At first, I thought it was soot. When I was a kid, the apartment buildings in our neighborhood had huge incinerators. Sometimes when they were burning trash, stray ash would float in the air. So, when I looked out the window from the Duchess's apartment Wednesday morning, my first thought was "soot." Then I remembered that the buildings now all have huge trash compactors. Also, it was (and still is) November in New York. It
could snow. Happily for us, it passed quickly and the ground was too warm for anything to stick.
 |
BROOKLYN, WEDNESDAY. SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN. ATLANTIC OCEAN IN BACKGROUND.
(CLICK ANY PHOTO. YOU CAN STILL HEAR US WHINE.) |
 |
THE WEATHER IN NEW YORK WAS "SPRING-LIKE" ...
THE WEEK BEFORE WE WERE THERE. |
Although we miss The Duchess and The Kid Brother, we're glad to be back on the milder Costa Del Sol (a chilly 63F/17C right now). So, imagine my surprise yesterday afternoon, when I passed a snow-covered village on my way home from the market. A few minutes later I noticed the beach umbrellas
(sombrillas) had dropped their "leaves." I took photos of the bare "branches" and went back today to get some shots of the leaf piles. Winter is fast approaching.
(Click any image to feel the chill.)
 |
| THE SNOW-COVERED VILLAGE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. |
 |
| SOMBRILLA "LEAVES" READY FOR BAGGING. |
 |
| IMAGINE THE SIZE OF THE RAKE USED TO PILE THOSE LEAVES. |
 |
| ANOTHER STYLE OF RAKING. |
 |
| SOMBRILLA FRAMES. HEADED FOR WINTER STORAGE. |
 |
| DON'T YOU LOVE THE FALL COLORS? |
This song from my childhood with my sister Dale always makes me think of her. (Well, any song from our childhoods makes me think of her.)
"Don't you love the fall colors?"
ReplyDeleteSpit-take!
Sidenote: we have our first glimmer of snow in Smallville a week ago. Oy!
Bob:
DeleteThere are people who move to these climates and say they miss the seasons. I'm not one of them.
LOL! Thanks for the chuckles! I like the snow-covered village and the huge leaves, with their fall colors. It doesn't actually snow in paradise, does it?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine living somewhere where soot was a common occurrence. I guess it's kinda like California smog or Mt. St. Helens ash - goes with the territory.
Glad you both made it back safely. Happy Thanksgiving to you and San Geraldo.
Jo:
DeleteSoot wasn't a common occurence, thankfully. But it did happen. Much healthier environment now.
Thanks!
I think I would get depressed every year when the umbrellas were packed up.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteI like it. We still have plenty of beach days and no one to have to share it with.
Yes we all have the 'autumn cleanup' to do! LOVE the orange of fall!!
ReplyDeleteAnd who can forget this great Nat song? The 60's are never too far away!
Jim:
DeleteI love the rusty oranges of autumn... and Nat King Cole.
Nat's voice is so much like gentle falling leaves. What an amazing talent he was.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteHis voice was so pure.
It's nice to got to spend some time with Autumn in New York. Nat King Cole's song must be very nostalgic for you.
ReplyDeleteMs. Sparrow:
DeleteMusic is a major memory trigger for me. Autumn in New York? I much prefer spring!
I had no idea snow would be falling on your beaches. Did you? Put on your woolies!!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteSan Geraldo has been wearing his long underwear...
Ohhhh, I LOVE Nat King Cole :) My dad always played his albums, and sang his songs (Dad always seemed to be singing while he was walking around the house :). After my dad died, it was a few years before I could listen to good ole Nat again... just hurt too much. Oh! And, when my now-husband proposed two years ago, guess what (by coincidence!) was playing in the background, on the radio-- Nat King Cole singing, "When I Fall In Love" :)
ReplyDeleteJudeet:
DeleteNow that's romantic! My mother was the one who was always singing (in the house, in the car).
Anything by the god 'Nat' is, for me, evocative of a glorious time in popular music when we could hear all the words of the performer without them having to be over-enunciated - and the performer just singing with his/her own distinctive natural voice without any forced attempt to take on the qualities of other voices. In no other era was popular singing more justifiably recognised as supreme as it was in N.K.C.'s day.
ReplyDeleteOh blimey! Did I really write such twaddle? Nevertheless, I stand by the sentiment behind all that verbiage.
DeleteRaybeard:
DeleteOh, I loved BOTH your comments. I agree with you about Nat King Cole and the quality of voices, although I couldn't have said it as well.
I took the liberty of mentioning your blog in my latest entry. I hope this is OK.
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteI was finally catching up on my reading and read your wonderful blog post. What a surprise to find myself mentioned (I hadn't seen this comment yet). Is it OK? Are you kidding? You can mention me and my blog any time. But, if you're going to say such generously wonderful things about us, I wouldn't mind it daily! Thank you so very much!
I am grateful I found you and your marvelous blog - and all because a shirt took a detour to Spain!
DeleteSame here, Spo. And, that's the only "Hawaian" shirt I've ever liked on myself!
DeleteTerrific musical selection.
ReplyDeleteHK:
DeleteWhat a voice!
That little sand village is amazing!
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteThe talent is amazing. And my favorite sculptor is not back from his travels yet. Can't wait to see what's to come.