Oxymoron

Autumn really threw her weight around as she came in first with hot flashes with unseasonably warm first days of Fall. One day the temperatures neared 90 degrees and the next we were warned about an early winter storm and storm it did. We had about 6 inches of snow, which didn't last because once the sun came out, the snow went away.

The damage was done. No saving plants; the cannas had been so beautiful this summer in their patio pots. 

Beyond the patio, the three ash trees that were just beginning to show their fall colors, dumped their leaves in pile on the new snow. Our fall colors  here in Northern Colorado were ruined as the storm stripped the trees of their leaves. 

While Autumn can be fickle, she does have a kinder side. Yesterday the grandsons were visiting and that called for the season's last patio lunch: hot dogs served on paper plates. I had to dig for paper plates, but I came up a few left-over holiday items for lunch.

Nathan reminded me that I should have had plates appropriate for the season, like maybe Halloween plates, perhaps, he suggested politely.

I didn't take to time to explain that the lack of planning on my part drove me to use whatever I had on hand. He enjoyed his hot dog anyway.

 H

He also helped out. His eyes lit up when he saw the leave blower that I was going to use to blow away a million locust leaves. I gave him my ear plugs and the leave blower and told him to get busy. A side note: this photo is a bit of an oxymoron don't you think with the leaf blower and the snow shovel? That's the way it is here at the Garden Spot.

 A rare moment, Brody standing still. Brody is growing and gaining a few manners. He is learning quickly about life in the house, but thinks he belongs on the furniture and the bed. He sees us on the furniture, so of course, he can use the furniture, too. We may lose the battle. 

Not only were the boys here, but the granddaughters arrived, too. It was a special day for Lily and Pop. Saturday after Saturday Lily has to go with her sisters and just watch as they take their riding lesson. Well this Saturday, the riding instructor came to our house and gave Lily a lesson on Pop. Both were amazing. Mrs. J. couldn't get over how old Pop was (32) and how well he responded to Lily. I was amazed at how well Lily could make the old boy take her cues and do what he was supposed to do. 

 Late in the day just before the sun glides behind the Rocky Mountains I love to go out and take photos of the same things that I always photograph. The golden glow makes the palomino boy even more golden. The apple tree still has it leaves, and like all of the other trees that didn't get to turn color, dead leaves still cling to the branches. Even the boring wood fence takes on new character as the sun sheds its last rays on the Garden Spot.

Life is quiet here at the Garden Spot. The garden is done. The flowers have faded. There is, however, always something do here.

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