Invasive Species

We've been to Pocatello twice in the past couple of months. Once in late October and again at Thanksgiving. I suppose eastern Idaho won't sound all that alluring to most... but for us it is. It's a short drive to a place that feels like having a country house (sorry Ken and Annie)... much in the same way that St. George (sorry Todd and Bill) feels like going to a beach house. Pathetic? Probably, but you have to make the best of things.

Hopefully we haven't quite worn out our welcome yet up there, but we'd have to be close. Inviting oneself somewhere frequently can have that effect. An important note: If you're going to impose on friends or family living in the country, fall is a great time to do it.

A few photos below of what one sees and does... and please don't drop off before the end. I wouldn't want you to miss one of the few fish I've caught in recent memory.

Falling Off

Apparently I haven't posted since October 15th. Ugh. Not sure what's been holding me back. Guess I just haven't been feeling it lately. I suppose I put pressure on myself to be clever or insightful or something. Not a good idea... those moments are too few and far between to rely on for content.

We've been busy mostly. Fall was beautiful here and it actually lasted more than a week. Or maybe summer just ran long. Either way, it was something to be grateful for. It's only just now getting truly cold and the snow has yet to really fly. Those with season passes get uptight, the rest of us who only dabble in winter sports don't seem to mind.

I don't know that I have a million things to say about the last couple of months, but I do have a fair amount of photos. Everything I post may be way overdue, but still worthwhile I think. Guess I consider this a bit more time capsule than news report.

Lamb's Canyon

Fall is my favorite season by far. 

To be honest, I go a bit mental about seeing the leaves at their peak. Of course, I never actually see them during this time. I see them later... when I remember what month it is... and when they look more like they are diseased than autumnal. Fortunately, I also like this kind of thing too... (photos in a minute). Not sure the family feels the same way about all this as I do, but they graciously, briefly humor me anyway. This time we took a quick trip up to Lamb's Canyon to see what there was to see. See for yourself what we saw. Not pictured: The squirrel that assaulted Eden after she quite logically decided to straddle it's home. Pictured: Eden's semi-terrified reaction. Hailey couldn't make this little adventure so she went up later on her own initiative. Atta girl Hailey... I knew I liked you best.

Fall at 50mm

Okay, I promise... This will be the last gratuitous photo barrage for at least a week or so. I'm not saying anyone loves my writing and is counting the days until I do more, I'm just feeling a little guilty about taking the "easy way out". As much as I like to write, it takes me a lot of effort to string together a few clumsy sentences. Clumsy photography comes much easier. A note for my very few readers... please click on the photos you like. They get bigger.

Berries behind the house. Probably not edible...

Eden's new autumn hair color. Also not edible...

The leaves on our favorite tree turned just in the last couple of days.

When obscured by said tree, our house seems almost quaint.

This is me, perpetually in need of a shave.

This fall has been a gift... blue and gold.

Eden patiently poses. Man, I love this lens.

Patch Work

Maybe this lousy garden thing is actually turning out for the best. For the second year in a row (that counts as a tradition, right?) we all hit Mabey's Pumpkin Farm to overdo things as only we can.

Turning Point

It snowed yesterday. I suspect fall is finished.

Harvest Time

We planted a garden this year. But thanks to the rainiest June we've ever seen and some fairly mediocre soil, just about everything we planted was a bust. Or maybe this guy was to blame. (no, not the grasshopper)

Even the pumpkins (Tracy's favorite) only turned out okay.

So, to supplement our harvest, we visited the pumpkin pro shop.


Everyone grabbed their favorites.

Or tried to anyway...

The pricing was vague. Had we spent $8 or $80?

Only $27... Maybe we should go back for more?


Note: Eden missed out on the family festivities to take part in some of her own. Homecoming. Dances these days are apparently an all day affair. And even though it's halfway into October in Utah, somehow boating was involved. I don't know all the details (I never do) but I know she had fun.


Maybe September was just a hinge connecting summer and fall. We've turned the corner toward better things. The air is different now. Stay tuned.