these are the signs of the times . . . for autumn 2014. some people claim california doesn't have a colorful fall . . . but this colorful tree is within 1,000 feet of the parsonage where i live! true, this may not seem like the east coast with all the colorful foliage we see in pictures and in the movies, but none-the-less, this is our autumn.
i was just walking along doing my daily exercise, and there was this perfect picture of fall. how often do any of us simply walk outside our front door to see the signs of the season?!
rumor has it we may get two days of rain beginning tomorrow; we are desperate for the signs of this changing drought . . . .
we have had a very outdated sign at the church for some time. it was actually 'white-out-ed' and looked a fright. then then lights got repaired and it really looked tragic. we had been thinking of replacing said sign since may, but ran into a glitch.
for many years, we have been acting as a reconciling congregation; a church that welcomes all people, not matter their age, ethnicity, orientation, or abilities; a place focused on justice and service and even a little 'green', where we offer open hearts, minds, and doors.
we voted in august to (re)affirm our stance, and now we have a new sign that incorporates that message, along with the diversity we represent!
while walking from bookstore santa cruz past the library, this beautiful hibiscus was in full bloom; such a sign of the times! very close to the downtown library is a whole selection of beautiful hibiscus and roses. do you have a library card? do you take advantage of such services in your community?
i have a colleague who says it is the first thing to be done when moving into a new community; that way you can really settle in and feel a part of the community. i must have gotten mine within the first few weeks here, and have used it 'religiously' ever-since! there is always something to learn and read-up on! and besides, then you can peek at the beautiful things your community has to offer!
moving from downtown to west cliff, another one of the signs of the time is the ocean that invites surfers! the waves call to you whether you surf or not! on this particular day, the autumn weather could not have been more perfect, and the surfers were out in force!
i do try and see a glimpse of the water every day; the sound of the churning waters as the waves crash against the shore. on monday, i even walked the boardwalk where they are making repairs and expanding the walkways in preparation for the anticipated crowds in the summer. maintenance is also a part of the sign of the times. be it roadwork on highway 17, or the paving of the streets here in town, there are always signs . . . .
and speaking of signs, isn't this a great picture?! i love that someone is so creative as to bring tools to play in the sand and create such a beautiful image! to be so thoughtful and prepared as to think about what you wanted to do in the sand! and then to know that what you've created would be washed away at some point in the day, or walked upon or 'wiped out' . . . a willingness to let go of what you've created, is a true gift of the heart and a talent worth sharing. when i returned from my walk, this masterpiece had been finished and the artist was walking away. but i share with you this 'work in progress, because it is a reminder of the sign of the times . . . .'
not far from where this creative sand artist was working is a house in progress. imagine in this day and age, building a house that will face the ocean, with a guarantee of having no one build across the street?! truly, this is a sign of the times. for it wasn't that long ago when you could still build on the ocean side of california highway 1. who knows how long the coast will stay before erosion causes an issue for those houses. but for the time being, and for a price i don't even want to imagine, a house is being built. below is the view they'll have from their window!
even so, i still get to walk across the street, and i'm thrilled to be able to live within walking distance of the pacific ocean! so, truly, these are the signs of the time . . . . come walk the coast with me . . . .
