Fall countdown

Locals tell us this fall is unusual. The weather is warm, with a few days of cool; typically just a few hours of cool.

Fall in the mountains is beautiful. The sky is the bright periwinkle color Colorado is known for, and the contrast against the dark green pines and turning aspens demands my attention.

Since Halloween was on Sunday this year the boys got to celebrate for three days. At school Friday the party had a parade with many parents in costumes. Costumes here are often elaborate, or perhaps homemade with a lot of imagination. For instance, one boy in Grant’s class wore an oversized coat with his head sticking out below the top button--- and his head was decorated with blood paint and inside a large pickle jar. He really looked like he was carrying his own head.

Friday night the community had “trunk or treat” at a school and about 40 cars were decked out with fog, talking candy dishes, and all the stuff a haunted house would have.

Sunday night Grant went with a friend to a neighborhood that closes itself off and celebrates by giving out full size candy bars and little toys while watching the kids. We joined a few of Justin soccer buddies for potluck dinner and then a trailer ride around the neighborhood to collect candy. When everyone returned we watched part of Charlie Brown’s the Great Pumpkin as the kids counted their candy for a homework assignment.