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.

Fall's coming

October was a month of fall. On the 2nd I stood outside looking at a beautiful Ponderosa pine and sniffing the heavy vanilla scent of the bark.


The aspen trees in the valley behind our house reflect the light leaving their leaves electric yellow. The contrast of the brilliant aspen against the dark pines that absorb all the light is beautiful.

On the 9th the wood stove project was complete. It had started in April as a simple removal of our small fireplace to accommodate a freestanding stove. When the wall was opened black widow spiders, carpenter ants, and a hornets’ nest were found. Next fire damage from years ago and water damage in progress. What had started out as a one-day project sounded looked like it could be new roof, sub floor, and thousands of dollars.

The gods were smiling, the water damage was just to the area we were removing, the fire damage looked horrible but was structurally sound, the exterminator got rid of the ants and spiders--- and was happy to take the hornets nest.

We found someone who had just enough time to frame in the new wall when the
chimney guy found the opening was 10” short of the clearance needed for a stove. Tad met a builder looking for more work with the economy slump and we were off again.


When it was all done we had ½” extra clearance--- yah! For ½ inch! The brick facing looked like real brick, and the walls were a rich burgundy. We are looking good!