FALL COLORS

FALL COLORS? ONE OF OUR MAJOR OBJECTIVES IS TO STAY IN “SUNNY & 80” WEATHER, SO WHY IN HELL ARE WE ON “THE MOUNTAIN” IN LATE OCTOBER DOING A BLOG ABOUT FALL COLORS?  ESPECIALLY WHEN OCTOBER IS ONE OF THE TWO PRIME MONTHS ON THE LOWER MOHAVE DESERT FOR “SUNNY & 80”.

A COUPLE OF REASONS: FIRST, THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO BE HERE THE SECOND WEEK-END OF OCTOBER WHEN AMY AND THE BOYS HAD A COUPLE OF EXTRA DAYS OFF FOR COLUMBUS DAY AND A TEACHERS DAY.  MARY AND I WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE WEEK OFF BECAUSE THERE WERE TOO MANY DEALERS ON VACATION ALREADY, SO WE SCHEDULED THE TIME OFF AS SOON AS WE COULD, AND ENDED UP WITH THE END OF OCTOBER.  THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT DANIEL, AMY, AND THE BOYS ARE JOINING US FOR THE WEEKEND!!!

THE FOUR YEAR ALBUQUERQUE ASSIGNMENT  FOR DANIEL IS QUICKLY COMING TO A CLOSE, AND THE NEXT DUTY STATION IS DAYTON, OHIO.  BEING AN EIGHT HOUR DRIVE FROM THEM, ALLOWED US TO SEE THE BOYS TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR.  WE’RE REALLY GOING TO MISS THAT, SO A FALL CAMPING TRIP ON “THE MOUNTAIN” AND SPRING BREAK IN APRIL ARE MIGHTY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE SECOND REASON, IS WE NEED TO WINTERIZE THE TRAILER, WHICH AMOUNTS TO CALLING THE PLUMBER, PUTTING AWAY THE LAWN FURNITURE, AND REMOVING ANYTHING THAT CAN FREEZE.  ACTUALLY WE HAD PHONED A NEIGHBOR BEHIND US IN EARLY OCTOBER TO CHECK ON THE WEATHER, AND THEY REPORTED ALL WAS WELL.  LAST WEEK ONE DAY THEY CALLED US BACK TO SAY HARD FREEZE WARNINGS AND SOME SNOW WAS IN THE FORCAST FOR THURSDAY.  WAS THERE ANYTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US? HELL YES, THE KEY IS HIDDEN UNDER THE ROCK, AND GO INSIDE AND TURN ON THE FURNACE AND CRACK THE KITCHEN FAUCET SO IT DRIPS AND THE WATER WON’T FREEZE UP, AND THANKS FOR CALLING.

THERE ARE NO FALL COLOR PICTURES TO COMPARE TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BUFFS OF MARQUETTE OR MARI-LEE WOODS SOUTH OF FRANKVILLE, SO DON’T LAUGH AT MY PICTURES.

EVEN THE RED MAPLE IS PART OF THE LANDSCAPING AT THE HOSPITAL AND NOT NATURAL.  THE ONLY FALL COLOR IN THE WEST IS YELLOW FROM THE ASPEN TREES.