Yes, I know, there has been wars or military action and rumors of those, including Finland participating in something military in Greenland, the metal prices have seen bobbing up and down, though more up, food prices seem to be creeping up, too, but I have been too busy-tired to feel like posting anything.
However, I want to post something that makes me happy, and during past couple of months, one of those things has been sweetgum or Liquidambar trees. There is about a month of bright colors, when their leaves turn, mostly reds or dark oranges with lighter tones and yellows mixed in. Among the leaves that somewhat resemble those of maple, there are green spiky balls, that darken as the seedpods ripen. Winter winds (at least here in Bay Area) tear the leaves down, different trees progressing at different rates leaving dark spiky balls hanging from dark branches.
Here is a short video made of clips taken on January 2nd 2026.
At some point, a bird flies in. Probably a crow.
Still some leaves hanging
PlanktonPunkt 