Fall is here, the leaves are changing color.

While colorful, it is so dry that the leaves turn yellow then brown and drop off. The grasses are turning red in the fields.

It is always pleasant to have warm and sunny days, except when the absence of any significance rain dries things out.

I recall thinking when the most recent hurricane. whats its name, was coming up the coast that we would get a good soaking and the trees would receive one of those natural prunings that happens whenever then is a strong prolonged wind. But in the end all we got was a little extra windiness.



The levels in the local lakes are low and fortunately tourist season is over so the heavy demand for water is gone for a while. This morning it is darker than usual, the clouds heavier and predictions of rain the next few days.

That should quench the thirst a little for the plants but as the patterns repeat themselves, the rain and winds will knock down many of the weaker brown leaves. The pattern of fall returns.


This past weekend was the Apple Squeeze in town. A big event that draws out many locals who have yielded the town to tourists over the summer. In the neighboring town of Lee it was Founders Day that ends with a Latino Festival. I don't think I have ever been to Founders Day but the Latino Fesitival is always a great opportunity to sample some good food from Central and South America.

I took a 6 1/2 mile run on Saturday through a state forest nearby. The road is goes from paved to packed dirt to rocks and pebbles and is alot of up and down as it follows the river below the ridge line. I took a few pictures with my phone but trying to upload them first to facebook and then to the blog is often a challenge and so far I haven't been successful with this batch. The fungus on the dead trees were this floresent yellow and very cool.

It was great to be out but I realized that many people would be spooked to be in what seems like such a desolate area, though there was an occassional car parked near an outlet to the river. Except for the random voice on the river, it was totally quiet and I was very concious of what was around me. One of those times when your imagination can get a hold of you and one of the reasons I alway run with a charged cell phone.

Came into work today and a great big tree outside my office is lying on the ground cut into chunks. I love trees and this one gave great shade and lots of bird and squirrel activity but looking at it on its side I can see that it was mostly hollow, but still I will miss it.

The day just didn't seem right after that.