A chill in the morning air is lasting a bit longer each day. The trees herald the transition from summer to winter with brilliant shows of color. It is almost too chilly to enjoy a carefree cruise on the lake. Last week we ventured out for views of the shoreline color only to be charmed by a regal looking eagle sitting on a tree branch as though it were his throne. I lamented the lack of zoom capability in my camera as the shot just would not pick up any more than a tiny black and white speck in the center of the frame. Capturing the foliage in full bloom was difficult with the limited zoom. Sometimes a bit of whine can be productive. When we returned home, Ol' Abner did a little research on line to find some possible replacement cameras. The following day we traveled to a nearby town to look for them in person. I settled on the one I thought would serve my needs and he ordered it in my favorite school colors, a choice not offered in the retail outlets. Yesterday it was delivered and we happily ripped open the package and began the process of putting all the attachments on the camera box. Once the batteries were inserted it clicked to life and I was ready to play. First I had to go downstairs and finish the project interrupted by the delivery. When I returned, I sat down to read and learn. Twas not to be! The minute I turned on the camera, the dog climbed in my lap and clawed at the hand holding the camera. She was shuddering and wedging her 63 pounds around behind me in the chair when I turned it off and stood up to see what the ruckus was about. She calmed and sat staring at me as though I should be ashamed of myself. When I turned the camera back on, she immediately went into a protective crouch and tucked her tail. I went outside with the camera and she chose to stay inside. Later Ol' Abner picked the camera up from a table and she immediately went into distress. Guess I will have to call the manufacturer on Monday and see if there is a way to mute the signal my poor canine is receiving from the instrument. Otherwise, it may just have to go back...even though it appears to take really nice photos. A panicky dog tends to make the photo experience a bit unsatisfying. Maybe we'll have to respond to a different whine.

Acorns to Oaks

Acorns are dropping everywhere in these hills. Some are huge and some are small. Ol' Abner tells me they are from two different oak species. Some are golden and others are a deep rich brown color, but they all have the signature straw colored cap. The deer and squirrels are hungrily munching and the dog occasionally crunches one up as she stops to sniff around the yard. Thumping on the bedroom roof followed by the sound of something tumbling down, then silence, frightened me the first few times I was awakened from my slumber. I thought something was running on the roof, or somone was throwing things up with the sole purpose of disturbing me. Nature has a way of disturbing even the calmest of moments.

Yesterday I talked with Mountain Girl. She is dealing with some of the same disturbances. Widowed and falling hard for Ol' Taxidermist, she has struggled to come to terms with her plan for the future. Two houses, each shared with a previous spouse, don't really fit her plan although he is pleasantly content to remain in the house where he and first wife raised three children. Each little upgrade makes her feel more like this might become her home, but the doubts persist. Her house, a beautiful home up on the mountain with scenic views and lovely isolation, is on the market. She is moving on from her past life. Her nature is to gather those acorns and make good use of them. She loves building things. They poured a new driveway last week and painted the new garage door. Still she seems to know that sound of acorns crunching on the driveway. No matter how many are eaten or crushed, some will sprout in the spring.

Cities and Towns

I have always loved to see new places. Frequent relocation during my childhood just gave me a thirst for exploring unseen vistas. Nostalgia for a past home remained each time we moved to a new one, but that one would soon become familiar . I love visiting a city for the first time, though that experience cannot equal a return to a hometown from the past. Places may deteriorate with age, be revived by restoration or demolished altogether, but the memories never escape. Watching a college football game yesterday between my alma mater and a college located in a town where I once lived awakened memories of childhood. The back yard of our house was adjacent to the marching band's practice field. In my head I can still hear the drum major's cadence as the drummer clicked out the rhythm. Early morning practice was always sans music, but late afternoon would ring with the full instrumental compliment. Sitting beside the birdbath in the back yard, I dreamed of one day attending that university. Plans made at age ten sometimes must be replaced by the reality of "out of state tuition", but those happy childhood thoughts can come trickling back in at the strangest times.

Indulgence

I heard this morning that it is "national dessert day"! Who knew the nation's sweet tooth could have such a powerful lobby? Timing seems a little off for me though. Just returning from a trip to the Lone Star state, the sweet tooth rears it's strong memory. Dinner with family in the metroplex precipitated a bit of cobbler and ice cream and it's own share of guilt the next day. I managed to overcome the remorse though, just in time to enjoy some yummy alcoholic treats with more family. Later travels along the gulf coast required indulgence in a long ago favorite...crustless pecan pie with ice cream. Ol' Abner made sure he took his before meal dose of diabetic medication and jumped into the fray throwing caution to the wind. Actually not, past visits to that particular trough would never have included one dessert with extra spoons. His comment that it would even be worth feeling "sick" to have a bit of that dessert again was not a precursor to pain. Sharing a bit of the yummy treat didn't seem to have any ill effect on him as we left the restaurant totally satiated. A few extra pounds crept beneath each of our waistbands by the trip's end...guess we had our "national dessert day" all last week. Now it will just have to suffice to read recipes posted by others about the serious guilty pleasures of the past. I won't be baking any of those favorite halloween cookies this year!