An Ode to Autumn...

Autumn is on it's way out.

And despite the promise of holiday fun, I can't help but feel a little sad about the passing of my favorite season.

So-- on this last day of November-- a little visual recap of some of my fall fun:

Me and Luke freezing our TAILS off at Cedar Breaks, UT

Lovely Aspen trees near Brianhead, UT

SUU Mountain Center, Cedar City, UT

Luke and our super-fun rental Jeep

Pumpkin Patch goofiness

Avia Valley Barn

Pumpkins!

Lester and I as Moody and Bellatrix

My autumn front steps

Vineyards 

Thanksgiving pumpkin pie!

Autumn leaves on my way to work this morning

I've Got the Blues...

Not really.

But Luke and I did hit up the Avila Blues Festival this past Saturday.

Luke's dad and stepmom, Bryan and Kathy, had bought a table at the festival and generously invited us to go along.  We got a special inside-the-fence-tables-only wristband and everything.

The weather was perfect.  We drank beer and margaritas.  Ate popsicles. Enjoyed the sun, visiting with Luke's family, and people watching.

But most of all we enjoyed the MUSIC.

Everyone who played was just a fantastic musician- I was simply blown away.

Opening: Taj Mahal.  Click HERE for a clip. Love his gravely voice and mad guitar skills.

Next: Tower of Power.  Click HERE for a clip.  This guy's voice is insane.  The brass is insane. The band is insane.  I thought of my brother, Marcus, the whole time. Definitely my favorite.

Last: The Doobie Brothers.  Click HERE for a clip.  Classic, awesome, and so fun to listen to.

All in all, a pretty perfect day. Thanks Bryan and Kathy!

Total Eclipse (of the Heart)!

I happened to be home hanging out with my mom the evening of the eclipse, and we had a great time walking up the hill with the neighbor kids to check it out...

Photo from HERE

I couldn't get enough of it!  We happened to have (thanks to dad!) a great little mirror device so that we could look directly at the sun.

The kids enjoyed it, too!

The light before the eclipse was extraordinary- diffused and dim, as if there was smoke in the air.  It definitely created a sense that something was about to happen...

Most of all, though, it was fun spending time with my mom...