, Virginia this weekend and photographing its antique sites and treasures. Since there is still more photographs to share from my Monticello visit, I'll be posting my Fredericksburg photographs later in the week.

Melodic Wooden Path

This photograph was taken during a weekend stroll around Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial -- an island that sits in between the District of Columbia and Virginia in the Potomac River.

One of my favorite elements of the island is that its dirt trails occasionally turn into wooden paths carrying visitors over marshes and creeks. These wooden paths are long enough to fully enjoy the sounds of your footsteps echoing as you walk.

I love that sound, especially when the forest around you is silent except for the sounds of your hallowed steps and wildlife communicating around you. The thudding sound created by our feet striking the wooden planks of the paths resembles the thud of our heart beating -- accelerated if we're running and slower if strolling. My preference is strolling; it's better for picture taking.

First Snowfall

As the Northeast digs out of a fierce snowstorm, I can't help but reminisce about my first snowfall five years ago. A Southern California native, my only experience with snow before moving to the East Coast was 2-3 trips to Big Bear or the Mount San Jacinto Mountains when only a few inches of snow lay on the ground.

While my first snowstorm as a DC area resident only left a few inches of snow, I delighted in strolling around my neighborhood with my camera the next morning. Today's post is one of my favorite photos from that walk. It combines two of my favorite photo subjects -- a path and snow-covered trees. Little did I know then that eventually around the proverbial bend in my journey as a East Coast dweller would be many more snowfalls, including two blizzards that would leave me housebound for a week. Yet, I still remember the joy of my first snowfall and I hope that others felt that emotion as well during this week's storms. However, I'm guessing stranded travelers stuck at airports and train stations due to the weather felt little joy about the storm this week.

Snow-covered Path

Today, we're going to receive 1-3 inches of snow throughout the DC metro area. While this is a pretty mild winter storm in comparison to what is happened in the Midwest this weekend, it will be the first real snowfall in the region for the season.

Can't help but think back to last year and Snowpocalypse 2010 in February. In one month, 2-3 feet of snow fell, shutting down the Federal Government for a week and keeping most of us homebound until the snow was cleaned up. On the upside, I took some of the best snow photography ever, including today's image, during those three winter blizzards.

Washington's Farm

No winter photos today, folks. It's too cold in Washington, DC today to even glance at a snowy scene. Instead let's look at photo taken in a warmer month, shall we?

Did you know that George Washington was a farmer? Well like most of our founding fathers, Washington owned and managed a farm on his Mount Vernon estate. Most likely, he didn't do much manual labor himself -- an extended community of slaves and servants that numbered about 315 people at its peak, lived and worked on Mount Vernon plantation. According to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, Washington's plantation was divided into five farms, each of which had a separate overseer who was responsible for that farm, and managed an active fishery. Many dirt roads and wooden fences like this one appeared throughout the estate and helped those that worked Mount Vernon take care of Washington's farms and livelihood.

Around the Corner

I love the mystery of paths, especially paths in woods. What struck me in this moment was the light seeming to drizzle through the canopy of trees onto the path. It made me wonder, "What is around that corner?" when I took the picture.