Bigger and Brighter

 Last year, we hung about forty four-inch-long light sticks from the tree in our front yard for Halloween. This year, I decided to get fewer, bigger light sticks. They were about fourteen inches long. My children each had one to carry around while trick or treating which helped make them much more visible. I think I'll make big light sticks a Halloween tradition. They cost more per stick, but they are brighter and stand out better.

 We had a very happy Halloween.

At a Cemetery on Vine Street

Tetras and Life

Until tonight, my high score for Tetras was 89000 something. I'd never gotten above a level 16. I surprised myself this evening.

It's kind of funny when you play a game so much that you start thinking of analogies that it has to life. The other day I was doing very poorly on Tetras mostly because of the pieces I was given. 

Sometimes the things we're given in life make it difficult to do well. 

Sometimes I do really well on Tetras partly because of the pieces that I'm given.

Sometimes in life we're handed just the right pieces and everything falls right into place. Sometimes it feels almost effortless. 

Other times, we struggle just to keep it together. 

I know tonight there was some skill and experience involved. When you do something a lot (too much) you can get pretty good at it.
We gain experience and knowledge in life and because of that we sometimes do well no matter what we're given.

Playing a game like this feels almost pointless and a waste of time.
And yet, here I am so proud of myself. Silly.

Enter Winter

  

Low Clouds

 No bike riding today. It was cold and wet.
But I liked the low clouds on the mountains. 

At Liberty Park

Photos by me, my daughter, and my son-- in that order.

Color and a View

 The rain from yesterday cleaned up the sky. Sometimes we all need a little rain.

Color in UT

 On the east side of 30th East not too far north of Ft. Union, there's a cascade of leaves that reminds me of a red waterfall. Every time I drive or ride by it, it makes me happy.

This sign makes me smile when it thinks I'm a car and registers my speed.
I've either got to shrink to less than the size of a car or pick up the pace!

Beautiful Today

On Another Ride

 Fascinating placement of the granite ball on drift wood. Makes me think of a contortionist. 

I didn't realize I caught the moon because I was focused on the bright leaves. 

Nature's Wipes

 Today my bike chain fell off at the top of a hill when I switched into high gear. There was no grass nearby to wipe off the thick black grease from my fingers. I looked around to see what I could use. Church camp training kicked in. I remembered the weed lambs ear makes great toilet paper. I noticed these and thought they must be a smaller domesticated version. They are so soft and thick and absorbent. They worked beautifully. It only took two small leaves and my hands were nearly grease-free. 

Walk to the Library

Did the earth sink here? The landscaping change? Or maybe they were expecting a lot of snow?  

Strange way to share politics. No candidate names were advertised on the lawn,  just opinions. They obviously feel strongly. A member of our church congregation went on an on about her politics in church last Sunday. I wasn't there, but I heard about it. A lot of people were upset. It can be tough to know how, when, and where to share appropriately.

Color!

Dead Ends and Alive Beginnings

I was sick for nearly a week.
There is nothing like illness to boost appreciation for health. 

This morning, I'm trying to be kind to myself, so I kept to flat land for a bike ride. As a result, I discovered a new dead end with a view. It felt like a very alive end because there was a dog behind a fence there that barked at me incessantly. 

Today I feel recommitted to doing all I can to live a healthy and happy life.