winter

the view out our front windows, clouds, fog, distant mountains

it is that time of year, all the colors and lights of the holidays are packed away in boxes, all that is left is gray

it is a gray winter day, lack of any color, gray trees, gray sky, thousands of gray branches intertwined to make a gray canopy overhead, wind whistling through them, a few drab brown leaves skittering across the dead grass

the clouds surround us like a cocoon and feel at times claustrophobic, but for the occasional glimpse of mountains in the distance and the hope and faith that spring will come once again

it will be this way for at least two months until the March flowers have had enough and pop up and look around

leaves

I love to rake leaves

when I say this, my kids say yeah right mom, good one

but I do

outside in nature

beautiful colors

hearing the crispy crunch as you walk through them

feeling the autumn sun and cool breeze

instead of the sound of the leaf blower

and the smell of gasoline

and the numbness in your hands from holding it

just rake some leaves

it is therapeutic

if you sit inside all week at a desk

even though your office view is a good one

you need to get out and do something

like rake leaves

like clean out a spot for the turkey fryer

so the old man won't set the woods on fire

again

even rake the driveway 

because those leaves are covering up the gravel

and you will need that soon

for traction in the snow and ice

just get out and rake some leaves

and then more leaves will fall

and it will rain and they will get all wet and heavy

and then someone else can handle it...

with a big gasoline leaf blower

I love to rake leaves

when they are dry and light and crunchy :)

fall break

a quick getaway from work in OK to home in GA, a nice break from the dry dusty flat treeless prairie, to see things you used to take for granted like green pastures and blue mountains and colorful trees and waterfalls and family and neighbors and hometown food... then there are the apple house activities and leaf-lookers, all part of the fun :)

the gallery

the temporary art gallery in my yard

every day a new hue

a new view

catch the show before it is too late

happy art lover

Sophie!

pumpkin festival

25,000 people in downtown!

local news celebrity

pumpkin weigh-in contest

Main Street Square fountains

This past weekend in Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills, they had all the fall events, the pumpkin festival, pumpkin catapult, the buffalo roundup, even the Octoberfest train ride... all in the last weekend in September, because as the weatherman said it is all downhill from here. The local news said the leaves peaked last week. 

Fall is definitely in the air. West and north of here there is snow in Montana and Yellowstone. The park across the street had 3 deer grazing. But we are still waiting on the big horn sheep that we have been told will come down out of the hills into this valley when it gets colder, right into the campground?! 

local color

just a walk in the park across the street - along Rapid Creek

canyon color

Spearfish Canyon scenic drive - in search of color. 

We heard there were color changes in the hills, but we were skeptical, thinking the hills were full of pines and firs. But we found some in Spearfish Canyon. 

The usually green canyon is transforming, the predominant dark green fir trees are interspersed with yellows for this autumnal equinox. 

spring

vernal equinox, the first day of spring, once again

a.k.a. Here Comes the Sun!

how we look forward to this every year

the end of cold weather

the hope of sunny days

the first day of spring, once again

like the bright blooms that pop out of the ground

it is time to come out of hibernation

and enter the world once again

the world outside work and these four walls

the first day of spring

this day reminds me that time is passing by so fast

is there anything but work to do

are there no trails calling my name

is there no beach waiting for my footprints

spring

the first day

of the rest of my life

is here, is calling,

is today!

snowed in - the sequel

red roof inn

picnic by the falls

geocaching anyone?

Burnt Mountain Road

more pix HERE

snowed in

Buddy's commute

Tasha!